Letter from John Penn to Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Eastern Steam Navigation Company Letterbook 5
Object numberDM1306/11/1/5/folio 261
TitleLetter from John Penn to Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Eastern Steam Navigation Company Letterbook 5
Creator John Penn (author)
DescriptionLetter from John Penn to Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Eastern Steam Navigation Company Letterbook 5.
Written from Lewisham. The letter encloses several ideas for Brunel to consider in relation to the failed launch. Penn's ideas are: connecting two windlasses together to ensure that the slide at each end of the ship would be equal; substituting smooth, un-rimmed wheels for the crank handle which would give greater command and reduce accidents; and using, if Brunel intends to conduct the launch by degrees, a worm wheel well secured to the windlasses as well as breaks. Penn also suggests that the bearings are too tightly fitted which is causing potentially excessive friction.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the SS Great Eastern, Eastern Steam Navigation Company Letterbook 5. Letterbook for the Eastern Steam Navigation Company from July 1857 to Feburary 1858. Letters indexed by date, by addressee, and by sender. Also includes minutes of the Eastern Steam Navigation Company. 1 large quarto volume with spines lettered 'E.S.N. Compy Report Book 1857 V'.
Production date 1857-11-02 - 1857-11-02
Object nameletter
Object categorycorrespondence
Materialpaper
Techniquehand-written
Dimensions
- height: 320 mm
width: 220 mm
depth: 55 mm
Credit lineBy Courtesy of the Brunel Institute – a collaboration of the ss Great Britain Trust and the University of Bristol