R.M.S.Olympic, Construction and Launch, 1908-1910 (HD/audio)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ม.ค. 2014
- Newsreel footage of the construction and launch of R.M.S. Olympic at Harland and Wolff, Belfast. Olympic's keel was laid in December 1908 and she was launched on 20 October 1910.
Original newsreel footage has been converted into HD and audio recreated.
It was originally shot on 600 feet of silent, black and white 35mm film by the production company Kineto.
Highlights:
0:19 Main Harland and Wolff drawing office, with draughtsmen at work producing drawings and plans for the shipyard. At the rear of the room can be seen a scale builders model of an Olympic class liner.
0:27 The construction slip where the ship is to be built
0:44 The laying of the keel and the full length of the ship is revealed.
2:29 Bird's eye view of the hull and interior decks taking shape
3:12 The beginnings of Titanic - this is late 1910 as her hull is framed, next to Olympic. This is the only known footage of her hull under construction.
3:33 The huge gantry crane moving a large section of the hull exterior plating and then lowering it into place
4:08 A piece of the hull plating being guided into position on the side of the ship
4:55 Exterior plates fixed in place using electric bore and rivet machines
5:20 Two men hard at work hand riveting
5:43 A glorious reveal shot of the bow now at full height with a sign "White Star Royal Mail Steamer Olympic"
6:02 Steam cranes in action
6:46 One uncut take lasting, one minute 28 seconds of the launch. The hull was painted in a light grey colour as it made the lines of the ship clearer in the black and white photographs. After the huge hull has slipped into the water, the remaining slipway is revealed and crowds of men who had been watched begin dispersing.
For more information please visit: www.williammurdoch.net/article... - ภาพยนตร์และแอนิเมชัน
We sometimes forget the blood, sweat, and tears from which these beautiful liners were created; fantastic footage.
You mean you do
@@paulanthony5274 Aye, if you say so wee man.
The Titanic is literally right next to it, still in progress.
Olympic should've been saved to be a living floating museum, think about what it would be like to take a tour of the Olympic today
Absolutely. Almost a clone of Titanic, think it'd would've been quite a tourist attraction.
Couldn't have been saved as she was sunk!
@@dodgeramsport01 The Olympic was sunk?
@@wattage2007 I know the conspiracy you're referring to, and if you study the differences between Titanic and Olympic then you know they weren't identical, they would not have been able to make the necessary changes to Olympic in order to sink her for insurance claim. Those changes would've involved far more then just changing some name plates, we're talking about reducing the cafe perisien size, which was extended out to to bulk head for Titanic. Then welding in wind break plates, many of these along both sides of the B deck promenade, cutting out several walls and much more. Titanic sank, Olympic did not.
@@driftwood8613 I was replying to the other guy who claimed Olympic was sunk. I know the switch conspiracy is absolute horseshit. Every single item onboard was also stamped with the hull number 400 in Olympic's case, 401 in Titanic's so the whole lot, engines and all would've all had to come out and be swapped over. People who peddle these stories - while happily ignoring the facts - are just attention seekers.
My Aunt Mildred said that she sailed on the Olympic when she was younger. I was a shipbuilder from 2004-2018 and am amazed by their available technology and sheer determination in building these grand ships! Thank You for preserving and sharing this film!
ive always enjoyed watching structures being built ..and to think that this was 1908 thats preety damn impressive in my book the ships nowadays had alot of help but they built these nearly 900 foot long ships peice by peice its amazing...and oyeah love these old videos very rare..
You're absolutely right. It is amazing what our ancestors could do.
She was a beautiful liner...a crime she wasn't saved like Mary
true, what a waste
@William Cudmore but he’s right, it’s difficult to find a place nowadays. And with a boat made 109 years ago it’s difficult to find spare parts or even making new ones, since Harland and Wolff ceased production
@@notalemon2899 then you find another ship maker to make them. And there are a lot of places Olympic could have sit as a museums ship
@Shaun Brent Alabado Balgua Belfast with Nomadic. Also the government should subsidise it as it's a historical monument like the city is with Queen Mary atm. Per year it would cost about the same as afew government build roundabouts and afew road rebuilds. So it's not outrageously expensive. Plus, I'd think with the amount of interest in Titanic since the 60s and ESPECIALLY after it was found it would be really successful. It would have been useful during WWII and the workers say she was solid, alot more so than the Cunarders. Sure between 1946-1960s it would have not been as successful, but by now it would be a money making machine and a historical monument to the Titanic and it's community. I'd visit at least once a year no matter the cost.
