Hi folks, just to note to say I am really enjoying the number of older vessels being posted at the moment. My father went to sea in 1940 right up until 1981 with his last ship being the Howard Smith vessel the "Macedon"...he was there 17 years, I spent two of those years with him aboard her. He collected ship artefacts for years and when he passed away last year he left them all with my brother Woz and I. It seems to have grown on us both so its good to be able to post up a part of his collection of old war time, pre war and later day ships dad left behind.
My first love are for the real oldies, I love sharing pics with whoever and whats more, I was extremely lucky to have spent some time on them (old ships) also, some namely being the old Iron Monarch, Iron Duke, Iron Baron, Barwon etc...very heavy jobs, hatch boards weighed a ton, tarps too, one on the wood, two on top...a forest full of sticks, the old guys would know what I mean.
Stripping hatches on arrival etc was no problem, the home porters couldn't get ashore quick enough...squaring up to prepare for sea was though. Especially when a majority of the crew was full of turps, so very frustrating, all debating the best way to do things lol, sheesh those were the days!
Anyway, back to the site...been a great influx of vintage ships of late and I am really enjoying them. Keep it up guys.
Cheers and GB
Gordy