Talk:SS Columbia (1880)

Article re-assessment.

The reviews to this page's content are somewhat outdated and relate to version one of this article. I would like to request a re-assessment of this page's quality. 707 (talk) 17:54, 20 October 2013 (UTC)

Could have section devoted to the electric light system

Then could have more technical details on the dynamos and lighting circuits, and expand on the mentions elsewhere in the article. Would be a good link from Edison lighting system. - Rod57 (talk) 14:08, 29 September 2015 (UTC)

I tried to do just that more recently, after coming across valuable sources from Chester, Pennsylvania newspapers back in 1879 and 1880. I added in further information on Columbia's electrical systems and other features, along with confirming the ship was indeed a Brigantine vessel with her auxiliary sail configuration.MatthewAnderson707 (talk) 18:31, 10 January 2016 (UTC)

Were ships lit by gas in 1870s

Since the electric lights were novel - what did other ships use ? If gas - how generated, supplied etc - Rod57 (talk) 14:12, 29 September 2015 (UTC)

Ships before 1879 and 1880 generally used oil lanterns, as did any other man made structure on Earth. Lanterns were the main source of luminescence aboard sailing ships and steamships since at least the 1500s and 1600s. Columbia changed this practice by not only providing electric lights to her cabins and main saloon, but the navigation lights were also electric and directly wired to Columbia's three main dynamos plus its fourth spare dynamo should the others fail. Though the rest of the ship, as per tradition, was lit with oil lanterns as well during Columbia's early years.MatthewAnderson707 (talk) 18:31, 10 January 2016 (UTC)