Sadly people didn't have that mindset back in 1935.
Just amazing ! The mind boggling workload involved in this massive construction, and to think it only took them 2 years to complete, You just have to admire the spirit of the Edwardian age.
It took two years to float her but another one to fit her out
3 years of construction
But in the end it created the most successful Olympic class ship and the only Olympic class ship
I honestly never even knew real footage of the Olympic’s launch existed. This is just amazing, the perspective and angle of the camera and the people on the ground show just how large these ships really were for their time.
Hard working men
Absolutely. I want to learn more about those guys.
The Great Big Move i watch your vids
@@thetrueairbornefca Thanks for the support!
@@TheGreatBigMove holy it’s actually you
A testimony to the brilliant engineering and skilled craftsmen that made this magnificent ship a reality.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thank you for this amazing piece of history, i didnt know there was a video about the construction and launch of the Olympic! thanks a lot
Fascinating. I believe you can see the hull of Titanic under construction during the Olympic launch sequence - to the left of the frame.
The keel base of 1:56 it's the Titanic, look to the gantry position, Titanic was build on the right and Olympic on the left (if you see the gantry on a back view, of course) and the ship of 3:12 it's the Titanic too because of the gantry position again (if you see in a front view)
@@umpoucodetudo3740 - So, are you saying these two scenes are from the construction of the Titanic? Is this just because of the line-up of the two ships (left-right)? If so, how do we know for sure if the footage has not been mirrored accidentally? I think more evidence is needed to be sure about this. Are there any other indications that it is actually Titanic that we see in those two scenes?
@@j.vonhogen9650 If you pay attention you will notice that in some photographs on the side of the Olympic there is another ship being built just to the right of the Olympic and two buildings being seen in the distance:images.app.goo.gl/3qxiNm26pT7f3Hd98
On the Titanic side there is no ship being built next to the ship and also there is no buildings being seen in the distance (Well there is some buildings, but they are very small): 1:56
I never knew that's how they launched the big ships! Thanks for uploading this!
Yep. Amazing stuff, isn't it?
Insane amount of work. It’s just mind boggling.
Where did you get this!?!?!! amazing footage!!!!
Thanks! I have been collecting footage for many years. You have probably seen most of it before, as it is all over the net. But when viewed in HD and with audio it brings it back to life.
@@WilliamMurdochDotNetAmazing work! :p i've been looking for this original unpatented footage in decend quality for years, could you provide us with information where to get it? :)
Thanks! The sources are listed in the end credits. But of course, in some cases I have remastered in HD, so the original may not look as good.
:)
:(
Wonderful film! You have done a great job with the audio, both in using appropriate music and also in adding very convincing sound effects that match the pictures. A lot of work has gone into that.
This is technically also footage of the Titanic if the black area at the end of the video can be identified
+ZenticToni Titanic would've been to the left. The camera pans to the right at the end.
You bring up a good point nevertheless though.
to belive these people had no machinery and built this amazing ship its just a wow its unbelievable
Pamela McCormick I did have a little bit of machinery but not a lot
It has machinary but people did the most job
I'm always amazed with the beauty and sophistication they built with such limited technology. My engineers couldn't even develop a paper bag without software .
The old clips are awesome.
It baffles my mind these laborers did this work in 3-piece suits.
Without a hardhat, safety officers, or any PPE.
I had no clue there was footage of this event
The Olympic had plenty of photo and video footage as it was the first ship and technically the flagship of her type, is Titanic and Britannic which actually have much less footage, so much so that most pics you see of Titanic are actually the Olympic
Yeah Olympic has the most footage and videos
What a unimaginable feeling must it have been to see your hard work of three years that you have done with your workmates sliding down into the river...
WONDERFUL!!! Thank you!!!
