Glory of the Seas medium clipper 1869 - FINISHED - by rwiederrich - 1/96

[rwiederrich]

He was enthralled by my Great Republic.  He himself is not a modeler, but he was so impressed...he knew I would create a superior model of Glory based upon the new drawings.  I was so honored. 

[rwiederrich]

Much of our conversation revolved around Glory's history and of the many revelations he gained along his long journey of exploration.  His daughter Arina is quite the historian in her own right.  We are discussing the many side topics concerning Glory crew members family and how Michael acquired so much history.  This meeting was a highlight of my own historical endeavors.  I was so blessed to have them in my home and to enjoy their subject matter expertise.

[rwiederrich]

One image of the fine model.  The model shipwright Michael employed over 40 years ago did a magnificent job.  And this model was built entirely from Balsa...it was finely detailed and as light as a feather.  Impeccable.  She was built in her later configuration with extended helm to the poop cabin and both the cabin boy house and the chicken coop over the main hatchway.

 

 

Edited February 1, 2021 by rwiederrich

[druxey]

Well, that was a red letter day, Rob! As I looked through your posts I was thinking that there was a book to be written on her - and I'm glad to see that there will be.

[rwiederrich]

This new image of Glory as she rested on the beach at Endoline...definitely shows here near vertical entrance....verifying what our group had speculated.

 

Rob

Edited February 2, 2021 by rwiederrich

[rwiederrich]

Compare to my example as she currently sits...without modifications.

 

Rob

[Jorge Diaz O]

What a great opportunity, very good photographs, I hope I can continue with your model soon.

[BANYAN]

What a great opportunity and meaningful day for you Rob; glad you enjoyed it.  I am sure we'll see some changes to your hull shape emerging in the near future?

 

By chance, did he happen to mention who the shipwright down my way was?

 

cheers

 

Pat

Edited February 2, 2021 by BANYAN

[TheAuthorsDaughter]

Pat - Ron Haug is who my father has been working with down your way - via snail mail. He is a retired shipwright and he lives in S. Maroubra, New South Wales. He was also an excellent modelmaker.

Edited February 3, 2021 by TheAuthorsDaughter

[BANYAN]

Thanks very much Arina; sounds like a very interesting gentleman.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[ClipperFan]

Rob,

Thank you so much for sharing this amazing visit with Arina, theauthor'sdaughter and her dad, Michael Mjelde, the inspiring nautical historian and author himself! To say that I'm green with envy is an understatement. However, I can't think of anyone more deserving of this honor then you. It must have felt like an almost out of the body experience to meet with the two of them for several hours.

The balsa wood creation of the modeler who created Glory's lines 20 years ago is a lovely piece of work. My hope is that you took many more pictures of her. Perspective distortion aside, she is a magnificent piece.

Then to discover that Mr. Mjelde has yet a third manuscript ready to be published with a more accurate reproduction of Glory's lines to be included is quite an exciting revelation too. 

I noticed that Glory's wonderful Goddess "Athene" and her magnificent carvings are missing on Mr. Mjelde's impressive large scale model. Besides doing as much possible to accurately reconstruct her Hull lines, I've spent the last decade carefully recreating Glory's Figurehead (widely recognized as being the epitome of the ship carver's art) utilizing limited images available. If there's any way I can make a contribution just to that area of Glory's reconstruction, it would be my honor. 

Finally, please let us know how we can secure advanced, hopefully autographed copies of book 3 and as large a scale sail plan of Glory's new reconstruction once available. Thanks again for sharing this wonderful development. Meanwhile this has given me further inspiration to continue with the seemingly endless pursuit of perfection of a large scale accurate plan of my own.

[ClipperFan]

TheAuthorsDaughter

Arina. on behalf of our entire group, I want to express my deep appreciation to you for your efforts to coordinate a meeting with your dad and Rob. 

Your father's two books have been such an inspiration to me personally for decades. Like Rob, my favorite ship's mechanic has always been Donald McKay, Scottish Immigrant and later American citizen. Besides patiently reconstructing Glory's lines it has been a personal goal to capture her lovely carvings and magnificent ship's figurehead Goddess 'Athene.' I've attached a quick sketch of her done a few years ago while at work, to give you an idea of my progress. If at all possible, I would love an opportunity to correspond with your dad about his incredible research on Glory.

