Was it not because Cunard's Mauretania & Lusitania had four funnels, that prompted White Star to use four funnels on their new Olympic class ships, after all, their ships had to look equally big, if not bigger than their rivals?

Neptune,
You are not who you claim to be.I thought you was someone else i was wrong. Please in future don't make reference to me as though you know me as i have now learn't to my cost that you don't.booty

Hi!

With regard to the number of funnels, I've never seen a reference specifically to the Cunarders. However, I would agree with a general perception that the 'first class' liners needed four funnels -- the Norrdeutscher Lloyd foursome had four funnels, as did the Cunard express ships. Has anyone a specific reference?

There is an interesting story dating from around 1913. A group of steerage travellers saw a photo of a four-funneled ship (Olympic) on a wall in the agent's office, and they insisted on travelling on that, instead of the three-stack liner. Obviously they felt it was safer and felt more comfortable. So the agent (for the three-funneled vessel) lied and said that it was really a five-stack ship, and that the two funnels had been taken down in the photo because New York taxed ships according to the number of funnels they had! Quite amusing! The gullible travellers changed ships!

Best wishes,

Mark.

As most of you probably know, original plans for the "big three" only called fo three funnels. however, Lord Pirie felt that a fourth funnel would give them better lines and a look of power, so they were built with four funnels. Lusitania and Mauretania's forward most funnels were also dummies, and the Queen Mary's third funnel was a dummy, and half of it was used to store deck chairs, etc.

What the crap they ain't dummys (We know who failed spelling last year don't we?) :hammer: XDQuote:

Hi Titanic_Gur!

'What the crap they aint dummys'

Which ship are you referring to (several have been mentioned in this thread)? And what is the evidence for the assertion?

Best wishes,

Mark.

My personal feeling is the "four funnel" design was mostly a design trend of the time, on the titanic however like most the fourth funnel was a dummy, it did smoke alittle as it had the fireplace from the main lounge piped to it, but it was mostly used for storage.

every body has different ideas about wot it was used for

Hi!

The Shipbuilder gave some very interesting information in this respect. I think it was the summer 1911 special, reprinted in 1995 with an introduction and epilogue by John Maxtone-Graham. Fascinating reading for anyone interested in the technical side of these ships!

Best wishes,

Mark.

Hi folks. I am new to this site but I found this thread very interesting. I knew one funnel was a dummy but I wasn't sure why it was added and what use it eventually had. Just to clarify, i assume Olympic, Titanic and Brittanic all had one false stack?

sas