The ship was produced in the shipyard "Lübecker Flender-Werke AG" in Lübeck and launched on 28 October 1960. In 1961 it was delivered to the Gemeinwirtschaftliche Hochseefischerei GmbH, Bremerhaven. After 18 years the ship was sold to Eisen & Metall AG, Hamburg for demolition. On 06 February 1979 the ship arrived in Hamburg and the demolition began. *

Further technical details about the ship:

The beautiful "fir tree" consists of a cast iron or cast steel main body with two original valve water indicators. The iron body has a separate water and steam space, and the water could not boil. Therefore an incorrect indication of the water level was impossible.

The twisted water pipe is crowned by an older manometer. This manometer is from the last steam fire engine of the small town of Itzehoe in Holstein. The engineer, who retired together with his steam engine, took the manometer home because it was in a lighting box. The manometer had to be visible by night and he urgently needed this light box for his rabbit hutch. Mr. Pöge, to whom we have so many collector's items to thank, "snatched" the manometer from him and so it came back to us.

Single parts of the double water level indicator:

The individual valvetype water level indicator on the left side of the boiler wall is equipped with quick-closing valves (see original sampling valves Fig. 41). The water indicator could be closed and opened by turning the valve lever 120°. A right- and left-hand model was available. To protect the glass tube from external influences, it is equipped with a wire glass protective sleeve.

The glass tubes of the central and right water level indicators have been replaced by reflection water level indicator. These indicated a totally black surface for an overfilled boiler and a completely white surface for an empty boiler. For a glass tube, the same colour was displayed in both cases. In addition, no additional protection device was required for the water level indicators. The quick-closing valves have two hand wheels with chain pull instead of the plug key. This configuration allows the boiler operator to close the water level from anywhere inside or outside the boiler house. Moreover, if a glass was broken, the "heater" was not at risk of scalding when closing the water level indicator.

More details on the original valve-type reflective water level indicators, Wired Glass Sleeves and Chain Hoists:

Sampling valves were absolutely necessary to additionally check the water level and the salt concentration of the water. If the water was fed repeatedly, the salt concentration concentrated and had to be discharged from time to time.

The three water gauges have drain valves (see original sampling valves Fig. 43) in the lower section.

Further information on the plug keys and handwheels:

Feed water is water that is stored in a feed water tank and continuously supplied to a steam boiler. The feed water is processed in a way that components of the water that are detrimental to boiler operation have been removed or converted into substances that have no detrimental effect on boiler operation.

The inlet of the feed water to the boiler is ensured by the feed valves. The boiler was equipped with two feed valves, which could be adjusted from the outside by means of an adjusting screw and which were installed close to the boiler. The feed valves are completely made of bronze so that they are not corroded by the flowing water and are designed to be as strong as possible.

These valves are used to reduce the steam pressure. The pressure reduction is effected by reducing the steam and is automatic. This is achieved by the effect of a spring (Fig. 15) or by lever and weight. Once set to a specific pressure, the valve does not allow any higher tensions to arise in the boiler at a constant pressure.

The required pressure can be adjusted by tensioning or lifting the spring. These valves work equally well for high and low steam tensions. It is recommended that a pressure gauge be fitted to each valve to adjust exactly the steam pressure.

In addition, a low-lift spring safety valve and a carbide lamp are fitted to the above pipeline. This lamp was handed over to our master Eggers at HDW (Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH) when he had to investigate a complaint in the lap of a new ship building in Kiel. He "forgot" to return it.

Further information on low-lift spring safety valves and pressure gauges:

A shut-off valve is a valve for the controlled opening or closing of a flow or pipe. The shut-off valve has always been installed on the boiler.

A High-lift Springloaded Safety Valve with an open bonnet is fitted to the top right of the boiler wall. The high-lift safety valve worked like an standard safety valve as long as the permitted boiler pressure was only exceeded slightly. If the pressure continues to rise, the valve opens to the full lift.