Rushton
- Thread starter Splinter
- Start date
Ah, Andre, at least you didn't turn it into a bookcase... What's JS gonna say when you put an outboard well in your new 16-30??? 
Andre Cloutier
Firestarter. Wicked Firestarter.
Fitz
More photos -more photos -PLEASE, sure looks pretty. Whats the shear like? How about a close-up of the thwarts and seats. Did he make a 15 footer?
Thanks, Denis
More photos -more photos -PLEASE, sure looks pretty. Whats the shear like? How about a close-up of the thwarts and seats. Did he make a 15 footer?
Thanks, Denis
Larry Meyer
Wooden Canoes are in the Blood
Fitz’s photos refreshed my memories about the Brodbeck and thought I would clarify and add a point or two.
Re how the ribs and inwales were joined. Describing the ribs as set in a pocket of the inwales is really not accurate, as the rib tops are exposed (open gunnels.) What he has done though is half notched the inwales, so on the underside, the rib ends fit in a beveled notch on the inwale. The bottom side of the inwale is wider than the top of the inwale by the thickness of the rib to allow for this “half-notch.”
Also, if you look at Fitz’s pictures of the canoe’s end, you can see that the inwales and outwales sit together flat at the ends: no cant rib ends sticking up to separate them. To do this requires more fiddling with the shape of the inwale. On the first photo Fitz posted, on the rib on the left hand side of the photo, you can see how the last rib end fits in yet another inwale notch. Note that the outwale is not notched to overlap the sheer strake plank. The top edge of that plank is exposed.
So it’s sort of a mix of open and closed gunnel. Open most of the length of the canoe, but closed at the ends.
The seat cane is original. So is the seat cane on Bill Conrad’s Brodbeck (the only other Brodbeck I know) and its about 100 years old.
Re how the ribs and inwales were joined. Describing the ribs as set in a pocket of the inwales is really not accurate, as the rib tops are exposed (open gunnels.) What he has done though is half notched the inwales, so on the underside, the rib ends fit in a beveled notch on the inwale. The bottom side of the inwale is wider than the top of the inwale by the thickness of the rib to allow for this “half-notch.”
Also, if you look at Fitz’s pictures of the canoe’s end, you can see that the inwales and outwales sit together flat at the ends: no cant rib ends sticking up to separate them. To do this requires more fiddling with the shape of the inwale. On the first photo Fitz posted, on the rib on the left hand side of the photo, you can see how the last rib end fits in yet another inwale notch. Note that the outwale is not notched to overlap the sheer strake plank. The top edge of that plank is exposed.
So it’s sort of a mix of open and closed gunnel. Open most of the length of the canoe, but closed at the ends.
The seat cane is original. So is the seat cane on Bill Conrad’s Brodbeck (the only other Brodbeck I know) and its about 100 years old.
Thanks Fitz,
What a beauty! Denis
What a beauty! Denis
Blue Viking
Wooden Canoe Maniac
Was just reading about Mr Stephensen from Norway, ME on here...Does anyone have a source of information about when he was in operation, where his location in Norway was, and how long was he building....I am currently house sitting a place in Norway for friends and have nothing but time and would love to drive by and see if there is anything of spiritual interest there. Maybe even talk to family if they are still in the area
Thanks
Thanks
Dick Persson
Canoe builder & restorer
Blue Viking,
George Stephenson (born in August 1865) had a long canoe building career; he grew up working for his father the pioneer canoe builder John S. Stephenson in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
In 1885, he moved to Auburndale, Mass where he worked for J.R. Robertson as well as for H.V. Partelow and later started his own canoe building business.
George moved to Norway, Maine in the early 1890’s where he rented the 2nd floor of a big three story building behind the Opera House. After the big fire in Norway 1894 which destroyed his business together with a good portion of the town centre, he set up shop at the shore of the mill pond.
In 1930 George moved his business to Lake Keewaydin in Stoneham. A couple of years later he moved to Kezar Lake, Center Lovell where he remained in business until his death in April 1945.
Cheers
Dick Persson
George Stephenson (born in August 1865) had a long canoe building career; he grew up working for his father the pioneer canoe builder John S. Stephenson in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
In 1885, he moved to Auburndale, Mass where he worked for J.R. Robertson as well as for H.V. Partelow and later started his own canoe building business.
George moved to Norway, Maine in the early 1890’s where he rented the 2nd floor of a big three story building behind the Opera House. After the big fire in Norway 1894 which destroyed his business together with a good portion of the town centre, he set up shop at the shore of the mill pond.
In 1930 George moved his business to Lake Keewaydin in Stoneham. A couple of years later he moved to Kezar Lake, Center Lovell where he remained in business until his death in April 1945.
Cheers
Dick Persson
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Steve Lapey
LOVES Wooden Canoes
Working on the Brodbeck was quite an experience. We didn't feel that a complete restoration was the right way to go because of its excellent original condition. I replaced one rib and about six feet of 4 1/2" wide planking and managed to get a very good color match on the new wood. The re-canvassing was straight-forward, re-attaching the original outwales was a challange. I was able to obtain brass escuscheon pins that were exact duplicates of those used by Brodbeck. I have several pictures of the Brodbeck, I'll try to post them here.
Steve Lapey
Steve Lapey
Attachments
Dick Persson
Canoe builder & restorer
Dan'l,
I would suspect he brought with him quite a bit of experience and knowledge. He obliviously knew that his skills had a value as he was able to start with $2.50 a day, room and board + the cost for moving to Boston. Supposedly quite a good pay for that time.
In a letter home to a girl friend in Peterborough in 1886 he writes: “………..I have not seen a real canoe since I came here, but hope to show them some in a short time. John (J.R. Robertson) has me building forms for their new line of Canadian models……….”
He also seems to have had the time of his life,
he later writes: “….by golly, I had more girls on my hands than I could take care of. I remember one time I took out a different girl every night for 27 nights….”
Cheers
Dick Persson
I would suspect he brought with him quite a bit of experience and knowledge. He obliviously knew that his skills had a value as he was able to start with $2.50 a day, room and board + the cost for moving to Boston. Supposedly quite a good pay for that time.
In a letter home to a girl friend in Peterborough in 1886 he writes: “………..I have not seen a real canoe since I came here, but hope to show them some in a short time. John (J.R. Robertson) has me building forms for their new line of Canadian models……….”
He also seems to have had the time of his life,
he later writes: “….by golly, I had more girls on my hands than I could take care of. I remember one time I took out a different girl every night for 27 nights….”Cheers
Dick Persson
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Dick Persson
Canoe builder & restorer
Steve,
Nice work on the restoration of the Brodbeck.
Dick Persson
Headwater Wooden Boat Shop
Nice work on the restoration of the Brodbeck.
Dick Persson
Headwater Wooden Boat Shop
