3-065-788 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Launch of the Faraday, telegraph cable ship, 1874. 'A large iron steam-ship, named after that most eminent natural philosopher, the late Professor Michael Faraday, was launched at Lower Walker, near Newcastle-on-Tyne, from the building-yard of Messrs. C. Mitchell and Co..[She was] built to the order of Messrs. Siemens Brothers for the purpose of laying the Atlantic cable of the Direct United States Cable Company and other cables...The iron hull has been built under the inspection of Lloyd's agents, and obtained the highest certificate of classification...The vessel is double-bottomed, the space between the two bottoms being a network of iron girders for carrying the cable-tanks, and at the same time giving longitudinal strength to that portion of the hull...In outward appearance the Faraday is unlike other ocean steamers, her bow and stern being of the same form. She is also provided with a rudder at each end...so that the vessel may be navigated ahead or astern...when paying out or picking up a cable...The Faraday will be propelled by machinery on the compound surface condensing principle, manufactured by Messrs. T. Clark and Co...The deck machinery required for paying out and picking up cables is manufactured by the Vulcan Foundry Company'. From "Illustrated London News", 1874.