Ferdinand Arnodin and
The transporter Bridges -
first part
2nd partMichel Wagner
personalized
stamps from 2011
1- définitions ,
precursors,
causes and
origins
The notion of
"transporter"
applies whenever there is
transfer by mechanical means
- boat,
cable car etc..,
Freight or passengers
from one bank of
a stream or river
towards the other edge.
These means of
transport have
been widely
used on the
iconography of the
stamps, but mostly
on postcards
...
Tronsporter ferry boat in
Laos (yt416
de1882 -(Coll.
M.W.)
-
Ferry à Sassnitz - RDA yt520 de 1960
(Coll. M.W.)
- tunnel under canal in
Anvers- Belgium
(Coll. M.W.)
-
Industrial transporter
near Sarrebruck yt
83 de 1922
(Coll. M.W.)
The cable
ferry over the
Niagara of the Spanish
engineer L. T.
Quevedo (1913)
(Coll. M.W.)
Moving bridge at ST Malo c- Postcards from 1909 & 1911
(Coll.
M.W.)
Commissioned
between
1873 and 1923,
invented and built by
engineer Alexandre
Leroyer, this
moving bridge, unique,
worked for a short distance
pulled by cables
moved by a
motor, at low tide
as at high tide.
Its
traveller
would have inspired F.
Arnodin who sent
to his daughter Aline,
wife of G.
Leinekugel
Le Cocq, a
card adorned with a
comment that began with the
verse:
"This
shows the
traveller
bridge
Kind of
ferry
child
If you
turn it
upside
Its wheels
will go down
in the air ...
"
The transporter bridges, designed in the late nineteenth century responded to several requirements, where other means of communication (traditional bridges, tunnels, etc..) had quickly found their limits:
- To allow the passage of larger boats with masts could exceed several tens of meters.
-Postcard The" Duguay-Trouin", bridge under the transporter
from Rochefort-
Ed.Ch Giamblasi-
(Coll.
M.W.)
-Make easier communication between
both sides for
the transhipment of goods and
men
- Develop a
crossing that is
a manufacturing and
operating cost as low as
possible ...
The
originality of Arnodin,
in addition to its technical
characteristics, derived from
an original mode of
operation, the concession
of paying construction costs
and to
repay the
tax collection and
transport of visits
for access the
deck.
Today, a similar
but modernized
concession was granted to
Eiffage for building
and operation of the Millau
Viaduct.
D
-Label, memory of the passage on the ferry from Marseille pasted on a postcard. (Coll. M.W.)
2-
Designers
Ferdinand Arnodin,French
engineer born near
Lyon in 1845, began
his career in
the company where his father
worked.
The latter,
the former home Seguin
became Societe Generale
of Toll
Bridges was
specialized in the construction
of metallic suspension
bridges , he carried
the duties of Inspector of
works.Shortly
after he moved to
Châteauneuf -
sur-Loire near Orleans
to melt a
construction company where
ingenuity and powers of
observation led him to
invent more ways of
improving the safety
and soundness of
bridges Type Seguin,
then imagine other
types of bridges.
The factory at
Châteauneuf - old poscard -
Julien Ed.(
coll M.Wagner)
-
We owe him among
other things, a new
way to manufacture cables: the
alternative to
twisting, which
in addition to his strength
allowed to wrap
and transport ...;
a metal girder
stiffening system, an
electric swivelling crane , jackup;
a portable
Riveter..., so many creations
that were of
assistance in
determining the effectiveness
and low cost of
carrying out his works
...
-Paper
bearing the letterhead of the
company Arnodin
.
(coll.D.Leinekugel Le Cocq)
In 1887
he filed jointly
with the engineer
Martin Alberto
Palacio a patent for
the construction of a
transporter bridge that
was built in Portugalete
- (Bilbao)
and commissioned in 1993.
-
Bust of
Ferdinand Arnodin.
( Collection D.