Construction of Olympic
Laid down: 16. December 1908
Launched: 20. October 1910
Completed: 31. Maj 1911
Britannic Laid down 30 November 1911 Launched 26 February 1914 Completed 23 December 1915 Sank 21 November 1916
Out of 3 majestic ships this one survived but the titanic britannic sunk
There is something about the majesty of a ship's launching that almost defies description. Regrettably, so many launching of large vessels are now done by flooding a graving dock. It begins hours before the actual launch when gangs of laborers are knocking out the blocking on which the bottom was resting on during construction, ever so slowly letting the bottom rest on the greased slipways. (A tricky part is ensuring the ship will slide down when nudged, but not before that. One doesn't need a runaway ship.) The speeches are given. The bottle of champagne is smashed on the prow. A gentle nudge is given and the ship slowly slides down the slipway. The friction of the bow cradle sometimes causing the lubricant to smoke. (Yes, they did use banana peels as part of the "mix.) Then, the bow dips as it finally leaves the slipway and becomes waterborne, and the lengths of arresting chains begin to slow down the now free-floating ship. Unbeknownst to most people is the hull is subjected to the most stress it will probably ever experience, as it is only supported briefly by the aftermost stern in the water and the bow on the slipway.
Can't imagine going to work in a suit , tie with a top hat and swinging a 2 lb beater all day
People back then had style
I loved Olympic's launch at the end. What a thing for all those people there to see - I would give anything to go back there and then to witness that! Such a beautiful ship she was. The real hero of the class, IMO
She indeed was.. will always remain my favourite ship forever ❤️
All that effort for the Titanic just to ram the damn thing into a iceberg on the first trip. I’d be pissed if I was a part of the team that built that ship.
That’s Olympic. But yeah.
That’s Olympic? Oh great another brainwashed switch theory believer
They sank the titanic because of insurance fraud. A lot of people with money on the titanic, and since the Rockefellers and the Morgan were involved. Some people on titanic knew the Rockefellers and The Morgan's, well that's what happened when some people dealt with all this Banks. The Rockefellers, The J.P Morgan's among others. Don't believe it, do research!!!!!
@@milagrosmogro49 This is complete nonsense that has been thoroughly debunked.
@@crixxxxxxxxx bahahahaha ok if you say so. Bahahahaha.
I keep thinking about the thoughts of all the hard working men who built the Titanic when they heard it sunk...like Oh man...all that work we did!!!
Best tutorial video out there
Thank you for this great video. At 0:18 Engineering and Drafting Department alive. I have never seen that.
It would be really good if all of these old films could be colourised.
They can
Amazing when i think about the organisation needed
I was not supposed that i will get these great footage.
This is precious 💙
Watching the one man banging one rivet on one tiny spot suggests the ship will never be completed in a thousand years.
Wonderful footage! Great music! Every man wore a hat!
With that music, I expect Edward Scissorhands or Willie Wonka to appear.
They just scrap beautiful ship like this without realizing they still need it in ww2
FAntastic footage!!!
Time to cry because of Good memories
Who provided the audio? It really is a good fit.
i think so
I cant believe these guys are out there on a very labor intensive job wearing ties.
ikr?? like, who does manual labor in a suit and tie?
I like the Music
E um dos navio mais bonito daquela época
I only read recently, that apparently one of the workers on Titanic died two days later after being crushed by one of the wooden supports holding up the ship as Titanic was going down the slipway during launch on the 31st May 1911. I had heard about workers being killed during construction but not during the launch; never heard any of the Titanic fanatics like Oceanliner Designs mention this. I wonder if this has ever been mentioned or shown in reconstructions in Titanic dramas like Titanic Blood and Steel? if not then they obviously arent doing any proper research into the history of ship building of that time. In Cameron's Titanic they never even showed the near collision with the New York and Oceanic, but I suppose that was down to artistic licensing and moving the story along.
Super . Jacques
So back then no hard hats or any safety gear... wow. Excellent team work though.
How did you find this
Для того времени да и сейчас это эпические громадины
Cool
Man
O gigante das águas
6:50 The launch was also filmed in Kinemacolor.
Amo
I wish they had construction footage of R.M.S Titanic. That would be awsome
I know but it would still be cool
+Robbie Hankton They do. You're looking at it
+Chris Merrick Chris I'm quite confident that Robbie Hankton has more intelligence than to be duped by the switch hoax. You have yet to provide an credible evidence of it and in fact that there is substantial and undisputed evidence it did not happen.
+J Stevenson Notice the "Olympic" and "Titanic" letters are etched into the bow plates instead of the cheap house letter types that were riveted on top of the originals.
+Chris Merrick Please show us evidence of 'cheap house letter types that were riveted on top of the originals.' I've yet to see any photographic evidence of this. Or any evidence to support the 'switch' hoax at all.
