As
I required frequently to go from home, and as the works must be
carefully attended to during my absence, on the 1st of January,
1862, I took Mr. Wolff in as a partner; and the firm has since
continued under the name of Harland and Wolff. I may here add
that I have throughout received the most able advice and
assistance from my excellent friend and partner, and that we have
together been enabled to found an entirely new branch of industry
in Belfast.
It is necessary for me here to refer back a little to a screw
steamer which was built on the Clyde for Bibby and Co. by Mr.
John Read, and engined by J. and G. Thomson while I was with
them. That steamer was called the Tiber. She was looked upon as
of an extreme length, being 235 feet, in proportion to her beam,
which was 29 feet. Serious misgivings were thrown out as to
whether she would ever stand a heavy sea. Vessels of such
proportions were thought to be crank, and even dangerous.
Nevertheless, she seemed to my mind a great success. From that
time, I began to think and work out the advantages and
disadvantages of such a vessel, from an owner's as well as from a
builder's point of view. The result was greatly in favour of the
owner, though entailing difficulties in construction as regards
the builder. These difficulties, however. I thought might
easily be overcome.
In the first steamers ordered of me by the Messrs.
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