Leinekugel Le Cocq family )
The
Bishop of Orleans, Monseigneur
Touchet, will
at weddings Leinekugel
Gaston Le Cocq
with Aline subsequently as
the latter's daughter
Noelle, a flattering
portrait of Ferdinand
Arnodin:
"Je
me suis lié promptement avec lui. Ces hommes qui se font
eux-mêmes, qui tirent d'eux-mêmes à force d'intelligence, d'honnêteté,
de travail, de bon sens, leur situation, celle de leur famille; ces
hommes qui sont des créateurs de la fortune publique, qui font vivre, en
se les associant, des centaines d'ouvriers; ces hommes qui sentent la
responsabilité du patronat et sont décidés à en remplir les
multiples obligations;
ces hommes dis-je, conquérants pacifiques sont dignes de tout
respect..."(22 octobre 1900)
"...Le Patriarche, le
fondateur , le chef de famille , Mr Arnodin, droit comme un
vieux chêne, fier et bon, avec sa noble tête aux yeux de saphir, son
front surmonté d'une incomparable couronne de
cheveux blancs ,derrière lui traîne
imposante, alliant le souvenir de sa vie de jeune campagnard puis
d'ouvrier, puis de mécanicien quasi génial, puis d'inventeur inlassable,
puis d'homme appliqué à tous les genres d'études, d'autodidacte
étonnant..."
(5 mai 1925) -
Source : Didier Leinekugel Le Cocq
In 1900 Gaston
Leinekugel
Le Cocq, polytechnic
and hydrographer
married Aline, daughter of
Ferdinand and Arnodin,
and becomes a valuable
contributor to the latter..
He
will create its own company
in 1922 in Larche,
Correze, then,
associated with
his brother in law
George
Arnodin,
it will take to the death of
Ferdinand in 1924,
the business succession
Arnodin.
He will specialize
in the design of suspension
bridges, including bridges
Gisclard type,
and by numerous patents,
will change
the technical and cost of
modern suspension bridges.
Gaston Leinekugel Le Cocq at his study_-Photographic glass plate, after the "funds Arnodin"
Paper-to-header
of the company after 1924
Arnodin
(coll. D.Leinekugel
Le Cocq)
and announcements of the
death of F.Arnodin
(private collection destroyed)
Another engineer, Georges
Camille Imbault
(1877-1951) born in
Châteauneuf-sur-Loire began
his career in the business
Arnodin then
will move to England
but did not sever ties with
Chateauneuf.
He
will thus control the work of
the
tranporter bridge
from Newport, and will
participate with his company,
the Cleveland
Bridge and Engineering
Corporation Ltd, to
build numerous bridges,
including the
Transporter bridge from Middlesbrough
in 1911 with
Dorman Long
and Company,
associated with M
Freeman, the one
of the Sydney Harbour Bridge
in 1930.
In
the late nineteenth century,
several engineers
were working on similar projects,
particularly in England where
in 1873 Charles
Smith drew
up plans for a "ferry
bridge" that
for financial reasons could
not be erected.
The first transporter
bridge built in England
was that of
Runcorn in 1905 (John
James Webster
from -1845 to 1914),
but it is in
Bilbao
(Portugalete)
Spain,
that will erect the
first transporter bridge
in 1893.
The
Bridge of Bilbao -
oil on canvas -1898
(photo M.Wagner,
Musée de la Marine de Loire- Châteauneuf)
Several other
ferries remained in
draft form, including
one in 1897
a transorter to the Pointe de
Tankerville (Seine
Maritime)
Sce: "Traversée
on the
Seine Maritime Transporter
at Pointe Tancarville"
- F.Arnodin
Orleans 1897
- Printing Paul
Pigelet
Another
project was that in
1903, a massive
rail transporter bridge for the passage of
trains between Port
Jerome and
Quillebeuf.
It
reportedly had an
470m span ,
located 60m
above the water level
and supported by
four towers
107m high.
The gondola suspended by
cables 320
side and diagonal
of nearly 80m
in length would have
withstood a load close to
250 tons ...
A project
of transporter
bridge
concerned
also the Belgian city
of Ostend.
A Magazine of 1907
describes this project:
"...
We can judge the economy
of time, ease of
communication that would result from
installing the transporter
bridge that would flow
continuously ...
