J H Crawford by LJP (Lawrence Paplham) - Scale 1:64 - an 1894 to 1898 Wisconsin sternwheeler

[LJP]

After three years since the start of my MSW build of the Thistle, I have decided to build the J. H. Crawford (JHC).  As with my Thistle build, this will not be a fast process.   I learned a lot from the Thistle build, and will need to be creative in making new mistakes on building JHC.  I have also stolen ideas presented by others (Hi Cathead!) which will improve the quality of JHC.

 

The J. H. Crawford was built in 1894 by Ryan Brothers of Oshkosh, Wisconsin for the Wolf River Transportation and Merchandising Company.  

 

George Ryan and his brother were Canadians who learned shipbuilding at Short Brothers in Maine.  They later built Great Lake boats in Sheboygan and Manitowoc, Wisconsin before they finally began ship building in Oshkosh.  Their Eastern and Great Lakes background had a profound effect upon the vessels they built.  They modeled and lofted their boats which was unusual for these design-build boats.  And George never referred to their creations as boats, they were always “ships”. Their long-lived boats were strongly constructed to weather the shallow but tempestuous Lake Winnebago but showed their earlier career influences.

 

 JHC was described as a “working boat” although it carried passengers.  It had a 10 by 15 forward men’s “smoker” along with a same size women’s saloon aft. Initially it was designed for the circuitous Lower Wolf River at an overall nominal length of 130 feet by 25-foot beam.  JHC’s entire life was spent on a section of the Fox-Wisconsin Waterway.  This included the Lower Wolf up to New London, the Lower Fox up to Green Bay, the Upper Fox to Berlin, and Lakes Winnebago, Winneconne, Poygan and Butte des Morts.

 

The new owners immediately had a falling out over the proposed Wolf River route for the JHC. Eight months later JHC was sold to the company of McKenzie & [ Captain John H.] Crawford.  In May 1898 they in turn sold the JHC to Clark and LeFevre. Clark & LeFevre lengthened the boat by 14 feet and renamed it Thistle. At an overall 144 feet length, the now Thistle just fit into the 145 by 36-foot Fox River locks.  Clark & LeFevre combined interests with the Oshkosh Steamboat Company in 1906.   Thistle was finally dismantled at Green Bay in 1915 after a long 21-year life. 

 

There are only two known photos of JHC.  One was a photo bomb at distance that was not useful. The other, presented below, is a wonderful quartering stern view that truly shows the difference between much simpler JHC and the latter Thistle.  I first obtained this photo while building Thistle, or I probably would have built JHC first.

Photo published courtesy of Dave Thompson Collection at Steamboats.com.

 

Below is the bow view of Thistle but what the J. H. Crawford probably looked like, albeit 14 feet shorter and without the bow bulwarks.  Note the double stairs to the saloon deck and main deck with bull rails.

Thistle at Berlin, Wisconsin in 1901. Reprinted with permission from the Berlin (Wisconsin) Area Historical Society

 

My next posting will show the profile drawings of JHC and Thistle, which really shows the differences between the two boats.  I will again build in 1:64 scale. 

[KeithAug]

Wonderful subject. I do like paddle driven riverboats. I will follow with interest.

[LJP]

These are comparative 1:64 profiles of J. H. Crawford (upper) versus Thistle (lower).   

The obvious differences in the much simpler JHC is the 14-foot shorter length, but also an old type double stairs compared to a grand stairway.  Most main deck windows are omitted as are the fancier bulwarks - including the bow bulwark.  No electric in the early years, so a “railroad type” light was installed on the hurricane deck by 1895.  Note the reduction or absence of lifesaving equipment: no rafts or life planks, only 2 yawls, and no boiler deck ladder.  There are numerous subtle differences which will be evident later.  

 

Now I need to get started on cutting out the frames for my plank-on-bulkhead model.  One of the things I did learn is that I really do not need as many frames as I used in Thistle.  If I wanted to build a true framed model that would be different, but I do not want that much detail. I hope to build a stronger but more cohesive p-o-f model.  What most are unaware of, is that the Thistle had an early launch that resulted in sprung planks, a destroyed stem post and a broken keel.  Those type redo repairs I hope to avoid.

