http://www.bosunsmate.org Discussion from The Bosun's Mate - en-us Copyright (c) 1987-2012 The Bosun's Mate web@BosunsMate.org http://www.bosunsmate.org/forum/index.php?action=view&id=378 Thanks ..... My mail was from a retired wooden boat builder who's boss had told him about them ..... he thought it would have been used for a steering shaft not a propeller shaft ? interesting though , if its from later years I should be able to bring up something on this World Wide Web .... Thanks again Cam http://www.bosunsmate.org/forum/index.php?action=view&id=377 Thanks ..... My mail was from a retired wooden boat builder who's boss had told him about them ..... he thought it would have been used for a steering shaft not a propeller shaft ? interesting though , if its from later years I should be able to bring up something on this World Wide Web .... Thanks again Cam http://www.bosunsmate.org/forum/index.php?action=view&id=376 My contact replied back - here is what he had to say: [i]About the stuffing box, I doubt very much that is was designed for a "tall ship" from the 1880's. Ships of that period weren't fitted with stuffing boxes as far as I know. I suspect it is from a later period and probably made of [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lignum_vitae]lignum vitae[/url]. We had a similar device installed in the schooner, Hedda Gabler in Miami in 1972. The shipwright was a Cuban gentleman http://www.bosunsmate.org/forum/index.php?action=view&id=375 Thanks for that ! I picked it up in an antique store in Hobart ,Tasmania 20yrs ago :) http://www.bosunsmate.org/forum/index.php?action=view&id=373 Hello , I have a wooden stuffing box that I would like some infomation on .... It was said to have been made for a tall ship from around 1880's? never been used ! It is stamped with 'Ford bush and stuffing box' Any info would be greatly appreciated :) I cant find anything on the web . Cam http://www.bosunsmate.org/forum/index.php?action=view&id=374 Very cool - I don't have any info about it (although I will put out a feeler to someone that might) - but it's a great looking photo. Funny thing is - I just updated the forum on this site about 30 seconds before your post - talk about timing! http://www.bosunsmate.org/forum/index.php?action=view&id=372 From what little I have been able to find, and it's been very little, this orginated in the Scandinavian countries ie: Denmark, Norway, and Sweden in the Early 1500's or so. If any of the Old Salts know it would be helpful. And Thanks. http://www.bosunsmate.org/forum/index.php?action=view&id=371 That's a new one for me - but I know a few "Old Salts" I might be able to ask. Do you know anything more - ie: is there a country/region of origin to this? Modern maritime tradition or historic? Navy or Merchant Marine? http://www.bosunsmate.org/forum/index.php?action=view&id=370 I was wondering if any of you have hear of a "bitter end award" and if so how it originated? I have been able to find many definations as to what a bitter end is, and most have been basically the same. But not able to find anything on this award or it's orgins. From what I am being told, the award is given to a person retiring and they have come to the bitter end of their career, but according to my counter parts here there is a much more eleborate story associated with it. I http://www.bosunsmate.org/forum/index.php?action=view&id=365 I am a writer in Nova Scotia, Canada and am looking for some history and background on the term- 'shipping water'. Any help appreciated. Thanks! Boatswain43