Wow
Very interesting and informative to watch IMO I think ws not only a despicable act of vandalism but a crime that the Olympic was scrapped:(.
"@ The dry dock where the ship is to be built " - The Olympic was NOT built in a dry-dock, it was built on a construction slip.
It was sad when I figured out that they scrapped her a big huge beautiful ship like that was then basically rapped
Do you know where that footage shown at the start of Olympic can be found online, meaning the full footage?. I haven't come across that particular film on youtube. Also, do you know why in some fitting out photos of Titanic it shows a grey primed hull?. Photos of Titanic said to be taken in Dec 1911 show a black painted hull, and Titanic was then painted black in March 1912, yet why are some photos showing a grey hull?. There's a close up photo where a worker had written "No home rule" on the side, and you can see the ship is in a grey colour.
The Olympic's construction footage can be found in many places, including on the BFI channel: th-cam.com/video/22wq-WQVXUY/w-d-xo.html
As for the "Grey primed hull" - all three Olympic class ships had medium grey primer undercoats. Not to be confused with the white paint used for the Olympic's launch which was for the purposes of photographic clarity. www.titanicswitch.com/claims.html#40
7:37 For a moment there I thought it was going to sink!
7:33 BIG SPOT (this is from a night to remember title screen)
PPE sure didn't really exist back then!
Pourqoui une tel merveilles reste dans l oubli,incroyable$.
Whats the song
It would have been a shame if she didn’t float, all that hard work just to sink to the bottom of the harbor
why is the audio so comedic
Olympic my fav ship and titanic also but it was a let down they only show slip way 400 not a super peek of 401 :(
Wow I Like he.and titanic movie.😭😭😭🤧
Excellent video, with ONE complaint: the fake sound effects. They got SO annoying, I had to mute the sound. Other then that, as I said, great video.
It makes it less boring imo
I wish we born in that time it was better life really
good work but the sound is not the original of course the sound capture was not invented yet
Is titanic and Olympic the same?
Not exactly the same - they were sister ships, who have origins in the same overall "Olympic class" design, but who became quite different entities in their own right.
That ship is unsinkable of white star line the titanic was sink in april
*YES(?)*
Окуда такие редкие кадры?)))
Just asked in the build another boat in the name should’ve been the Britannic
Btw The one who test drove this was the captain of the titanic
I've heard people say that Olympic's launch wasn't a big thing compared to Titanic's launch (apparently on Titanic's launch there were about 40,000 spectators, no idea if that's true seems a rather large number for a ship launch), but looking at the crowd in this film it seems quite a number of people where there. Also, why can't the name on the bow be seen yet photos show the name?. I know this is old film and grainy but still you would expect the name by visible.
Because the names were added in by the photographers to identify the ships (as of course the hulls were not finished/painted). The classic photograph of Titanic had her name added in later by photographer/publisher.
@@WilliamMurdochDotNet Some photos appear to have been added in by the photographer but some haven't as I have a number of Olympic photos during launch which shows the name on the bow, and it doesn't appear to have been handwritten on. Wish I knew where I got the photos from, may've been from Pinterest. Also, the newspaper scans that are on the Paul Lee Titanic site show the name in the correct style. Maybe the film just didn't pick the name up clearly but still photos did.
@@WilliamMurdochDotNet For the sake of not starting an argument about the supposed switch, with your "expertise" on Titanic and Olympic you wouldn't know what date the photo of Olympic was taken at Roche Point would you?. It's a fairly well known photo showing Olympic in the background with a small boat with crew (and also one passenger from the looks of it) being tugged either away or to the ship. The photo shows 16 port holes on Olympic's portside bow, so I'm guessing it was taken March 1912 or after the Titanic disaster. John Hamer seems to think it was taken during Olympic's sea trials, but even from a switch believers POV this cannot be true as Olympic didn't have 16 portholes on its bow during her sea trials and launch. According to official records this photo was taken by Father Brown, whom as you will know was onboard Titanic for only for one day. He seems to have gotten around those ships. I'm not sure if every photo claimed to be his were taken by him, for example, one photo said to taken by Brown shows Titanic's anchor being raised for the last time after departing Queenstown; how on earth did Father Brown manage to take a photo from that low position close to the water? was he hanging on to the side or did he take the photo as he was leaving the ship?. And also, it's claimed that he took many photos of the exterior and interior of the ship, including Capt Smith, but as far as I'm aware the photos of Smith taken onboard Titanic on the maiden voyage with Smith wearing his black uniform were taken by the press not by Father Brown. And where are all the "many" other photos? there's probably a handful at the least that I've seen.
