RMS Britannic
Specifications for Private Promenade Parlour Suites
pages 50, 83, 117-118
Transcribed from the original manuscript by Bill Sauder.
This transcription © 1985-2009 Bill Sauder
This web page contains excepts from the Draft copy of the Hull Specification Book prepared for the RMS Britannic dated sometime after Spring 1912. The original document splits construction details into various categories without applying a specific name to the groupings, with the division of material depending on which shipyard department was responsible for the work.
Throughout this section, the Editor has applied the term "Appurtenances" to those pages in that describe finish and outfit applied to the ship's structure (Wall/deck treatment, doors, windows etc.). "Outfit" is the term applied to fittings and furnishings associated with the ship's decor
As noted below, the Britannic's Port Suite was intended to be similar to that installed on Titanic, but the Starboard Suite was extensively reconfigured. A floor plan for what is believed to be the final configuration can be found here.
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Contract Text
Section F - Part I - Describing Appurtenances
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Annotations |
Suite Rooms "B" Deck
Section F - p50
Position - Abreast Nos. 3 & 4 Blr. Casing
Walls - Pannelled
Ceiling - Pannelled
Floor - Veitchi
Note: The Parlour Suite on "C" deck, which would be similar to the "B" Deck cabin cites footnote 7, which reads: "The sitting room on the P[ort] Side next forward 1st Entrance to be Louis XIV style in Oak, that on the S[tarbord] side to be Régence similar to s.s. 401. The sitting rooms at fore end No. 2 Boiler casing to be Georgian style painted white. |
The material cited as "Flooring" (Veitchi) is actually a paste-like subflooring used on Britannic to form a flat walking surface over the rivet heads and plate joints on the structural steel below. The corresponding material used on Olympic and Titanic was "Litosilo".
The finish flooring material seems to have been Linoleum patterned to mimic wood flooring.
The "C" Deck cabin footnote references "ss 401". This is of course the Titanic. The Olympic is mentioned several times by name, but this singular reference to Titanic only refers to her hull number. |
Suite Rooms "B" Deck
Section F - p83
Furniture:
Wood - Oak
Berths - 2 Oak Cot
Carpets, &c. - Blue & as approved
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The Hull Specification Book has a room-by-room description of the major contents of each compartment detailing some 30 different elements such as beds, dressers, wardrobes, curtains etc. with details generally spelled out in full.
It is interesting to note that this section for the Parlour Suites is almost completely empty.
Because this Hull Specification was an early draft, the Editor feels that the exact appointments were not decided till rather late in the design process in order for Britannic to enter service with the most current designs. The Queen Mary showed a similar design tempo |
Contract Text
Section F - Part II - pp117, 118 - Describing Outfit
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Annotations
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Note: The original Contract Draft presents these specifications as a long, single paragraph. This annotated copy inserts logical divisions into the material and supplies reference numbers for the paragraph. Additional material inserted by the Editor indicated by material in [italics and square brackets]. |
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Suite Rooms, “B” Deck.
[Outfit of Port Parlour Suite with Private Promenade]
[1.] The suite on the P[ort] side to consist of two bedrooms and a sitting room, with lavatory accommodation and wardrobe rooms arranged between the bedrooms; the sitting room being at the fore end of the suite next [sic]1st Class Entrance. |
[top of page 117]
Britannic was envisioned with four classes of "Parlour Suites" The set on "C" Deck (which the 433 Hull Specification Book does not address), were enlargements of corresponding rooms on Olympic and Titanic
The paragraphs here ( 1 to 6) are for the Port Parlour Suite with Private Promenade, and was intended to be very similar to that installed on Titanic.
The closing paragraphs (7 to 13) describe a Parlor Suite that has been considerably enhanced to answer the degree of luxury offered by the Imperator class.