The top of the pylons
of the bridge could be used
to establish a
wireless telegraphy station
at a height well above
those of all other positions
on the coast.
Could fit also, if
necessary, lights and
signals input port.
The steel deck
will be set at a
minimum height
of fifty feet above
high tide level,
so no way to prejudice
the entry and departure of
ships.This
deck has a length of
200 m.
The nacelle would be
driven by electricity
would have a length of 30
meters and a width of
five feet eight
inches.
Besides the three tram
cars and vehicles,
it could carry two
hundred and forty people per
trip ...Construction
of a transporter bridge over
the channel from Ostend
meets the public interest...
In connecting directly
the whole coast from Nieuport
to the Dutch border
and just pass
through a
coastal tram transporter
bridge, we believe that
we will complete the
wonderful works that
His Majesty and the Government
have done
for the development of
the coast ...
"
Pictures from the
magazine
In 1910, a
quite advanced
Transporter bridge project is proposed
in Rio de
Janeiro
(Brazil)
between the arsenal and the
island of Cobras.
A competing project
is finally selected
Documents from "
Arnodin Content"
Another
project was in 1913,
that of a"transporter" from
272 m to link
Oléron Island to the mainland.
The war of 1914 put an end
to as
many others ...
In this new century
other transporter bridges
will be built by other
companies in Europe
and worldwide.
Duluth Usa (1905,
changed to
a lift bridge) ; Warrington-
Angleterre (2 brifges, 1908 and 1916); Osten
(1909) and Kiel (1910) - Germany ; Middlesbrough
- England ( 1911); Rendsburg in
Germany (1913 ) ; Buenos Aires-
Argentina (1914) . Rio de Janeiro
(1915) …
-
Transporter bridge from
Rendsburg - Germany,
still in use today
(coll M.W.)
( Voir Liens:
http://www.schwebefaehre.org/
-Osten-
Germany (coll M.W.)
Most
transporter bridges are built
on the same principle as
developed by Ferdinand
Arnodin, for which he
applied for a patent in 1887.
These are suspension bridges
whose deck consists of
steel truss,
placed high on
two pylons installed
on each side of the river.Rails
placed on the deck
allow the movement of a
carriage which is suspended a
platform moving
from one bank to another.
A
motor moves the
carriage in one
direction or the other at
a fast
speed.
Cables holding the
deck are connected to
the anchorages placed
far behind the pylons
if space permits, or
vertically, as in
Nantes and Marseille.
-
Model of the transporter bridge of Nantes
photo M.Wagner - Musée de la Marine de Loire
- Châteauneuf- sur- Loire
-Schematic
plans of the
Rochefort Bridge
(Sce: Marcel
Prade," les Ponts- monuments historiques")
All
bridges to ferry
built by F.
Arnodin are prefabricated
in the factory of Châteauneuf
piece by piece and then
transported by train to their
place of building
where a small team of workers
ensures the assembly which
lasts about two years.
Each piece is removable and replaceable.
5- The Transporter bridges of F. Arnodin:
1 - Portugalete Bridge (Bilbao- Espagne)- 1893
Located on the mouth of the Nervion in Portugalete, downstream of Bilbao, this transporter bridge is the result of a statement passed to the
Spanish engineer Martin Alberto Palacio, who, seeking a manufacturer of cables, metArnodin Ferdinand who had just filed a patent , shortly before.. The two men joined together to build this book, and it seems that eventually, their both names figured on published patents for the construction of ferries carried outside French territory.
Spain called "Puente Vizcaya", the distance from platform to platform is 160m, the cables that support the deck of 164m are anchored far enough behind the towers. The gondola is 8m of 6.25, 150 people can be seated.
Portugalete from the transporter bridge- Picture on glass, from
the "Fond Arnodin"
Postcard from 1990
Old
postcard
(Coll.
M.W.)
" Puente Vizcaya" postcard from 1902
Ed Landaburu Ph.H.T.M.M.(Coll.M.W.)
Engraving
reproduction - modern postcard
The deck will be destroyed during the Civil War and rebuilt between 1939 and 1941.
