Thread: Plane to See

Something special. There were still ships carpenters around when I first went to sea. They were much more than just carpenters. They were trained shipwrights and the man responsible for the hull being watertight. They sounded all compartments and kept records of that. This was 100 years into steel ships and they were still seen as important. They did all the woodworking things needing doing and a lot of that was to secure cargo so it did not roll around. The old style cargo ship used many tons of wood (dunnage) to secure cargo. All wood repairs were were also their brief. Sadly all gone now.
Regards
John

Wow what a beautiful set of planes... shame the other two were let go. Something as unique as this should be kept together.

Originally Posted by wheelinround

Imagine opening a tool box and not being into tools thinking these are just crap worthless bits of wood.

Amazing Set of Eight Carved Moulding Planes

I opened the link to have a quick look, saw the beautiful carving, and then the price, and I quickly close it.

yep sorry guys but $6.5K is just a tad out of my budget also.

John thanks for the past insight so many myself included worked or/and lived in times when tools were bought and never dumped they were life long pals to many and past on.

I shored up lead in the hull of a cargo ship in Townsville using a sledge hammer and wood props in 1972 so it's not that long ago.
A shipwright mate who was a coxswain used sheets of ply and big go bars to seal up his ship in Botany Bay in the 80s.
H.

What about working the ballast, driving the windlass, dropping anchors, pumping the bilges, caulking the decks, taking on fresh water and most importantly, doing the old man's foreign orders.
Doggie (ancient mariner)

Doggie,
I see you have been there as well.
As a cadet I would sometimes be be sent along as chippie's helper. I liked that a whole lot better than painting.
Regards
John

Yep. Done it for twenty years then came ashore.
Similarly to you I did six months helping Sam Clements (Chippy) on the 'Iron Spencer" in 1966. Loved him like a Dad. Extraordinary woodworker (Alfred Holt trained Mersey side). Got me started on woodwork.
Dedicated the "Titan" book to him.
Sadly, Sam and most Aussie ships passed on by now.
Doggie