 

[rwiederrich]

1 hour ago, ClipperFan said:

Rob,

Thank you so much for sharing this amazing visit with Arina, theauthor'sdaughter and her dad, Michael Mjelde, the inspiring nautical historian and author himself! To say that I'm green with envy is an understatement. However, I can't think of anyone more deserving of this honor then you. It must have felt like an almost out of the body experience to meet with the two of them for several hours.

The balsa wood creation of the modeler who created Glory's lines 20 years ago is a lovely piece of work. My hope is that you took many more pictures of her. Perspective distortion aside, she is a magnificent piece.

Then to discover that Mr. Mjelde has yet a third manuscript ready to be published with a more accurate reproduction of Glory's lines to be included is quite an exciting revelation too. 

I noticed that Glory's wonderful Goddess "Athene" and her magnificent carvings are missing on Mr. Mjelde's impressive large scale model. Besides doing as much possible to accurately reconstruct her Hull lines, I've spent the last decade carefully recreating Glory's Figurehead (widely recognized as being the epitome of the ship carver's art) utilizing limited images available. If there's any way I can make a contribution just to that area of Glory's reconstruction, it would be my honor. 

Finally, please let us know how we can secure advanced, hopefully autographed copies of book 3 and as large a scale sail plan of Glory's new reconstruction once available. Thanks again for sharing this wonderful development. Meanwhile this has given me further inspiration to continue with the seemingly endless pursuit of perfection of a large scale accurate plan of my own.

 

Well Clipperfan...I knew your intense admiration for McKay vessels (such as myself).  Since working with you on this Glory hull project...discovering you yourself were a Glory enthusiast...and a Michael Mjelde fan.....I took the liberty to have Mike sign an extra copy of his first book I had in my library in hopes of giving it to you....as a keepsake for your own library.  I knew this would bring you great joy and it was my pleasure....plus I had Mike in my library(MIke's own words...*This ain't no library*)....so no better time.

 

PM me with your address and I'll get this out to you.  The copy I am sending has no dust jacket...but I bet you can accommodate that minor issue.

 

Rob

[michael mott]

Hi Rob just catching up. Looks like you have your work cut out for you now. What a great experience to have the time to meet and discuss your project with the author of books about your subject model.

 

Michael

[rwiederrich]

3 hours ago, michael mott said:

Hi Rob just catching up. Looks like you have your work cut out for you now. What a great experience to have the time to meet and discuss your project with the author of books about your subject model.

 

Michael

 

Hi Michael..it was a great experience...and I hope to have many more, as Mike makes available to me more photographs and letters from Donald McKay.

I will work out the copy of the drawing I have and I hope Michael can afford me a copy of the 1/96 drawing he has as well.

His collection is not all in one organized location,  due to a scheduled move that never found fruition.  But he is now reorganizing his files and images and will soon begin forwarding me images as they are organized.

Thanks for dropping in and reaffirming your presence....I appreciate that very much for I hold your opinion is highest esteem. 

 

Rob

[TheAuthorsDaughter]

My father has actually been to see Glory’s figurehead at India House, I’ll have to see if he has any better photos (message me and I can pass on info) as for the model, he originally commissioned three. One was completed and sold many years ago when my youngest sister needed multiple heart surgeries (she survived thankfully),  the one we brought on the visit with Rob and there is actually  a third one, pretty bare bones hull only if I recall. 

[ClipperFan]

rwiederrich

 

Rob, that is just so thoughtful of you! As per your instructions, I sent you a PM (at least I hope that's what it was).

This is so exciting, I never expected it. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Your interactions with Arina and her Renaissance Man dad Michael Mjelde have inspired me so powerfully. After we conclude our work on McKay's magnificent last Medium Clipper, I plan on furthering my studies on Donald's other wonderful vessels, starting with his initial effort, Extreme Clipper "Staghound." Ultimately, I want to write to the Peabody-Essex Museum, Salem, MA. According to Richard McKay's book on all of his Cousin's ships, there is a "treasure trove" of illustrations that Donald personally sketched in anticipation of a long, lost book that was never published. Apparently Donald McKay was intending to bring the published Manuscript with him on a European tour to develop more business for his then struggling Boston Shipyard.  Twin Hulls of "Chariot of Fame and Star of Empire" are just one example of roughly 100 similar sketches sent to the Peabody Museum. Wouldn't it be wonderful if someone finally finished Donald McKay's book???