 

[LJP]

I cut out the frames and began to build the hull structure. Nothing below has been glued in place yet.  The cylinder timbers are at the stern and additional longitudinal supports inserted.  The supports will outline the boiler pit.  JHC had a single Scotch Marine boiler below the main deck.  It was noted that the engineer’s ladder slipped when he was going to inspect the boiler during construction.  The engineer ended up with a broken arm and his left ear nearly torn off. 

Next steps will be cutting out the boiler pit and actually gluing things together.  Things are going slower due to summer months and life's little adventures.

 

[KeithAug]

On 9/5/2024 at 5:12 PM, LJP said:

The engineer ended up with a broken arm and his left ear nearly torn off. 

Ouch! - Lets hope the current builder has better luck.

[LJP]

I have gotten things glued in and starting the planking   It will take some time for the full planked hull due to other duties as assigned.

I temporarily put the boiler in the pit. Again, it will be a while before I get to the boiler. The gauges for the boiler will have a bit different layout than what is normally seen on the boiler itself. I have a Marine Iron Works of Chicago USA brochure (one of several that I have) that shows a lithograph from a boiler that was reproduced from a photograph – so that layout actually existed.  Stay tuned.

 

JHC will have eleven wider bottom planks just like its younger sister boat, the 1907 Paul L had.  The Oshkosh Public Museum has numerous online photos of the capsized Paul L in May 1910. The Paul L capsized when the coal cargo was unloaded from the starboard side but not the port.  Predictable result.  Over Paul L went, throwing crew into the cold Fox River. The Museum photos show not only the normal bow shots but there are two of the upturned stern views which prove invaluable.  I obtained several of these Museum photos of excellent clarity, but I am not permitted to publish them here.  I also own some postcard photos of the capsizing but not the stern shots.

The actual JHC bottom planks were of locally sourced oak, while the Paul L were southern cyprus.  The narrower JHC side planks were locally sourced Eastern white pine while the Paul L were Washington or Oregon Douglas fir.  The change in material speaks to the rapid deforestation of Wisconsin in a less than fifteen-year period of time due to intensive and destructive logging.  I used basswood throughout my model. 

[LJP]

Well, its been a few months but my “other duties as assigned” are winding down.  This has allowed me time to finally get the planking done.  This has not been with out a few re-do’s on some of the individual planks but the product is now acceptable.

I now need to paint the hull.  If you recall, Thistle was historically accurate with a green upper and “two coats of boiled linseed oil” below the waterline, circa 1908.  I do not know what JHC’s colours were.  For below the waterline, I have seen discussions for white, black and oxide red. Above the waterline, later Thistle photos seem to be white, black and grey.  Or so it seems, given these were black and white photos or colourized.  The JHC photo at the beginning of this article seems to be grey.  I would appreciate if anyone has insight into hull colour schemes.  Otherwise I will pick period appropriate colours. 

 

Hopefully, my next entry will not take so much time as we head toward the holidays.

[LJP]

I decided to paint the entire hull white for want of a better decision.  This is the hull colour of many of the museum steamboats. Likewise, this was probably the most economical as no tinting was required. So white it is.

 

I used Alan Bates’ method of combining the deck beams and the guard’s outriggers into a single beam.  Much simpler and stronger.  This is different from the Bertrand which had the outriggers separate from the deck beams.  This is what my early gluing and clamping looked like. Lots of clamps…

Another deviation was the outriggers at the stern where the wheel was located.  Again, Bertrand had separate outriggers. However, JHC’s sister ship, the Paul L, had that area blocked in with timbers.  This was evident with the Oshkosh Public Museum online photo of the Paul L when capsized. [I am not permitted to publish that photo here, but you can check their website.] So, I used solid blocking.

 

This is what the final product looks like.

My next project is to complete the main deck decking.  There are a few issues there:

1.       If the bow did not have a canvas or tarpaper cover, I would suspect the deck needed to be caulked.  You would not want water draining into the hold where the coal bunkers are.  Over the guards it makes no difference.