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[2.] The after bedroom to be decorated and furnished by H&W, the walls being Oak paneled and the furniture of Oak in the French style; this room to contain two cot beds one 6’9” x 2’9” and one 6’6” x 4’3”; a settee with an oval table in front; a two-basin washstand; a 3’0” dressing table with chair; and an electric heater; the floor to be laid with blue carpet. |
This room corresponds to Titanic B56, decorated in a Louis xx Style developed inhouse by Harland and Wolff's own decorators, referred to H&W Style "A". |
[3.] The forward bedroom to have two Brass cot beds of same size as above, the other articles of furniture being as enumerated for the after bedroom, but the decoration of the room and style of furniture to be to approval [sic] by A. Heaton & Co. |
This room corresponds to Titanic B54. Because of the extra measure of prestige as the "master bed room" of the suite, this room, and the accompanying sitting room, are to be decorated by the outside firm of A. Heaton & Co. |
[4.] The sitting room by A.H.& Co. to have round table in centre of the room, with two armchairs and two ordinary chairs, a sideboard, a cabinet, a corner writing table with chair, two other lounge chairs, a fireplace and an octagonal coffee stool; the paneling, decoration, and style of furniture to be to approval. |
The outfit of this room closely matches the corresponding room B52 on Titanic, the exception being the octagonal coffee stool.
Later photos of the Olympic, however, do show a suggestive fitting.
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[5.] The lavatory accommodation to consist of a bathroom and W.C.; the bathroom containing bath with shower, an open washbasin, a hinged grating seat and electric heater. The floor of the bathroom, W.C. and communicating corridor between the bathrooms to be laid with Lino tiles. |
Private bath facilities in these suites were compartmentalized: a bathroom proper, containing a tub and sink, and a much smaller compartment for the W.C. alone.
Lino = Linoleum
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[6.] A wardrobe room for each bedroom to be arranged with hat and coat hooks and suitable chest of drawers. |
The Wardrobe Room (also called a Trunk Room) was intended as a storage room for steamer trunks brought along, and outfitted similar to a modern walk-in closet |
[Outfit of Starboard Parlour Suite with Private Promenade]
[7.] The suite on the S[tarboard] side to consist of two sets of rooms each comprising bedroom, wardrobe room, bathroom and W.C. Each set to be separately entered from the fore and aft passageway through a vestibule and private athwartship corridor. Between the two sets of rooms a Saloon and Verandah to be arranged each separately communicating with the bedroom of either set of rooms.
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[8.] The Saloon to have a small Pantry at the fore end, and a servant’s bedroom to be arranged adjacent to the forward set of rooms, with an entrance from the main for and aft passageway. |
Passengers traveling at the upper reaches of First Class frequently preferred to dine privately, sometimes entertaining friends traveling on board by coincidence.
The Pantry served as a small kitchen/serving space to facilitate fine service on those occasions when the occupants dined in-cabin.
This pantry arrangement is an improvement for the Britannic prompted by similar facilities on Cunard and German liners.
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[9.] Each bedroom to have two cot beds, one 4’6” and one 2’6” wide, a settee with small round table in front; an arm chair, writing table and chair; a combined dressing table and washstand, with chair; and electric heater. |
Specification for the bedrooms is preliminary. This Hull Specification was an early draft. As noted above, this suggests that the exact appointments were not decided till rather late in the design process. |
[10.] The Saloon to have round table in the centre constructed so as to extend for the accommodation of four persons; four chairs to be supplied for the dining table; a sofa bed; four arm chairs; a corner writing table and chair a small square table and chair; a sideboard, and a fireplace. |
[top of page 118]
The provision for a round extendable table to seat four may be an error since it was customary for W.S. Suite tables to ordinarily accommodate 4 diners. Perhaps the intention was that the side chairs (which typically match the dining chairs) could be brought up to an extension for a total seating of six.
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[11.] Bathrooms to contain bath with shower, washbasin and hinged seat. |
Standard outfit for a suite. |
[12.] The Verandah to have three settees with small square tables in front, two round back chairs, two arm chairs, and two small round tables. |
The outfit here may not be indicative of the furniture set supplied to Titanic, since this suite corresponded to the "Kaiser Suites" onboard the Imperator etc. |
[13.] The servants’ rooms to be finished in dark mahogany and fitted with bed having Pullman over, sofa, wardrobe, folding lavatory, electric heater and a red carpet.
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The class of outfit for this cabin is distinctly lower than adjacent accommodations distinctly rendering it a servant's room.
On Titanic, the small rooms adjacent to the suites were outfitted in a higher class of fittings permitting them to be let out as ordinary First Class cabins if needed.
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