Old postcard- Ed.L.G. Bilbao (Coll. M.W.)
In 1974 on the occasion
of a philatelic exhibition,
the bridge is chosen as the
motif of
postmark
-
Philatelic exhibition postmarks from 1974
(Coll.
M.W.)
Postcard and
postmarks from 1989
Postcard and
postmarks from 1990
(Coll.
M.W.)
In 1993
was celebrated the centenary
of the "Puente Vizcaya" and
a stamp exhibition
is made on this occasion.
In 1996 a new team of
directors is appointed
and begins the restoration
of the bridge.
Une association internationale est crée pour la protection et la
sauvegarde des 9 ponts transbordeurs encore existants dans le monde, et
un timbre est émis à cette époque à l'occasion du centenaire de l'école
d'ingénieur de Bilbao.
An international association is
established for the
protection and safeguarding of
nine bridges
ferries still existing in the
world, and
a stamp is issued
at this time to mark the
centenary of the School of
Engineering of Bilbao.
-
centennial
postmarks on
a postcard
reproduction
- Covers
from
1993
(Coll.
M.W.)
Stamp, covers and FDC from 1997 - ( Yt N°3052 de 1997)(coll.M.W.)
The "Puente Vizcaya" has become a visual symbol of the city of Bilbao, as evidenced in this envelope announcing the 1980 World Cup Soccer 1982
FDC - Yvert&Tn°2217/18
from1980 and special numbered label (Coll.
M.W.)
In 2007,
after enrolling
in 2006 at the
World Heritage
of Unesco,
a
second stamp is issued,
- so that
no memory on
Arnodin has never
been issued by
the French Post!
Spain-
Stamp issued on the 26th of april 2007
The bridge is still in use
today:
transportation ticket of 2010
Postcard
fantasy (Iru Taldea - Grupo Tres)
Le pont , très "stylisé" : Enveloppe et cachet de 2004
Envelope
and label
of an
Esperanto Congress in 1966
Private stamp
booklet, for an exhibition - 2014
(Coll.
M.W.)
Publicity coaster - Bilbao
(Coll.
M.W.)
2-
The Bridge of Bizerte -Tunisia (1898)
Second transporter
to be
built by Arnodin,
the transporter bridge
of Bizerte only worked
a few years before being
dismantled and reassembled in
the military port of Brest.
The channel
through which it passes off
90m is indeed
extended to
1907, therefore
eliminating the usefulness
of the
store. It
will be dismantled to be
reassembled in Brest
...
- Bridge'gondola"
of Bizerte-
Photo
time
-
(Coll D.
Leinekugel Le Cocq)
& postcard from 1901
Double poscard (Coll.
M.W.)
-Postcards from 1901
and 1903,
(Coll.
M.W.)
Postcards from
1904 and
1905 - Ed. Mounier - Bizerte
et Ed. J.Picard & Cie
(Coll.
M.W.)
Postcard from 1907 Photo Moulnier Bizerte (Coll. M.W.)
Photo vintage
(Coll.
M.W.)
3- Rouen transporter bridge(1899)
Very
similar to the two bridges
previously built by
Arnodin, the transporter
bridge of Rouen Has a span
of143 m supported by
two towers of
67 m.
Much
appreciated by the public,
building flagship
maritime festivals, it was
destroyed to slow the advance
of German troops in June
1940.
-Old
poscards
Ed La Cigogne et F.I.D. Ed_
(Coll.
M.W.)
Postcard from 1906
The gondola - old
poscards and photos vintage
Poscard and
photo vintage
Drawing fby
A.Goulon, Postcard from 1908
Photos
vintage
(Coll. M.W.)
-
Postcard from 1909-
Lévi & Neurdein Ed.(Coll.
M.W.)
Transport
token( coll. MW)
-
Boarding passes on
the nacelle
transporter from
Rouen
(Coll.
M.W.
)
- Article from
'L'Illustration" in 1899 -
(Coll.
M.W.
)
Article from "Le Monde
Illustré -1899
- Postcards,
Reproduction of a poster
designed by G.Rolland
in 1910, and another one by M .Pellerier in 1935
Marketing claims
under the
transporter bridge_ Postcard (Coll.
