MARCONI ROOM

The RMS TITANIC was equipped with state-of-the-art technology for 1912. One shiny new tool was the Wireless Marconi System. The system took power from the Ship's 100-volt direct current lighting circuits to drive a 5-kilowatt motor-generator that provided the alternating current needed to create radio waves. The guaranteed working range for this Marconi was 250 miles, but it could receive and transmit messages up to 2,000 miles at night under good atmospheric conditions.

Operators of #TITANIC's radio were employed by the Marconi Company rather than the White Star Line. Extensive training was required to learn the machines, and becoming fluent in Morse code was challenging.

The professionals chosen for TITANIC were John "Jack" Phillips and Harold Bride. Both vivacious young British men, the two worked in alternating 6-hour shifts. During the sinking, both men worked tirelessly sending distress messages until the icy water forced them out of the radio room. Because of Jack Phillips and Harold Bride, the CARPATHIA was able to pinpoint the location and rescue the 712 survivors.

Harold Bride was rescued, but Jack Phillips was lost.