Houlder Bros Beauval

Can anyone in the know, an ex sparky perhaps, say if this key is a sideways key, as opposed to the up and down key. I dimly recall that is was an American sideways key. But would a UK trained sparky take to a sideways key. Maybe its no problem.

Also anyone recognize this sparky, I should know but his name escapes me after all these years.

Looks like a side key, a lot of ROs bought their own, I just used what was provided, ie up and down. Don't know the name of the RO but he's "too sexy for his shirt".

John T

That is an up and down key.
Jim

Being bored one morning the third mate and I, (second mate), cellotaped the sparks arms and legs to his chair while he was sending. As he was quite hairy, I didn't hang around, but seeing this guy stripped to the waist reminded me.
If your still a member of this site Tom, is it safe to come out from under the chart table now?

R.O's were a Law unto themselves. Most of them seem to have bikes on board, shut down and(Wave) during Port time. Looks a nice set up on this vessel.

I'd say that was an up and down key as well. By the way 'side to side' keys were called bug keys although I am not quite sure if they had some more official name than that. I don't recognise this equipment although the receiver looks a bit like an Eddystone. I thought Houlder's were manned by Marconi men and this certainly isn't any Marconi kit that I have ever seen.
This is one R/O who did not have a bike and I must say I did not ever come across one at sea who did, but the late John Russell wrote a couple of books about his time with NZS and he detailed his adventures on his bike on the NZ coast.

I never had a bike too bloody lazy. All Houlders Ore carriers were fitted and operated by IMRC.