Published 1st April 2021ForanyGlasgowbusinessinterestedinthesupplyofmarinelightingandequipment,thegrowthofthecityandsurroundingdistrictsintoaporthandling 7,000,000tonsofmerchandisea yearby1900 wasagoodstartforthenewcentury. TheKingstonDock,openedin1867,hadbeenfollowedbytheQueensDockin 1880andthePrincesDockin1900. TheRothesayDock wastofollowin1907,the yearin whichthe‘RMSLusitania’steamedoutoftheClydeonhermaiden voyage after being launched from John Brown & Co’s Yard Number 367 on 7th June 1906.Withagrosstonnageof31,550,787feetlongandwithabeamof87feet,‘RMSLusitania’wasbrieflytheworld'slargestpassengership.Shewasoneoftwoships commissionedbytheTheCunardLineatatimeoffiercecompetitionfortheNorthAtlantictradeandmanyofherelectricalfittingsandlightingweresuppliedby William McGeoch & Co along with her sister ship, the ‘RMS Mauretania’, launched a few months later.Both‘Lusitaniaand‘Mauretania’ werefitted withrevolutionarynewturbineenginesthatenabledthemtomaintainaservicespeedof25knots. They wereequipped with lifts,wirelesstelegraphandelectriclight,andprovided50%morepassengerspacethananyothership.Inparticular,thefirstclassdeckswerenotedfortheir sumptuous furnishings.WhilstonaMcGeochfamilyholidayontheIsleof Arraninthesummerof1907, young AndrewMcGeoch,greatgrandsonofthefoundingfather,spotted‘RMSLusitania’ in the distance from Whiting Bay and that his father pointed out with some relish and pride that McGeoch had supplied most of her electrical fittings and lighting.Tragically,onnearingtheendofher202ndtrans-AtlanticcrossingonFriday7thMay1915,shewastorpedoedbyaGerman‘U’Boat11milesoffthesoutherncoastof Ireland and sank in just 18 minutes with the loss of 1,198 passengers and crew.The archive photographs below shows ‘RMS Lusitania’ and various areas within it, all illuminated by electric light fittings designed and manufactured by William McGeoch & Co. Click images to view …
Published 1st April 2021ForanyGlasgowbusinessinterestedinthesupplyofmarine lightingandequipment,thegrowthofthecityand surroundingdistrictsintoaporthandling7,000,000tonsof merchandiseayearby1900wasagoodstartforthenew century.TheKingstonDock,openedin1867,hadbeen followedbytheQueensDockin1880andthePrincesDock in1900. TheRothesayDock wastofollowin1907,the yearin whichthe‘RMSLusitania’steamedoutoftheClydeonher maidenvoyageafterbeinglaunchedfromJohnBrown& Co’s Yard Number 367 on 7th June 1906.Withagrosstonnageof31,550,787feetlongand withabeam of87feet,‘RMSLusitania’wasbrieflytheworld'slargest passengership.Shewasoneoftwoshipscommissionedby theTheCunardLineatatimeoffiercecompetitionforthe NorthAtlantictradeandmanyofherelectricalfittingsand lightingweresuppliedbyWilliamMcGeoch&Coalongwith hersistership,the‘RMSMauretania’,launchedafewmonths later.Both‘Lusitaniaand‘Mauretania’werefittedwithrevolutionary newturbineenginesthatenabledthemtomaintainaservice speedof25knots.Theywereequippedwithlifts,wireless telegraphandelectriclight,andprovided50%more passengerspacethananyothership.Inparticular,thefirst class decks were noted for their sumptuous furnishings.WhilstonaMcGeochfamilyholidayontheIsleofArraninthe summerof1907,youngAndrewMcGeoch,greatgrandsonof thefoundingfather,spotted‘RMSLusitania’inthedistance fromWhitingBayandthathisfatherpointedoutwithsome relishandpridethatMcGeochhadsuppliedmostofher electrical fittings and lighting.Tragically,onnearingtheendofher202ndtrans-Atlantic crossingonFriday7thMay1915,shewastorpedoedbya German‘U’Boat11milesoffthesoutherncoastofIrelandand sankinjust18minuteswiththelossof1,198passengersand crew.The archive photographs below shows ‘RMS Lusitania’ and various areas within it, all illuminated by electric light fittings designed and manufactured by William McGeoch & Co. Click images to view …