Welcome to the wireless shack! R.M.S Titanic has on board two Marconi operators--Jack Phillips (left) and Harold Bride (right). They're not really employed by the White Star Line--just "leased" through the Marconi International Marine Telegraph Company. Still, White Star Line signs their paychecks and the wireless operators are considered junior officers. (That's why when the headline Five Officers Saved! ran in the papers, it was assumed that Sixth Officer Moody survived when really Harold Bride did.) Considering all the work they are required to do, both operators are paid a pathetic wage. Jack Phillips--as the senior and with 6 years in the Marconi Company under his belt--earns 4 dollars a week (16 dollars a month) and Harold Bride earns 2 dollars a week (8 dollars a month). In British Pounds, Bride's monthly salary was 6.75. 4 pounds from the Marconi Company and then another 2.75 from White Star Line. It doesn't sound like much, but those are very decent wages in 1912. Shipboard wireless operators made more than their relay station and railroad counterparts and Mr. Marconi himself remarked that "the wage is better and going out to sea is very appealing to many young men."
In order to "see the world" as a employee of the Marconi International Marine Telegraph Company, young men had to be between the ages of 21-25 and able to send a recieve 25 words per minute in Morse. The age restriction was rarely enforced and most operators entered the business when they were 19 or 20. After passing their civil service examination, the young men had to finish up their training at the Marconi Training School in Liverpool. After five months, they were ready to be stationed on a vessel. As for our boys, in 1912, Phillips could tap out 39 words per minute, ditto that for Cottam, and Bride's speed was 26 words per minute.
By 1912, wireless was still a mystery and only fully understood by its inventor and operators. Young men who were interested in this new technology entered the Marconi Telegraph Training School around the age of 18 or 19 (in some cases later) and within a few months of intense training, were considered experts in the field of wireless communications. They often became snippy in regards to Non-Marconi operators--claiming they were "incompetent" and "didn't know how to use Morse properly." (The United States Navy bore the brunt of such attacks.)
Touch the spark. . .Sound the tone--A line from Titanic-the musical--sums up beautifully how the wireless apparatus operated. Because of this, all operators were nick-named "Sparks."
April 3rd~~the equipment is adjusted (again) and is now working correctly. From this time on, the wireless is in constant use. Phillips and Bride exchange messages with coast stations and sea trial reports are transmitted to Bruce Ismay (the Managing Director for White Star Line) in Liverpool. The Marconi Men leave the ship for a break in Southampton.
April 6th~~Phillips returns briefly to Titanic to check the spare parts.
April 9th~~Bride signs back on board.
April 10th~~Sailing Day. Phillips and Bride are up early conducting final equipment tests. They agree on watch hours. Phillips--the chief operator--takes the 8 p.m-2 a.m. watch and Bride from 2 a.m.-8 a.m. During the day, they would relieve each other to suit convience. A continuous 24-hour watch is to be maintained.
Bride and Phillips shared sleeping quarters that was connected to the operating room by a door. While getting undressed or ready for a meal, they could still hear what messages the other was sending so the wall (and door) was thin. The operators also shared the officers' toilet/washroom across the corridor.
Junior wireless operator Harold Bride
time-rush: "T.R" for short. A common courtesy among operators, whichever ship hears the other for the first time calls them up to let them know that they are in range and gives the time both in NY and ship's time to make sure their clocks are syncronized.
CQD -.-. --.- -.. (dah-di-dah-dit dah-dah-di-dah dah-di-dit)
MGY -- --. -.-- (dah-dah dah-dah-dit dah-di-dah-dah) (Callsign of Titanic)
DDD -.. -.. -.. (dah-di-dit dah-di-dit dah-di-dit) (Shut up)
GM --. -- (dah-dah-dit dah-dah) (Good morning)
GN --. -. (dah-dah-dit dah-dit) (Good night)
OM --- -- (dah-dah-dah dah-dah) (Old Man~~Term all operators addressed each other as.)
GTH --. - .... (dah-dah-dit dah di-di-di-dit) (Go to Hell)
The Wireless Shack has won:
Mr. Marconi and his invention:
In 1895, Marconi invited the wireless apparatus. Messages zipped through the air by electricity and it's range was much, much farther than the regular telegraph which had been invented in the 1830s. Marconi was only 21 years old at the time of his break-through invention but--since it was different--people distrusted it. He was forced to leave Italy because no one would take him seriously and ended up in his mother's homeland of England. Mr. Marconi won the Nobel Prize for the invention of wireless.
Preparing for sailing day:
April 2nd~~The telegraph equipment is delivered to Titanic in time for sea trials. Phillips and Bride spend the day installing and adjusting the equipment.
Location, Location, Location:
The Wireless Shack ("Marconi Room") is located 40 feet aft from the bridge and connected by a corridor on the port side of the officers' quarters. That's on the boat deck, so the operators could sneak out for a smoke alongside the lifeboats.
Interesting Wireless Jargon:
proces-verbal: Basically the "log book" called P.V. for short. This is where all messages recieved and transmitted had to recorded in minute detail. As if the operators didn't have enough to do, everything had to be written out in pencil since there were no fancy machines to do it for them.
Common Morse Signals:
SOS ...---... (di-di-dit dah-dah-dah di-di-dit)
Messages Sent From The Titanic:
Titanic's first distress signal was sent at 12:15 a.m., April 15. From that time till the marconi operators abandoned ship, Phillips sent a constant stream of messages. Here are some of the most important:
*No matter what that says, Phillips was 25--Not 28.*
Gregory Cooke(left) as Jack Phillips and Craig Kelly as Harold Bride
Phillips(seated): "CQD, sir? Blimey!" Bride: "Why don't you send SOS? It's the new signal and could be your last chance to use it."
**Listen to Titanic's Marconi Men from the James Cameron movie chew out that idiot on the Californian.
**Listen to Morse sending out CQD and SOS.
Thank you Chris for the Titanic-movie file.
Contributing L/F Writer: Aurora Brynn © 1998
Sources: Titanic's Radio Page
Titanic British Inquiry Transcripts
Dave Bryerson. Titanic Disaster: As Recorded By The British National Press.
Morse Alphabet Chart
You are # to drop by the wireless shack.