Unseen slides of QE2 being built, fitted out, on trials and early years.

[Rod]

Thomas, that may well be the case.
I do know that the original clock system was not particularly well liked by the SRE staff.
I did read somewhere, maybe on this forum that later on, clocks were changed manually. But it did take about 2 hours. It also wasn't particularly accurate.
 A clock would throw a wobbler and the Bureau, individual staff etc  would get many complaints.
I also noticed on here in a couple of pics that the clocks themselves had changed.
Michael???

[Thomas Hypher]

Another question, and please excuse my generational ignorance on this matter, but what was the main purpose of the Sound Reproduction Room, alongside it being the TV and Radio station onboard? What sound reproduction would they have been needing to do? Not Foley Artist work I presume?

It would be interesting to find out what became of the room through comparing deckplans or crew recollections, and to find out what the space is used for now even (if it's in use).

[Rob Lightbody]

Another question, and please excuse my generational ignorance on this matter, but what was the main purpose of the Sound Reproduction Room, alongside it being the TV and Radio station onboard? What sound reproduction would they have been needing to do? Not Foley Artist work I presume?

It would be interesting to find out what became of the room through comparing deckplans or crew recollections, and to find out what the space is used for now even (if it's in use).

Each cabin had a wee entertainment station built into the bedside units with "radio," stations, I'm assuming they must have come from here.  Also did they do piped music in public areas at all originally?

[Michael Gallagher]

I can't find mention of the Sound Reproduction Room on any 1969 plans (top two images). Was this part of the Telephone Exchange? That is clear on the plans.

Over the years greater and more extensive use of television was made throughout QE2 and every cabin was fitted with a new 20-channel colour television in 1987 for the first time. The German company Grundig supplied the television sets and built a new TV Studio which was located by F Stairway on Three Deck and replaced the Telephone Exchange which had become a redundant facility when a new computer-supported automated telephone system was also installed in 1987. The TV Studio can be seen in image 3.

[Rob Lightbody]

On your last plan there, there's a skinny room to the left of the TV studio and to the right of the pantry... What's that?

This is ultra geeky stuff and i love it

[Michael Gallagher]

That third plan is dated December 2000 and it seems the thin room you refer to was added around then because it does not exist on late 1990s plans as seen here!

[Thomas Hypher]

Could it have been an additional passenger laundry facility, with the multiple shapes, particularly the squares representing the US type vertical washing machines etc etc? Having said that, maybe not as the noise would've disrupted things in the TV studio unless the TV studio was well sound insulated? The only other things I can think of could be extra storage space for TV equipment, an advanced control booth, or perhaps more likely a footage/video editing area separate from the photography areas elsewhere onboard? Maybe it's just an extra pantry but left unlabelled on those plans?

[Rob Lightbody]

Inspired by Rod and his slide information, I've uploaded another batch of slides just now, still of April 1969.  There's some interesting ones there

[Rod]

I think that what Rob is looking at is a depiction of the amplifiers for the Tannoy speaker system. It was split up into zones, eg Boat deck ,outside stbd. Engine room, Public Rooms etc etc. built into the SRE Room, at a date after launch the "studio" where the daily Radio Show eg came from This started around the center of the room and went over to the port side. it was only about4'-5' wide, had 2 chairs, a double record deck, 8 track player and a casette player.After re-engining I have no idea what went on there. Michael it would have to have been part of the telephone exchange, although it was in existence in 1971.

 

[Rod]

To use Thomas' words "Another question, and please excuse my generational ignorance on this matter, but what was the main purpose of the Sound Reproduction Room, alongside it being the TV and Radio station onboard? What sound reproduction would they have been needing to do? Not Foley Artist work I presume?"
Excuse MY generational ignorance.

What on earth is Foley Artist work?
In my description I deliberately put in the bit about the 8-track to give you and idea of the era. At the time 8-tracks were very modern then.
The main purpose of the room was to house all the Tannoy equipment and later a lot of the tv equipment. It also housed the radio "studio" which was installed in the early 70's I believe.

[Lynda Bradford]

Rob's early years slide pictures is attracting visitors to the forum.  We had an email in the admin mail box enquiring about the white Lido Deck furniture.

since I was a young boy I have been interested in the old transatlantic ocean liners........
I have read some newer books and I am very pleased to see brilliant works. In one of these books "Ship Style" written by Philip Dawson and Bruce Peter there is a picture, which is showing the lido decks at the stern of QE2 from the earlier years. There are some fabulous white chairs and tables in a specific modern style. You can also see these chairs in many photos in the QE2 Story Slide Collection photo album on your QE2 Story home page (April 1969).
Do you happen to know if this furniture is a designer piece or the designer is unknown?
I would be very glad to hear from you.

I wrote to Bruce Peter to ask if he knew the designer and his response was as follows:

"The furniture was, I believe, designed by James Gardiner, who was responsible for the whole outside decks. I found correspondence in the Design Archives at the University of Brighton about the deck furniture."

Does anyone have any more information on the Lido Deck furniture?

[Thomas Hypher]

What on earth is Foley Artist work?

https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-a-foley-artist/#:~:text=A%20Foley%20artist%20is%20a%20person%20who%20re-creates,to%20record%20sounds%20as%20they%20watch%20the%20film.

[Michael Gallagher]

These images show the different types of outdoor seating QE2 offered on her aft Lido Decks.

[Rod]

All of those are alien to me apart from the blue cushions on the deck chairs.

[Rob Lightbody]

Hello QE2 fans.

I've just uploaded one of the last batches of slides from the collection.  The dates are unclear.  In some photos it looks like the middle windows of the lookout bar are plated over BUT is it possible its just the door to the hold in the way?



There are some other great shots like this one



and this one...



and we even get a look at the Double Up Bar



The tapestries in their original location



In Southampton for one of the first times



What room is this?



And isn't this lovely?



Even this tells a story... the room that disappeared, and a hulking great late 60s TV set!  The sunshine on the wood is nice.



and finally...



Is this the radio room?



And how lovely to see this



Engine room



A visit to the bridge



A very early shot of a view that many of us took in later years



Enjoy!  As always the full link to the slides is here
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=207 where they are available in high quality

All Images Copyright © The QE2 Story