Time Marches On, Somewhere!!! Reluctantly

As usual, on any given summer day I was hanging out at the boatyard, working on a project, shooting the bull and observing how little things have changed yet how some things have changed.

The first set of pictures are of a 1903 Ships Wheel,  in for an estimate to determine how much it would cost to restore it to new condition. I will not divulge the estimate, rest assured that it would be considerable. It was made in Philadelphia in 1903 by Williams Mfg. Co., I assume that it saw service on some Coasting Schooner, transporting goods up and down the East Coast until it either sank or was taken out of service. The Wheel is about  5' in diameter and is inlaid with holly and sports a solid bronze hub. Unfortunately, for  the present owner it did not react well to being left outside exposed to the elements. Never the less It is a great conversation piece, I sure hope it can be saved. Update... 8/3/11 Just as I thought, after hearing what it would cost to restore the wheel, the owner picked it up from the shop and took it home.

1903 Ships wheel in for restoration?
The King Spoke is at 4:00 o'clock and is marked by a circular bronze plaque indicating the Manufacturer.

This must have been something in it's day!

The second set of pictures are of the very old, in need of repair, plank steaming box. The steam is provided to this dilapidated box by an antique steam boiler. Don't get me wrong, I love this stuff, this is what keeps me going back to Beaton's year after year. Initially, the box leaks until it swells then the wood is steamed until the fibers become pliable and are bent on a jig. Remember if it ain't broke, don't  fool with it.

At first it leaks like a sieve, then tightens up and works as designed

Steam Box and plumbing

Wood fired Boiler,  the heart and soul of the steaming process

Thinking outside the box...Err. ah...inside the box, outside the building!
Extension for longer planks.

Finally, modern technology comes to Beaton's, in the form of a wind vane of the highest calibre. Bureaucracy is still rampant in Brick Township, just in case you are wondering; it took great patience and much Red Tape to get this new "Green" machine approved.

High tech comes to Beaton's
Wind mill that provides the power to the Houseboat to the left