RedDog382

For years, the wreck lay undisturbed due to the "deep" water in which she lay. Only recently, new technology eventually allowed technical divers and video to explore and document the wreck.

A friend once pointed out something I had never considered.

If the intact ship were stood on end at the bottom, the bow would stick up out of the water 230 feet!

RedDog382

Bell restoration:

S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald Online © 2000-2005 by Timothy Craig McCall. All Rights Reserved.Message Board

Restoration of the Edmund Fitzgerald's Bell:



The bell of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald was raised in 1995 under the coordination of many organizations. It was restored before being placed in the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum by Michigan State University. Below is a summary of the condition of the bell, and the steps that were taken by Michigan State University to restore the bell. The two photos on this page are provided courtesy of Gail Vander Stoep.



Bell's Initial Condition
Immediately following their removal from the ship, the bell and its stand were in poor condition due to water damage resulting in iron corrosion. The bell was coated in sulfide, there was heavy rusting, and "Edmund Fitzgerald" was not easily readable on the bell. The bell's stand also had severe corrosion of the iron, and the paint was chipping and in poor condition.


Restoring The Bell

To initially clean the bell, rust spots and deposits (iron corrosion) were cleaned with dental picks, and then the sulfide coating was removed with very soft bristle toothbrushes and baking soda. Following this step, researchers continued using lemon juice and formic acid (found in bee stings).

After the initial cleaning, sulfide was removed completely by washing the bell in formic acid, revealing a thick coat of rust under the sulfide. The rust was also removed by wrapping the bell in rags coated by formic acid, and once this step was complete, the bell was washed another time with distilled water and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). Due to the nature of sulfide, drying the bell with heat caused oxides and chemical residue and remnants to be released, including iron oxide, which was removed through more soaking and scrubbing. Researchers then transported the bell of the Edmund Fitzgerald to be "power washed" by blasting it with baking soda and distilled water at high pressure. Soda blasting the outside of the bell successfully removed all remaining tarnish on the bell's surface, and the bell was then buffed several times, ending the cleaning process.

After cleaning the bell, it was coated with six layers of lacquer, and the same type of paint used originally on the bell's steel was found and used in a repainting. The repainting was completed by spray painting.
Finally, incised letters spelling "Edmund Fitzgerald" that appear on the bell in black were added, and the original rope from the bell was used for the bell's clapper.



The Restored Bell

The restored bell weighs approximately 200 pounds and is 21 1/2 inches in diameter at its base. It is displayed currently on permanent loan at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, which made additional changes to the bell, such as adding the shiny finish which can be seen on the bell today.


How the bell is used

The bell is on permanent display at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Michigan and is used each November 10th in the bell-ringing ceremony in memoriam of the 29 crewmen of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
to the Crew (soon)

Downtown42

http://www.edmundfitzgerald.com/

Cord

iTrader: (2)

I've been through the museum. It's a pretty nice one and would be worth the visit. They even had an imploded steel marker that got dragged down.

Half Nutz

Thanks for all the info Chris,

I love this stuff on The Fitz


Dan

LEOPAJM

That may have been part of the problem !?!?

Sorry ,,, couldn't resist

Edward R. Cozzi

Saw a very interesting documentary on the History or Discovery channel some time ago.
Anybody else see it?

DJD

Yes Ed, I saw the same program. Very interesting!!! I'd like to see it again.

Edward R. Cozzi

I have heard many times that professional mariners would rather navigate the open ocean rather than the Great Lakes.

Didn't you get the impression that the hatches failed and allowed too much water to engulf the holds?

JaayTeee

I saw it too. ( the TV show)

That was one of the assumptions.

I liked the theory of it bottoming out
near caraboo island,then slowly taking on water,
then later, getting wacked with two large waves,
from behind, driving it down.( kind of like a reverse stuff)

Ed,

Have you seen any $$$ from the Iowa folks yet ?