I've had doubts about the Marconi Company but can't find solid data to back those doubts up.
The decision to try and repair the transmitter instead of switching to the backup unit says volumes about Phillips and Bride's regard for the rules, or maybe it should be their disregard for the rules.
Granted, they didn't do as they should, but would it have made a difference if they had? I don't know. How many ice warnings would need to be taken to the bridge before Captain Smith would realize that he should probably reduce the speed? Is it possible that no amount of ice warnings would have changed Captain Smith's mind?
Speaking for myself, those "Senior Moments" have started to kick-in so frequently of late that I am beginning to feel like part of a soccer team.
I agree completely. If the Marconi Company was negotiating for lucrative contracts like for the Imperial Wireless Chain with the British Government and others like it, revenue from "tittle-tattle" commercial traffic would have been pittance by comparison. I therefore very much doubt that Marconi would have compromised their position by making it appear that they had even hinted to their employee operators that private passenger messages should be considered even alongside Navigational ones, let alone be prioritized over the latter.
Perhaps this was what Julian was referring to: Marconi scandal - Wikipedia
I also don't how tipping was handled in 1912 but I doubt that it was like anything today where they automatically add tips to your bill is some places. I'm pretty sure that didn't go on on the 1930's where every penny counted. I'm guessing that the well off in 1912 probably tipped for good service but not all of them. Where I used to work the place was full of casino's. Tipping was the life blood of that business. If you were a regular and known to be a good tipper the service was like night vrs day.
Nice. Yes, it's been a long time since I heard that acronym stated. I'll just say a few more things about this before it gets too far off topic. Where I live my state doesn't require that waitresses get paid minimum wage. They factor their tips in the pay. So it's important that people spread the wealth a little when going out to eat here. Up until the last couple of years I traveled a lot. Some places you had to check out because they considered tipping an offense. Other places like Egypt you tipped for everything "Baksheesh" or Bakshish as some spell it. But back to Titanic. Some called the money given to the crewmen in one of the lifeboats a tip. But I never considered that a tip. More like a helping hand because of their situation not for services rendered.
Yes your right. Some did say it was a bribe. I looked into that story years ago. I didn't come to the conclusion it was a bribe. If it was for that reason I would think the amount would have been a lot higher. I came to conclusion he was just giving them some money to get thru a rough spot because they had lost everything. Some people believe all rich people are miserly and corrupt. I'm not one of them. Cheers.
Amen, Steve, Amen.
Julian, tips would not be considered a commission.
Maybe they use the word different in England. A commission here in the strict sense is a legal agreement/contract. Tipping at least in most cases is informal/voluntary. Sometimes I use my bankcard to pay for dinner but I always leave my tips in cash regardless of how I pay the bill.
