By Martha Stockley
Martha is a high school student who has a great interest in history. Martha has been volunteering at the Denny Experimental Tank in Dumbarton, and she was inspired to write her first blog about what she had learned about women tracers and analysts who worked in the tank. She intends to study history in further education and this research was a brilliant opportunity to her.
The Denny Ship Model Experiment Tank was revolutionary for numerous reasons. For instance, it was the first commercial use of William Froude’s experimental test tank design, they used paraffin wax to reduce waste, and they embraced the concept of creating a happy workforce, which at the time was a rare thing and included the ongoing employment of women. Women played an important role in the advancement of naval engineering and ship design. As the demand for skilled labour increased due to the First World War, many women stepped into roles traditionally held by man, demonstrating their capabilities in technical fields.
In the 1900s, women faced substantial barriers in the workforce, often limited to roles such as domestic service, teaching or nursing and would receive lower wages then their male counterparts. The social expectation was for women to prioritise home and family over any career ambitions, even if they had obtained years of education. The marriage bar, as it was called, was a practice which emerged in the early 20th century, particularly affecting women in the workforce. It referred to the unofficial stereotype that required women to resign from their jobs upon getting married. On average women got married when they were around 21 years old in the early 20th century. However, over the decades the landscape has noticeably changed as today women have greater access to diverse career opportunities across all fields. Without the need to abandon their careers once they get married.
Women working in the 1900s and 1910s was becoming more popular as women had started to challenge the stereotypical views for the time. For example, the suffrage movement where women were tirelessly campaigning for the right to vote. Mainly working-class women worked as they needed the extra income as the men couldn’t bring in enough money to support the families. Working class women would normally work in factories where the conditions were generally horrible, precarious and unhygienic. In the Denny Ship Model Experimental Tank, women were employed as tracers and analysists. Tracers would redraw the draughtsmen’s rough ship designs into a tidier and more legible drawing and the analysists would spend time analysing the test results, recorded from the experimental tank, and place them into the deacon boxes which are still visible in the tracer room in the Denny Tank Museum. This level of organisation helped the efficiency of the Denny Tank. In comparison to other women in the nation the women at the Denny Tank considered themselves immensely fortunate to be working where they were.
Working conditions in Britain during the early 20th century were often harsh and challenging. Particularly for the working class. Many people worked long hours, typically ranging 10 to 16 hours a day, in factories, mines, and mills. The work environment was frequently unsafe, with inadequate ventilation, poor lighting, and a lack of protective equipment, leading to high rates of accidents and injuries. Labour laws were minimal and many workers, including women and children, were subjected to low wages and exploitative behaviour. However, at the Denny Experimental Tank all recollections and anecdotes from former staff were immensely positive. There was a real sense of community and team spirit. The Denny yard even had its own football team in 1920s. The staff would also have days out on nice days, shown by the photo at the top. They seemed to prioritise good welfare in their workforce which is a refreshing thing to hear, as you don’t hear it often for the time.
Overall, women played a crucial part in ship designing and testing at the Denny Experimental Tank. They may not have had the opportunity to work on the ship blueprints and initial designs but by doing the job of redrawing disordered ship designs they aided in a more efficient and formal process of ship testing. Their work not only challenged societal norms but also laid the groundwork for future generations of women in engineering and science, highlighting their essential contributions to the maritime industry.
Everyone at the Scottish Maritime Museum would like to thank Martha for her outstanding contribution in volunteering at the museum.
