Antique Ship Engine Communicator Telegraph Chadburns Liverpool

Antique Ship Engine Order Telegraph Chadburn's Ltd Liverpool

An engine order telegraph, abbreviated as E.O.T. or sometimes known as a Chadburn, serves as a communication apparatus aboard a ship (or submarine). Its purpose is to enable the captain on the bridge to instruct the engineers in the engine room to adjust the vessel’s speed to a specific desired level. These devices are sometimes also called “repeaters” because they typically come in pairs, and at each end, they would ‘repeat’ the bell signal to confirm receipt of the command. The serial number of this specific E.O.T. is 40/136, and it features a repeating mechanism with a bell signal.

Following the late 19th century granting of Prince Albert's Royal Warrant, a type of certification or proof that enables a supplier to advertise that they produce goods for the Royal Family,  Chadburn Brothers were celebrated as one of the oldest businesses, "founded over a century ago", in the Kingdom of England. Producing optics and marine instruments and scientific gauges. 

Liverpool, North West England, 1870 an application by William Chadburn was submitted with the prospect of patenting a communication device. The patent proposed was to produce an instrument used aboard ships as a means of transferring navigational signals from the pilot house to the engine room. By 1875, Chadburn & Son were in production. The result was the brass engine order telegraph. 

Not long in business and as luck would have it that William Chadburn lived two doors down form Thomas Ismay, founder of the prestigious White Star Line, owner of the ocean liner RMS Titanic. Their relationship grew to a business affiliation where White Star employed Chadburns instruments on their ocean liners. Chadburns manufactured the engine room telegraphs and steam whistles, to name a few, for use on Titanic. 

In 1911 the ship RMS Titanic was launched, fitted with Chadburn & Sons E.O.T. The Chadburn Ship Telegraph Company Limited was registered in 1898 to take over Chadburn & Sons. In 1903 a large factory at Bootle, near Liverpool, and their products were being sold overseas. In 1920 electric-powered telegraphs were developed. In 1944 the name changed to Chadburn’s (Liverpool) Limited. In 1968 the company became Chadburn Bloctube Ltd. In 2000 the company, now Bloctube Marine Limited, was still manufacturing ship telegraphs.

During its time, Chadburn & Son occupied a plant at 71 Lord St. and promoted themselves as manufacturers of telegraphs and other instruments used in vessels of various navies and and mercantile marines.  By 1884, it is noted that over 3,000 employed a Chadburn & Son telegraph. At one point, Chadburn’s was responsible for 75% of the world’s marine telegraph production.

General commands include:  Full Ahead, Three Quarters Ahead, Half Ahead, Slow Ahead ,Stop, Slow Astern, Half Astern, Three Quarters Astern & Full Astern

Condition - Very good used condition. The glass has no chips or cracks. The main body construction is cast brass. The dial is in good unfaded condition. There is a bell fitted inside the mechanism. The command leaver is free moving.

Approximate Measurements
Height 27cm (10 1/2 inches)
Depth 18cm (7 inches)
Width 34 cm (13 1/2 inches) including handle)
Weight 13 kg