Popular Post Al B Posted May 6, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted May 6, 2017 In my recent visit to the working boat building museum built in 1793 I took photos of a few old tools. #1 A drill press that was originally pedal operated. Now motorized. #2 A hand operated drill press mounted to a structural column in the building. #3 Bandsaw #4 another drill press #5 Pot belly stove, still in use #6 One of several work benches Gerald, Dadio, Grandpadave52 and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dadio Posted May 6, 2017 Report Share Posted May 6, 2017 Loved the pictures, Al. Brings back so many memories of when I was young, all the boats were wooden. We have a wooden boat school here, and another at one of the Jr. colleges and another farther North, I am so glad that art is not lost. There are waiting lists to get in. Herb Grandpadave52 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Posted May 6, 2017 Report Share Posted May 6, 2017 Thanks for including us in the tour Al, enjoyed it! Cal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al B Posted May 6, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2017 Notice the use of all the wooden clamps in the building of the Dory. These are modern versions of one hanging on the wall in photo #4 which has the wooden threaded screws Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stick486 Posted May 6, 2017 Report Share Posted May 6, 2017 thanks Al... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Howe Posted May 6, 2017 Report Share Posted May 6, 2017 Great tour, Al. Thanks. The stove with the coffee warmer on top is neat. Wonder what it's real use is. I've seen a few of those hand operated post drills at online auctions. They go for good money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandpadave52 Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 Sorry Al, in all the hustle & bustle of life I missed this one somehow...THANK-YOU for providing the pictures and the story. Just think, this place started less than 20 years after the Revolutionary War and the forming of our nation. How cool is that?! This is just amazing to see. The tools are really awesome and especially seeing they're still in use, but the real story to me was looking at the beams & posts and especially the floor. Oh what stories those wall could tell! Just think, None of the powered tools shown existed when this first started...then the evolution of either water powered or perhaps even steam through a power shaft and then eventually to electric power. Yet even today with the powered tools, the art and final assembly comes down to a tool in a true craftsman's hands. Much appreciated and greatly enjoyed. Glad you went & even more so you took the time to share with us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al B Posted May 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2017 Thanks all. This is only a part of the museum. I didn't get to visit the lower level, where I'm sure there is much more to see. Next time I'll try to post more of the structural parts of the building and its surrounding area. There must be photos available of the days when the tools were belt driven. I'll have to inquire about that. Grandpadave52 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckaroo Posted July 19, 2017 Report Share Posted July 19, 2017 'ight let me tell yall what was in my hometown when i wuz a litl'un, fairly tall building, no ceiling, exposed 2x? from one side to other side/wall of building.Mounted/hung from these 2x?? were a long metal axle/rod that had different size/diameter wide/6'' belt wheels/??? attached over it's chosen machine down on the CC floor. Each of the wheels/??? had a belt going down to it's particular machine. Member now only one axle/rod went from one end of building to the other, all these wheels were attached to this one rod/axle. One electric motor at one end equipped with a belt wheel & belt that went up to that ONE AXLE/ROD THAT HAD ALL THOSE DIFFERENT DIAMETER BELT WHEELS. When electric motor was started up ALL THOSE WHEELS ON THAT AXLE TURNED, BUT NONE OF THE MACHINES STARTED UP. Each machine had it's on belt TIGHTENER/TENSION-ER FOR THAT PARTICULAR MACHINE TO RUN/WORK. IF ANYONE HAS MADE IT THIS FAR , THANK YOU. I'M GONNA QUIT NOW THIS HAS GIVEN ME A HEAD-ACKE. Grandpadave52, HARO50, Al B and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandpadave52 Posted July 19, 2017 Report Share Posted July 19, 2017 2 hours ago, olbuck said: IF ANYONE HAS MADE IT THIS FAR , THANK YOU. I'M GONNA QUIT NOW THIS HAS GIVEN ME A HEAD-ACKE. Well I enjoyed it Buck. Thanks! Now for that head-ache...get a big, tall, cold glass of sweet-tea...that'll fix anything!! Even better 'cause yours is Georgia sweet tea...Can't even come close to finding anything that good up here...McAlister's comes close but at $6/gallon not that close... Hope ya' get to feeling better...Maybe some 'ole Goody's Headache Powder with the sweet tea will help...don't see any of that up here either...Take care! Al B, HARO50 and Buckaroo 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Howe Posted July 19, 2017 Report Share