<title> SS Great Britain

Object number1997.008.03

TitlePage from Brunel's report on the screw propeller, October 1840

Creator Isambard Kingdom Brunel (author)‎

DescriptionPage 3 of I. K. Brunel's report to the Directors of the Great Western Steamship Company on adopting the screw propeller for the SS Great Britain in October 1840. This is the first report that was produced, before Brunel also presented his case for the screw propeller to the Admiralty Board in April 1841. When construction of the SS Great Britain began in 1839, she was intended to be an iron-hulled paddle steamer. However, in 1840 Brunel explored the new technology of the marine screw propeller patented by Francis Pettit-Smith and in this report to the Directors of the GWSSCo. convinced them and the investors in the company to change the design for the SS Great Britain and adopt the screw propeller for the company's new ship. It is handwritten in black ink on white, woven handmade paper, watermarked 'John Dewdney 1838' - a paper maker from Devon. This page is written in the hand of one of Brunel's clerks, most likely to be his longest serving clerk Mr Bennett.

Production date 1838 - 1840-10

Object namereport sheet

Object categoryreporting

Materialpaper

Techniquehand-written

Dimensions