Chart Reader situated in Lookout Bar (1969 to 1972)

[Bob C.]

Does anyone know of a photo of the face of this piece of equipment? 

Is/was there a proper name for it as well? 

I'm ramping up research for the Lookout Bar. I pretty much have photos of the main features (time will tell) except for the orange navigation display. I have several photos of it from various and good angles but none that show what is on the display faces.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

[Chris Thompson]

Does anyone know if the very 60's cool looking navigation display was saved?
Definitely looks like it should be in a Museum somewhere.....

[Rob Lightbody]

I found this on this website....

The bar has a microfilm reader which a passenger can switch on to read a chart of the area through which the ship is passing.

We also have a dedicated topic for the lookout bar
https://theqe2story.com/forum/index.php?topic=6108.0

[Michael Gallagher]

The bright red Chart Reader showed the charts of the areas to which QE2 would travel and could be switched on and off by passengers. The Pedestal incorporated a Gyro Repeater and Clock (by Sperry) and a microfilm unit for charts and was mostly a decorative feature. It was the creation of Theo Crosby from the Crosby / Fletcher / Forbes combination who began work on it as early as 1967 - even then Cunard's Naval Architect Dan Wallace was complaining about its planned location within the Lookout Bar as the feature affected the window closing arrangement and wanted it relocated. To accommodate the pedestal in its position alterations had to be made to the air-conditioning inlets in the room.

The unit cost itself £850 - £150 for the Gyro repeater from Sperry, £50 for the clock (Convair Time and Electricals), £150 for the microfilm reader (Electrosonics) while the casting by Kent Alloys cost £415 and the fitting out and finishing in stove enamel £85. There were additional costs to be be paid to the builders for re-wriring and other alterations to the room which included provision of a cooling air inlet, a power connection and a connection from the Bridge for the Gyro repeater and all of this would come from under the floor. Total overall cost: £1,250.

All equipment was shipped to Leeds-based company Masons who had won the contract for the Lookout Bar.

There was a debate between the designers and Cunard over who should pay. The designers claimed the equipment was part of the overall technical / navigation package for the ship so it should go to that budget but Cunard insisted it was a decorative element and should come from the £50,000 art budget- and won the argument in December 1967. This was important as the Lookout was the only public room to be exceeding its budget in 1967 (by £8,000). Cunard argued for a more basic room but the designers eventually won and were given an increased budget.

What happened to the Chart Reader after the obliteration of the Lookout in 1972 remains unknown to me.

Art budget for QE2 - £50,000 / Art budget for Queen Mary 2 - £1.3 million

[Lynda Bradford]

Wow - incredible amount of detail for Bob's model.  Can't wait to see what Bob creates.

[Rob Lightbody]

Incredible detail about the Lookout Bar and the Chart Reader - fantastic Michael!  Lovely to be able to see exactly what it did.

Is it possible that not a single photo exists of it in action?

Imagine if it was found, completely intact somewhere... what would you pay for it?

Moderator Note - I think we need to copy Michael's content about the Lookout Bar to its own topic (there must be one already!) and perhaps the Chart Reader even needs its own topic??

[Bob C.]

Boom!!! Jackpot!!!

Thanks so much Michael.  This detail is incredible.  Actual dimensions of the navigation repeater as well! Dimensions are always preferred but rarely found, at least so far.

Thanks again.  I’m hoping to start the room in a few weeks.

[Rob Lightbody]

Moderation Note : Michael had attached a very high quality TIF file that wasn't showing up correctly.  I have converted this to a JPG and its now showing (last photo in Reply #108 above)

[Bob C.]

Does anyone have a photo of the faces of the clock and compass?

Interestingly, the drawings show the clock on the right and the compass on the left.  But looking at MG's photo in reply #3, it looks as if the compass is on the right.  I need a photo to make sure.

[Lynda Bradford]

Does anyone have a photo of the faces of the clock and compass?

Interestingly, the drawings show the clock on the right and the compass on the left.  But looking at MG's photo in reply #3, it looks as if the compass is on the right.  I need a photo to make sure.

Does this picture in the VADS article help?  Will keep looking for other photos.