M.W.)
The
bridge, decorated for maritime festival
- Postcard
1906 (Coll.MW
)
In
January 1910 one
of the largest floods of the
Seine covered
the base
of the towers ...
Old postcards
Ed CV.Rouen
(Coll.
M.W.)
Town Festivals Millennium- 1911
Millennium of the Norman installation: President Fallières goes down of
the Gondola - postcard from 1911 (Coll
MW)
Poscard sent in 1908(
Coll. M.W.)
The harbor and the bridge- poscards from 1913 & 1930
Maximum card from1948 (stamp:Yt745 de1945)
4-
Rochefort transporter Bridge(1900)
maximun
card from 1968
(Coll.
M.W.)
From a preliminary draft
prepared in 1891, and
a final presented
in 1894, the transporter
bridge in Rochefort, if it is built
on the same principle as
those previously built,
however, presents some
notable differences.
The latter
have a profile more
curved than the previous ,
separating into two, to
let pass the gondola and
giving an aesthetic dimension
to the structure, wanted
and affirmed by Arnodin.
A strong silhouette, visible
and elegant,
painted and enhanced by
avant-garde artists
and filmmakers,
criticized by others
such as the writer Pierre
Loti ("ugly as
an Eiffel Tower" ...)Saved
from destruction in 1976 by
a decree
classifying it
"historical monument".
Repaired in 1990,
it is the only transporter bridge
still visible in France.
Elevation of the
bridge and pylon
, designs by Arnodin
--
Départemental archives of the Charente Maritime.
Construction of the bridge- Photographs (
coll Dominique Ravaud)
Ticket passage
(circa 1950)
& recent tickets for a visit...(Coll.
M.W.)
Opening the bridge in 1900 - Old postcard -
Cliché Grémion
(Coll.
M.W.)
Postcard
sent in 1902(Coll.
M.W.)
Postcard
from 1904
(Coll.
M.W.)
Gondola of
theTransporter- Postcard from 1908
(Coll.
M.W.)
Postcard sent in 1911(Coll.
M.W.)
-Label on cover
- Trade fair from 1929
(Coll.
M.W.)
Postal
stationery from 1951
IThe bridge is found on a
stamp showing his replacement,
Martrou Lift Bridge, built
in 1966 and replaced
himself with a
concrete girder bridge
in 1991, before being
destroyed some time later.
Stamp
yt1564 de 1968
- Aerial picture
showing the Martrou's three bridges
before the lifting bridge destruction (middle...) .
triple
postcard -
"Europ"Ed - Pierron
(Coll.
M.W.)
Postcard
"Gaby"Edition
Old
postcard Le trèfle Ed.(Coll.
M.W.)
centenary'postmark
from 16-09-2000
(Coll.
M.W.)
Centenary
postcard
(Coll.
M.W.)
Modern poscard ( Ed M. Marcou)(
Coll. M.W.)
The Gondola photo vintage
Photocard from 1950'years -Chatagneau
Ed(Coll.
M.W.)
Postcard sent in
1995 -
Drawing from Jean Bellis
Old
postcard
- Modern poscard ( Ed Europ- Pierron)(Coll.
M.W.)
Postal
stationery from
2000: "Le pont transbordeur a 100 ans"
(Coll.
M.W.)
Postal
stationary from2010
Print postage
meter, "Rochefort Aéromarine" from 1996
(Coll.
M.W.)
- Rochefortpostal
flame - Aéromarine de 1996.
(Coll.
M.W.)
- Aéro-Marine, Rochefort, dlast
day of the date
podtmzrk
(Coll.
M.W.)
- Rochefort 14-09-80
(Coll. M.W.)
Postmark from 1994
(Coll.
M.W.)
- EMA (Print
postage meter)from
2008
(Coll.
M.W.)
Personalized stamp from 2010
Tourist token from " la Monnaie
de Paris"
Pinn's
First fishing trip
of the frigate
Hermione. Passage
under the
bridge , Martrou 7
seprembre 2014