2.       I may try something different for the hog chain braces.  The braces really get in the way as you build the boiler deck and the staterooms.  Maybe a guide in the hull where the braces can be removed during construction.

3.       The same is true for the inner cylinder timbers with their support braces for the sternwheel.  On Thistle, I completed them in situ – which was a horror story.  Now I may make them a separate and removable component.

[LJP]

I ended up with another step before I can begin planking the deck.

 

As I mentioned earlier, I had problems with the hog chain braces getting in the way of later construction.  So what I tried this time is epoxying 5/32 x 5/15 K&S brass tube as a guide in the hull.  The 4/32 x 8/32 basswood hog chain braces are removable and just slide into the guides.  It is hard to see from the photo, but the braces are all at 60 degrees.  Hopefully, this will work better.  I left the braces long and will cut down to length later.

 

I also added the rudders.  I needed to add these now because of the decking over the false transom. 

 

Lastly, I added the strake around the outside of the deck.  I do not know what this is called – let me know if you know the correct name.  On a clipper ship, the bow section is a nibbling strake – no idea what it is on a steamboat.

So now I finally can begin the planking.  [ I promise I will do it this time] You can also see the center plank that I laid for a reference point. It will be trimmed for the boiler pit and hatches.

[Keith Black]

 LJP, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family. 

[LJP]

Merry Christmas (albeit a few days late...) and a Happy New Year to you Keith and your family.  I really enjoyed your Pile Driver and am following your Lula build.  I totally like unusual subjects. And your YouTube on a steam engine is absolutely unbelievable.  Great find!

[LJP]

As promised, I finished planking the main deck.

Earlier I had mentioned that I was uncertain if the deck at the bow had a canvas or tarpaper cover.  I recently obtained a clear photo postcard of the J H Crawford’s sister boat the Paul L. The Paul L capsized in May 1910 after being unloaded of coal on only the starboard side.   It may be difficult to see here but the bow is clearly planked without canvas or tarpaper.  Contrast that with the canvas used on the hurricane deck

This is my early process on planking.  I added six access or storage hatches.  I built those up on a maple veneer base and then placed them. All the planking was 1/32 by 1/8 basswood. The holes in the decking are where the mid-deck stationaries will be placed. The orange dot will place a capstan.

The finished product. I included numerous slots in the deck for the stationaries, hog chain braces and bits.  This will be stronger than simply gluing them to the deck like I did on Thistle.

Next step is to begin building all of the “stuff” on the main deck.  This includes machinery, engine room crew quarters, and of course, the Scotch Marine Boiler.  Many thanks to Keith Black in his Lula build for finding a YouTube on an operating Scotch Marine boiler video. That will be a great help in building my boiler.

 

[Jim Lad]

I'm not sure how I missed the start of this log, but I've just read through it and will continue to follow your beautiful work.

 

River boats of all kinds are always fascinating!

 

John

[LJP]

Hi John.

 

Welcome aboard!  Trust me, you are not the only one who misses builds.  I have been known to do so on occasion....

LJP

[Cathead]

On 12/17/2024 at 10:33 AM, LJP said:

 

Lastly, I added the strake around the outside of the deck.  I do not know what this is called – let me know if you know the correct name.

The term "rubbing rail" comes to mind...not sure if it was used for steamboats specifically but it certainly refers to an extra wale-like strake that provides protection around a hull.

 

Like Jim, I'm astonished and dismayed that it took me this long to discover your new build. Apologies! You do great and fascinating work and I'm so excited to finally be following along.

[LJP]

Hi Cathead!

 

Glad to have you aboard also! I have really enjoyed your builds and have stolen many of your methods.  And I will steal more of your ideas!   

 

LJP

[druxey]

And I've only just stumbled across your build as well! How did we all miss this? Lovely work.

[LJP]

druxey,

 

Welcome aboard!  As I mentioned before, I am very good at missing builds. Glad to have you here.

 

LJP