Posted July 19, 2017 Don't know how I missed this, Al. That's a great tour. Thanks a lot for taking us along. Grandpadave52 and Al B 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Coasty Posted July 21, 2017 Report Share Posted July 21, 2017 Just stumbled onto this Thread. My Great Uncle owned what was at one time the largest wooden shipbuilding yard on the East Coast. Therefore wooden boats fit well in my background and reading, but practical use no longer. I recall reading a book called “Skiffs and Schooners” by Pete Culler. He was a Master Craftsman, Boat Designer, Builder, Repairer, and Sailer. That said, in his writings he had words of wisdom about tools. This was written 1974, his focus was on boat/shipbuilding, but it certainly still applies today to any woodworker. Attached Files File Type: pdf Skifs and Schooners.pdf (918.4 KB, 260 views) Pete Culler on Hand Power Tools.pdf Al B and Grandpadave52 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stick486 Posted July 22, 2017 Report Share Posted July 22, 2017 how do we get to the Skifs and Schooners PDF???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al B Posted July 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2017 (edited) I hope to return to the museum soon to take more photos..The museum is a couple of miles up-river from the mouth of the Merrimack river in Amesbury MA. The waters at this point are too shallow for the larger schooners that were built in Newburyport, but deep enough for the larger yachts that cruise the river today. We had a recent visit to Newburyport by the 125', 30 million dollar yacht owned by the owner of the New Orleans Saints. He said he had heard that this was a great place to visit. Guess he enjoyed his stay, He loaded with over $4000.00 worth of groceries before leaving. Old Coastie, Your description sounds a lot like what I remember seeing when I visited the boat shop almost 80 years ago with my dad. 1 main belt drove shafts to belt driven machinery at two levels of the building. Actually was a bit scary for me to watch . Edited July 23, 2017 by It Was Al B Grandpadave52 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Coasty Posted July 23, 2017 Report Share Posted July 23, 2017 20 hours ago, Stick486 said: how do we get to the Skifs and Schooners PDF???? Stick. I assumed the Pete Culler on Hand Power Tools.pdf worked. Al B must have opened it according to his post. Here is another try. Skifs and Schooners.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stick486 Posted July 23, 2017 Report Share Posted July 23, 2017 4 hours ago, Old Coasty said: Stick. I assumed the Pete Culler on Hand Power Tools.pdf worked. Al B must have opened it according to his post. Here is another try. Skifs and Schooners.pdf thanks, thought there was two separate PDF's... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Morris Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 Al, you lived a dream of mine, I saw this boat shop on one my favorite all time programs on PBS, "Craft in America". They had an Industry segment that featured Lowells Boat Shop, I have watched it several times and each time I get pulled into the shop and I could almost lay a blanket down on that ol wood floor and fall asleep in my imagination, I love that place! This must have been a wonderful tour for you guys. Those images you took are wonderful, thanks so much for the tour, you spurred a renewed desire in myself to take a vacation and get over to that part of the country and see it. Thanks Al, great tour, and I am so glad you got to walk it and see it. Thanks for sharing. If you don't mind I'd like to share a segment of Crafts in America showcasing the boat shop? I think it would only add to your topic here and maybe give the folks more sensory perception of what you experienced while on the tour. I am greeeeeeeen with envy, you lucky dog!!! By the way folks, not only is this segment wonderful, but the entire PBS Crafts in America shows are wonderful. Lowells Boat Shop PBS Crafts in America Grandpadave52 and Al B 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Morris Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 @It Was Al B, just out of curiosity, do you live in that area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al B Posted July 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 (edited) 5 hours ago, John Morris said: @It Was Al B, just out of curiosity, do you live in that area? I do live in the area. I grew up in Amesbury, where the museum is located . Now living in Salisbury, which is just east of Amesbury, along the shores of the Merrimack river. Newburyport is south of Salisbury bordering the opposite side of the Merrimack river. Edited July 25, 2017 by It Was Al B John Morris 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al B Posted August 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2017 John, I loved the video.I had never seen it. High school students from all over, not just local schools, come to the boat shop to build these boats. John Morris and Grandpadave52 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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