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Ref NoDM1306/11/1/6/folio 18-26
TitleLetter from Isambard Kingdom Brunel to the Directors of the Great Ship Company
DescriptionWritten from Lyons. The letter sets out Brunel's hopes and expectations in advance of the contracts being settled for the work on fitting out the Great Eastern and the plans that he has made to ensure that work can proceed while he is out of the country. The letter explains that, the previous Spring (February and March 1858), Brunel prepared specifications based on six different contracts for fitting out the ship and received several tenders for the work. Brunel describes the pros and cons of the tenders he received from John Scott Russell and Wigram and Lucas, his subsequent preparation of a new specification and the arrangements that were made with John Scott Russell for the completion of small pieces of work including the Paddle Engines and crank shaft. The letter also discusses the way that contracts with John Scott Russell might work and how the tender process might work. The letter comments on the possible cost of adding a poop deck to the ship and gives his recommendations as to the course to follow and the tender that should be accepted as well as the time-frames that should be anticipated and offers his suggestions for the oversight of the project. There is an annotation at the bottom of Folio 21 with an explanatory note relating to the finances.
Date6 December 1858
FormatManuscript volume
Extent9 pages
Access ConditionsThis material is held at the Brunel Institute - please contact the Brunel Institute to arrange access.
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