@@Embracing01 Well there is no argument about the 'switch' as you and I both know it didn't happen. But as for photographs - yes so many are incorrectly captioned. The best resource is the book "Titanic in Photographs" (2011) by Daniel Klistorner, Art Braunschweiger, Scott Andrews, Bruce Beveridge, Steve Hall. Their extensive research can help you with your questions.
@@WilliamMurdochDotNet The Roche Point photo I mentioned is actually on the Father Brown photos website along with the Kempster photos, but there's no mention of a date or year. For years I used to think the man photographed standing outside the gym (I think it's the gym) on the boat deck of Titanic during the maiden voyage was Father Brown, but apparently it's not, apparently there's some debate as to who that passenger is as noone really knows. I also thought that Brown appeared in the aftermath newsreel footage, but again it wasn't him.
Something makes me wonder. Why is it that the Titanic has lesser pictures and videos than the Olympic?
Quite simple really: Titanic lasted 5 days, while Olympic lasted for 24 years! Not to mention that Olympic was first of the three sisters and hence the most newsworthy and so there was more coverage of her maiden voyage etc.
WilliamMurdochDotNet Ah I see, thanks for that.
@@WilliamMurdochDotNet Titanic lasted probably 14 days, she enter service in 1 of april (1912)
@@umpoucodetudo3740 You might want to check your maths. If you start from the 1st of April then that would be 15 days (as she collided with the iceberg on the 14th and sank on the 15th). However, the 1st of April was her sea trials, which were cancelled due to poor weather and did not take place until the 2nd, finally arriving in Southampton on her delivery trip (with one single passenger) on the 3rd. But ultimately her maiden voyage did not begin until the 10th of April 1912 - which means she was officially into her 5th day of service when she sank.
@@WilliamMurdochDotNet Yeah, but it's not 5 days
Hard to believe but i see Titanic in the footage so its true
+Mohamed Belaid Specifically where do you see Titanic in the footage -at what timecode? While they were built side-by-side the shots here are mostly of the Olympic. I often wish the cameraman would simply pan across to Titanic or show the two ships together, as that would have been an impressive shot, but for some reason they choose only to focus on the hull of the Olympic.
+WilliamMurdochDotNet The specific timecode of Titanic is at 3:12. Dated late 1910 as her hull is framed, next to Olympic. This is the only known footage of her hull under construction.
+WilliamMurdochDotNet in not stupid titanic was launched after Olympic I know that. And it also mean that at the launch you can see a little bit. Pfff dont think you'll teach me something hh. The only thing I never understood is the oval hole in front of the ship.
+Mohamed Belaid I think what you might be referring to is the 'anchor hawser'
+Dan Parkes no in front front there is hole an oval hole and I am approaching to the truth I think this is a hole just like that because when you go to the deck where the hole is there are the anchors stuff
Now you talking about blood , sweat and tears literally 😂
aint this being launched from a dry dock? in video of modern day the water goes right up near the tip of the dock while in this video the boat has to roll out of a dry dock into the water
the sea level could not have gone up that much in 100 years and people not think the sea level is getting a lot higher
This is the Arral Gantry. They equiped the ship with launch gear and greased the surface of the concrete. The ship also had chains attached to it to slow it down as it slid.
The dry dock you may have seen does indeed have water going to the too, as this had a sort of lock mechanism which let them flood it. Two different locations.
😍😘😻
Wait the first color is white and red?
Thats the channel intro
@@rodrigolefever2426 wut
@@therandomguy1592 the intro of the chanel
@@therandomguy1592 stupid
@@rodrigolefever2426 I'm not stupid I'm talking about Olympic you smartass
I feel bad for every ant I have ever crushed..
What to the ship like did it got put alway like were is it like I know what happen to her sisters :)
Olympic had a pretty good life. I say pretty good because she accidentally hit a few ships, and she was damaged but then repaired. In WWI, she was outfitted as a troop carrier and rammed and sunk a U-Boat, giving her the nickname Old Reliable. After WW1 she was outfitted as a ocean liner again, and was later scrapped in 1935. Titanic had quite a short life. On her first and only she voyage, she struck an iceberg and sank on her maiden voyage in 2 hours and 40 minutes. Britannic was originally built as an ocean liner, but she was outfitted as a hospital ship by request of the Admiralty. She had a few trips, but sadly she struck a mine and sank in just under an hour. A lot lived, only 33 died.
Juju Jangled Learn grammar
Supposedly (or so I've heard) that both Olympic and Titanic's (and probably also Britannic) fourth funnel was just a dummy funnel and not a working funnel. But how can this be when footage of Olympic at Southampton in 1928 clearly shows the fourth funnel blowing smoke out?. Either someone's got it wrong or they have got the wrong funnel. And also, some post fitting out photos of Olympic (and Titanic) show the name has been written over the existing etched name, supposedly to show the name of the ship more clearly, but why when other photos when Olympic is still in her grey/white paint clearly show the actual name anyway (same with Titanic in some photos).
And this is where you show that classic "conspiracy theory" mindset without actually looking at the facts. First, you reference 1928 - when this video is footage dated between 1908 - 1910 - so where is the 1928 footage you reference? Are you on the wrong video? Nevertheless, Titanic's fourth funnel was a so-called "dummy" - so- called in that it wasn't actually a "dummy" per se - it was used for other ventilation from the kitchens etc, so there WOULD be something coming out of it, but not of course in the volume of the other three smokestacks from the boilers.
As for the names of the ships - you are clearly very confused. They were etched into steel and then painted within the outlines. There was not "etching over" something etched in steel!
By the way.... You still haven't answered my simple question..... where is no.1 piece of undeniable evidence of a 'switch'. And why is taking so long for ANYONE to provide any credible evidence of a 'switch' (actually the answer to that is rather obvious....).
@@WilliamMurdochDotNet I didn't comment to talk about the switch theory buddy, he just asked about the fourth funnel that some have said wasn't used the same way as the others.
Olympic’s fourth funnel wasn’t completely useless, it was for ventilation in some places I will have to do research on- but on the boat deck it was for looks.
@@WilliamMurdochDotNet I was talking about this footage I was taking about the 1928 film from Southampton showing Olympic which can be found on youtube.
I'm from New York, first city to have the hearts beat for crack.
They make this ship for deep waters of Atlantic ocean in first travel. Sad.
The RMS Olympic Didn’t sync
No, you are correct, it didn't. The Olympic was scrapped 1935-37. The Titanic sank 1912.
Those men otu be payed
the keel got LAID.. XD
Lucky keel!!!
You people are so, Disgusting.
i dont want to be onboard the titanic its sinking
Olympic should be saved 🥺🥺🥺
Back when there was no health and safety lol
The Olympic has already been scrapped
The Olympic was scrapped 1935 - 37. This is 1908 - 1910.
The reason the Titanic and Britanic sank was because the stupidity and dumbness of people in those times, beautiful ships never to be seen again
Of course, no such "stupidity and dumbness" exists today, it was only a feature of 1912.... (apparantly)
@@WilliamMurdochDotNet agreed
@@WilliamMurdochDotNet th-cam.com/video/cQPwXJW7dYc/w-d-xo.html
@@TravisaInc ?
@@WilliamMurdochDotNet idk anymore
This was switched because of damage and went a sail as the Titanic ....you are looking at the ship known as the titanic here ..there was even port hole differences in each ship ...one was evenly spaced the other ship was noticeably not
Hi Jennie. Thanks for your comment. But I am sorry, the 'switch' theory has long ago been exposed as a hoax. There is no evidence of a switch, so this indeed is the Olympic. For example, the supposed port hole difference you mention is simply due to photographs being taken at different times during the construction of the ships. Once they were finished they actually had the same number of port holes. It is worth doing some research if you have any questions: www.titanicswitch.com
WilliamMurdochDotNet thank u
Jennie, insurance worked differently more than a century ago. The Titanic was only partially insured because Lloyd's of London's underwriters would not issue a full coverage policy. There would be no gain in an insurance scam. This whole switch conspiracy is pure bunkum. As to portholes, changing of portholes is common on all ships and many such changes occurred on the Titanic in the few weeks before she sailed. The Olympic years later had many ongoing changes, including the plugging of old portholes and the cutting of new ones. Remodeling was as prevalent then as it is now.