[rwiederrich]

54 minutes ago, ClipperFan said:

rwiederrich

 

Rob, that is just so thoughtful of you! As per your instructions, I sent you a PM (at least I hope that's what it was).

This is so exciting, I never expected it. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Your interactions with Arina and her Renaissance Man dad Michael Mjelde have inspired me so powerfully. After we conclude our work on McKay's magnificent last Medium Clipper, I plan on furthering my studies on Donald's other wonderful vessels, starting with his initial effort, Extreme Clipper "Staghound." Ultimately, I want to write to the Peabody-Essex Museum, Salem, MA. According to Richard McKay's book on all of his Cousin's ships, there is a "treasure trove" of illustrations that Donald personally sketched in anticipation of a long, lost book that was never published. Apparently Donald McKay was intending to bring the published Manuscript with him on a European tour to develop more business for his then struggling Boston Shipyard.  Twin Hulls of "Chariot of Fame and Star of Empire" are just one example of roughly 100 similar sketches sent to the Peabody Museum. Wouldn't it be wonderful if someone finally finished Donald McKay's book???

 

 

I too have thought about contacting the Peabody museum myself for this very purpose.  I encourage you to go full steam ahead and find out all that you can.  I'll be very interested in what ever you find.

Anyone who posts a picture(the cover picture of Michael's book) of the Glory of the Seas as his avatar is, in my book deserving.

 

All the best

 

Rob

 

[rwiederrich]

3 hours ago, TheAuthorsDaughter said:

My father has actually been to see Glory’s figurehead at India House, I’ll have to see if he has any better photos (message me and I can pass on info) as for the model, he originally commissioned three. One was completed and sold many years ago when my youngest sister needed multiple heart surgeries (she survived thankfully),  the one we brought on the visit with Rob and there is actually  a third one, pretty bare bones hull only if I recall. 

 

 

I knew Mike had 3 models made, but I was under the impression the one you brought was the only one he possessed?

*Bare bones* hulls can be completed...I wonder if Mike would entertain the notion of allowing me to finish it?

 

Rob

[TheAuthorsDaughter]

Honestly I have no idea but wouldn’t hurt to ask, the bow we all know has to be altered and it’s also balsa wood - not sure if there were any differences between the two or not. The first one is long gone, apparently got damaged and the person he had sold it to has since passed away so no telling where it ended up.

[ClipperFan]

TheAuthorsDaughter

I do hope your younger sister is fully recovered now. Your dad sacrificing a rare artifact to help save her life is a testament to his caring, concern and selflessness. 

If Mr Mjelde has any additional pics of Glory's lovely Figurehead still residing at the top of the double staircase at the old India House, NYC I would love to see them. The devil's in the details and my goal is to be as painstakingly accurate as possible.

[TheAuthorsDaughter]

He doesn’t appear to have any more photos of her however he did send off an email to India House and we will have to wait and see if they respond. The published photos of her are few and far between and all seem to be the same angle or too grainy when enlarged!

[ClipperFan]

I doubt that my sleuthing has unearthed anything new but just in case I may have, I'll dig them up and share them here. I learned from a magazine publication that she was 90" tall which is 7 1/2 feet. I'm going to concentrate my efforts on recreating her as well as her impressive gilded carved nautical hoods and gilded carved arch pedestal which she so gracefully resides on. A magnificent vessel deserves her glorious figurehead.

[rwiederrich]

13 hours ago, TheAuthorsDaughter said:

Honestly I have no idea but wouldn’t hurt to ask, the bow we all know has to be altered and it’s also balsa wood - not sure if there were any differences between the two or not. The first one is long gone, apparently got damaged and the person he had sold it to has since passed away so no telling where it ended up.

 

Interesting...if I had their name..my wife is an excellent sleuth and she might be able to locate the family and from there, the whereabouts of the model.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

10 hours ago, ClipperFan said:

I doubt that my sleuthing has unearthed anything new but just in case I may have, I'll dig them up and share them here. I learned from a magazine publication that she was 90" tall which is 7 1/2 feet. I'm going to concentrate my efforts on recreating her as well as her impressive gilded carved nautical hoods and gilded carved arch pedestal which she so gracefully resides on. A magnificent vessel deserves her glorious figurehead.

