A BRASS ENGINE ROOM VALVE WHEEL FROM H.M.S. DREADNOUGHT (1906)
24in. diameter, heavily cast in brass with six spokes and mounted on a mahogany frame with plaque inscribed H.M.S. DREADNOUGHT 1906 / MANOEUVRING VALVE HANDWHEEL STARD. CRUISING TURBINE -- 36in. (91.5cm.) high

The first all big-gun ship and rightly considered the 'grandfather' of all modern battleships, H.M.S. Dreadnought was also the first to employ Charles Parsons' turbines as opposed to the noisy and messy reciprocating engines tried and trusted by the late Victorian navy. The result was a triumph - fast, clean, quiet, efficient, armoured and accurate: Jane's Fighting Ships claimed that she was the equal of 'two if not three traditional battleships', thus rendering them all obsolete at a stroke. At a demonstration in August 1907 to show Edward VII and Queen Mary, a "scratch" gun crew fired twelve 12in. shells with eleven finding their mark a mile and a half away. Obsolete by the Great War, she was sadly broken in 1923 by Wards at Inverkeithing but remains perhaps the most iconic battleship of the 20th Century.

Condition Report
Fine overall condition.

We are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of this property. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Charles Miller Ltd is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD “AS IS” IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE.