George F Eldred (2 results)

Blackler's papers are in the New Bedford Whaling Museum. 4pp, foolscap 8vo. Eighty lines of text, with last page written crosswise. On wove paper with stationer's embossed mark. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper with light staining at edges. Text clear and entire. Begins: 'Contract for building a Schooner made this day March 20th 1866 by and between Wm G. Blackler of New Bedford county of Bristol state of Massachusetts of the first part and Ebenezer Brayden, [sic] George Eldridge John Brown - Robert Robeson - Benjamin Westage - Charles Coombs [blank] ship carpenters of Fairhaven county and state aforesaid of the second part as follows'. The six carpenters undertake 'to make, build and finish complete, all the carpenters labor required, in a good and substantial manner, the same schooner agreeable to the model and moulds of the Schooner "Ida L" built in 1865 by the same parties, under the control and superintendance of Moses H. Delano of Fairhaven, county and state aforesaid'. Specifications and financial arrangements are fully described. Signed by 'Wm G Blackler' at the foot of the third page, and by 'E Bryden', 'George F. Eldred', 'John Brown', 'Robert Robinson', 'Benjamin Westgate' and 'Charles H Coombs'. 'M H Delano' signs twice, for both parties.…

Three oblong folio original silver gelatin photographs sized 14 x 9.75 in., all w/ photographer's rubber stamp on verso, two w/in negative at lower fore-edge (very slight age toning, minor shelfwear, a couple corners creased), still an excellent set of three. These scarce three large original silver gelatin photographs depict the expanding fleet of tugboats from the Shaver Transportation Company from before World War I into the Roaring 20's. Those depicted here included the "Hercules," the "Cascades" originally built by the US Army Corps of Engineers for constructing the Cascade Locks, and used by the Shaver Company until World War II; the historic "Henderson" wooden-hulled sternwheeler first built in 1901 as freight carrier and towboat, operated for decades towing log rafts, pushing barges, and by 1950 was one of the last two wooden-hulled sternwheelers working the river, and starred in the "River Queen" film in 1952; the "Sarah Dixon" another sternwheeler named for George Shaver's wife; and the "No Wonder" originally built in Portland in 1889 from dismantled components from the 1877 Wonder, and served as workhorse for the log-towing operations until retired and abandoned in 1933. Also depicted are the tugs such as the "James W" designed by Captain Delmar Shaver, owned by the Shaver Transportation Co., powered by a direct-reversible 350 Atlas Diesel engine, with electrically powered monkey rudder system, and during the height of the Kaiser World War II shipyard boom she worked around the clock, as she was built for speed, and minimal wake effect, eventually being retired by the company in the 1950's. Also featured are the "Echo" which was the Shaver Transportation Co.'s first propeller-driven gasoline-powered boat, as well as the large Shaver sternwheeler, which later was converted into a twin-screw, semi-tunnel diesel tug. Founded originally in 1880 by George Washington Shaver and partner's as the People's Freighting Co., with their steamboat Manzanillo, the company was later incorporated in 1893 as Shaver Transportation by George with his two sons James and George, and by the post-World War I era as depicted in these photos had expanded to 7 and then 10 tugs, and their diesel power and scientific hull designs dominated Pacific Northwest waterways towing. Gustin (1884-1959) began as a photographer in The Dalles, and then Pendleton, before established as photographer and proprietor of Sowell Studio, formerly Simon-Sowell Studio in 1914-1916, and operated as a photographer for the next three decades. Simon (1890-1986) became the manager for the Sowell Studio sometime in the early 1920's, and continued as professional photographer until his later retirement.…