SS Manaar (GFRG) Radio Room Photographs

[John Leary]

The link below will possibly only be of interest to ex R/O's or members with an interest in radio communications. I have visited the site before but this is the first time I have come across the photographs of Manaar's radio room. They were taken the year before I sailed on her and the room is exactly as it was when I joined her.

In 1964, P Y Wright was the Chief R/O because I remember meeting him on board when I was junior on the Mahseer. I had forgotten some of the detail, particularly the location of the aerial change-over panel. I was transported back 44 years when I saw the images being almost able to smell that unique combination of varnish, polish and stale pipe tobacco smoke!

To find the photographs, the URL is http://www.telegraphy.net.nz/ click on the button British ships post WW11 and then select ships with names starting M-R. The Manaar photographs are at the bottom of the page.

Good viewing
John

[Tony Selman]

A great spot on your behalf there John and a most interesting site for ex Marconi Sahibs. Great memories of my first trips on Matra as well because the two radio rooms are remarkably similar. Excellent. (Applause)

[gwzm]

John,

I did my first voyage as acting Burrah Marconi Sahib coasting round the continent on the Manaar with David Meare as the Chota Marconi Sahib for two weeks in January '64. I joined the ship in Middlesborough in freezing cold weather. She was just out of dry dock and only a scratch crew on board. The Chief Steward, whose name I've forgotten, cooked a huge fry up for dinner in the evening then we repaired to a hostelry - the Corporation??

I can still remember the adventures (!) we had with the R50M receiver, the MF transmitter that was a shade touchy to tune up accurately enough to get full power without tripping out, the radar that switched itself off all by itself, and the D/F that cra$$ed out just when we needed it most.

You definitely re-awakened a lot of nostalgic memories with this one, thanks for posting.

All the best,

gwzm/John

[John Leary]

GWZM/John
You have solved one mystery regarding the radio room photographs as they were posted on the NZ site by David Meare. Any idea what became of him because I wondered whether there were any more in that series. The BTH radar was replaced by an AEI unit in 1965 which worked without fault during the time I was on board.

Tony
Who knows perhaps in time more Brocklebank radio room photographs will appear on the Internet. Although I always had a camera with me during my time at sea I cannot understand now why I never took any photographs of the equipment. One of life's great regrets!
Regards
John