The archive of the inventor of Waldram’s Day and Night Pier Signals, including his unrecorded pamphlet and a part set of hand-painted miniature tin signalling flags - and compass.
Edward Waldram’s proposal for a new set of Brighton maritime signals is housed within a custom-made wooden box (35x17x9cm) with a brass label on top: ‘International Code of Signals. Edward Waldram’. Waldram sets out his plans in what seems to be an unrecorded pamphlet: Brighton West Pier, Notice to Masters of Steam Vessels using this Pier, Approved by the Elder Brethren of the Trinity House, 25th March, 1898 - Octavo, stitched cover, pp12, at various times folded vertically and horizontally; front cover browned and detached, inscribed by Edward Waldram, with coloured illustrations of the signals and their use; annotations re the Brighton Queen to the last page; internal 5pp Description of Berths and Signals, illustrated; final page list of ‘Depths of water alongside the respective berths’. With newspaper clipping from Sussex Daily News, June 5, 1897 pasted to inside front cover recording the installation of Waldram’s signals to the West Pier.
With 3 Brass plaques (6 x 4 cm), one attached on wooden block, ‘Waldram’s Day & Night Pier Signals. Manufactured by Norie & Wilson, 156 Minories London’ and 6 painted prototype or model tin naval signalling flags (6 x 7.5 cm) for the conventional letters J, (L), M, P, T, W, plus similar ‘Answering Pennant’ painted on tin, with 6 further rectangular tin blanks and 2 pennant blanks; each with folded loop of metal for attachment to raising wire.
A further pamphlet: The International (commercial) Code of Signals Briefly Explained.
Pen and ink map/sea chart (18 x 15cm) on card locating Manacles Rocks off Falmouth, with newspaper letters from Waldram advocating the provision of proper navigational aids around the famous and lethal hazard.
Further newspaper letters chronicling Waldram’s suggestion to instigate local and national ‘Lifeboat Days’ to raise funds for the RNLI;
Together with other ephemera including pamphlet ‘Inscriptions in the Tower of London, without cover, first 46pp remaining; and three Church of England deeds relating to the admission into priesthood, and installation as vicar of St. John’s, West Hendon, of Revd Reginald A J M Waldram (1871-1940, presumed son of Edward Waldram), bearing episcopal seals - F. London and W.W. Willesden.
Despite the evidence contained within this collection, the fate of Waldram’s ‘ingenious yet very simple, system of signalling’ is unknown despite the fact that it is clearly documented here that it was installed and operational on Brighton’s famous West Pier. More research is, no doubt, required.