 

I'd appreciate seeing all that you have on the figurehead.  I know you've been working on it for some time now.

The book is all packaged up and is going out to the Post today.

 

Rob

[ClipperFan]

rwiederrich

Rob, I'm still stunned that you're being so considerate to me, a fellow Glory fan who you never met before. I'll let you know as soon as I receive it. Please extend my thanks to Michael Mjelde for his courtesy as well.

I found the magazine article with the description of Glory's figurehead being 90" tall. When I get home I'll share that with a few others. Even with the limited images available, it's possible to do a very accurate reproduction. Of course at 1:96 she's just shy of an inch tall!

[ClipperFan]

As for locating the missing 1st Glory model, if you can locate the name of the buyer, it should be possible to get probate records. All decedants possessions are usually listed and in a will it's also stipulated to whom those artifacts are supposed to go to. Assuming the buyer knew the value of what they had, it should be fairly easy to identify. Then it's a simple matter of contacting the new owner. If that doesn't work, contacting the probate attorney would also be a good start. The attorney can't give out personal info but they can probably pass along a word to the right party to contact you.

[rwiederrich]

2 hours ago, ClipperFan said:

Rob, I'm still stunned that you're being so considerate to me, a fellow Glory fan who you never met before. I'll let you know as soon as I receive it.

 

I sped it along so you will probably receive it on Monday. 

I know how I would feel(Inside), knowing a signed copy of a book I chrished was or could be, inches away from my grasp....and knowing that it was altogether an impossibility.  I felt that way for you...and knowing that, you knew, that I spent time with a historical hero we both admired so....and was a procurer of said signed book.....well....I took the next joyous step and wanted to pass along the thrill to you.  It really wasn't all that difficult....it just took the thought and then the action.     Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, is a good creed to live by.

 

Happy days.   I'll put together the accurate drawings and take a pic and post them here.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Here is a copy of the new drawings...on several pages

Note the bow and the entrance lines.

 

Compare these to Michaels old drawings.

[ClipperFan]

rwiederrich

Rob, once again, thank you again for your very generous gift. 

Boy I hate throw water on another man's work, especially an experienced draughtsman but here goes. The Bow and Stern as depicted just don't match what I see in the various paintings and the 1900s broadside photo or even the most recent discovery that we shared in this forum. 

First painting is by Samuel Walters, widely reputed as being one of Britain's finest nautical illustrators, meticulous in his accurate depictions of every detail of sailing vessels in the minutest details. His glorious painting, featured on Michael Mjelde's first 1970s book, shows a more pronounced Bow than either the first endpaper or this latest effort. Look closely you'll see he has included the Naval Hood as well as the Carved Arch beneath and her white figurehead.

Second oil painting is by Charles Robert Patterson, one of America's finest sailor marine artists. Just like Walters' work, Patterson is renowned for his accurate Ship's portrayals. It's remarkable how consistent these two artists are in their depictions of the exact same vessel "Glory of the Seas."

Third is a rare photo of Glory's Stern while she's being towed to Alaska. Her stern looks much lighter than how it's depicted in the newest lines plan. 

Finally is the first large illustration I did myself, maybe 5 or 6 years ago. This is a poorly lit image. I include it because if you look closely there's a graph inside the Hull. I used every specific measurement taken from a reproduction of a contemporary account, probably Robert Duncan McLean, Boston Daily Atlas, which is available in one of Michael Mjelde's publications. 

I realize I'm not a professional nautical draughtsman but as I've said before, I can clearly see what's in front of my eyes. 

For instance, the latest image of Glory grounded also suffers from what I've labeled "perspective distortion." While it's a good broadside picture, old "Glory" is clearly listing to Port. Adding to distortion is the location of the photographer who's far below her waterline. Both of these issues exaggerate shortening of the bow and thickening of the stern.

Perhaps the one that is clearly the most accurate of Glory's Hull is the Starboard Broadside when she's docked at San Pedro, which I've shared with this group already. 

When you consider that her figurehead is 7 1/2 feet, she's apparently projecting about 15' from the Bow. I've included a close up of her Bow. Compare it to the new revised Bow. At least to me, they still don't match. 

Again, I absolutely don't mean any disrespect to the hard work of another man but my fealty is to Donald McKay's impressive creation and this still doesn't match what I see.