The Heartbeat of the Titanic

At RMS Titanic, Inc., we are honored to share a milestone in our ongoing mission to preserve and reveal the legacy of Titanic. We are thrilled to unveil the conserved Stoking Indicator Master, a pivotal piece of Titanic’s original engineering.

This device was crucial for maintaining the efficiency of Titanic’s boilers. It electrically synchronized the indicators in each of the ship’s boiler rooms, signaling to the Stokers and Trimmers, known as the “Black Gang,” when to open and tend to each of the three furnaces. Precise timing was essential for optimizing the use of coal, especially during Titanic’s maiden voyage when coal was in limited supply due to a coal strike.

When Titanic sank, the contents of the engine room were scattered across the ocean floor. This transmitter was thrown into the debris field, where it lay for over 80 years. The transmitter’s watertight casing withstood immense pressure before eventually succumbing. Weighing over 75 pounds, the metal walls of the device were slowly crushed inward by deep-sea pressure, until the seal finally broke, allowing water to enter and equalize the pressure. Over time, the screws that held the faceplate, made from a different metal, corroded away, leaving the faceplate loosely resting atop the body. Upon recovery, the faceplate detached easily, revealing the intricate internal mechanics behind its operation. Thanks to meticulous conservation efforts, the Stoking Indicator Master is now reunited with one of its original indicators.

At RMS Titanic, Inc., we work closely with expert conservators, as each artifact presents its own challenges. The Stoking Indicator Master, being metal, underwent an extensive desalination process. This process gradually extracts the salts absorbed by the material during its time nearly 2.5 miles below the surface of the North Atlantic. Any residual salts left in the material could cause further corrosion when exposed to air and humidity. As a result, the artifact will be carefully maintained in a controlled environment going forward.

Corrosion was meticulously removed by the conservator to stabilize the artifact while preserving the remarkable green patina formed over decades on the seabed. In conserving Titanic artifacts, our goal is never to erase the evidence of its unique history but to protect it so that it can continue to tell its full story. The corrosion was removed using mechanical methods, the safest and most effective approach. Where corrosion could not be mechanically removed, chemical treatments were applied to ease its extraction, ensuring that any residual chemicals were thoroughly stripped to prevent further reactions with the artifact’s surface.

The original gasket and asbestos insulation, now unsafe and too fragile to handle, were carefully removed. Other internal components, such as loose or detached electrical coils, were also removed to prevent future damage from friction with surrounding materials.

Once the corrosion was removed and loose parts safely extracted, the artifact was coated with a clear sealant. This not only protects it from environmental exposure and dust but also enhances the visibility of the Stoking Indicator’s markings, making the instructions clearer and further highlighting the piece’s historical significance.

The completed conservation reveals an extraordinary example of Edwardian engineering from 1912. The Stoking Indicator Master is a marvel of innovation, designed to meet the demanding needs of transatlantic steamship travel. This artifact stands as a testament to the ingenuity of Titanic’s engineers and the tireless efforts of the Black Gang, who worked until the very end to keep the electrical plant running, ensuring the ship’s lights remained on. This legacy is further supported by scans that show a steam valve in the debris field, still frozen in the open position. The engine room was the heart of Titanic, and this device was the timer that kept it beating.

We hope that visitors to our Las Vegas exhibition find meaning in this artifact. Whether it’s the story of the crew who operated it, the precision of 1912 maritime technology, or the incredible science behind its conservation, sharing the many layers of Titanic’s story allows us to fulfill our mission to keep the memory of the ship and its passengers alive.