Genealogy of the Bryan and Martin Families
Alexander Martin Model Ship Gallery
Alex Martin (1883-1960) joined the United States Navy in 1899 at the age of 16 and served until his 21st birthday in 1904. Around 1931 he began building model ships, most of them entirely "from scratch", although he did purchase plans and some of the smaller parts, such as anchors, life boats, etc. He sometimes pilfered the gold chains from his wife's and daughters' jewelry to use as anchor chains, eyelets from shoes became portholes, and seeds from a plant in his yard were used to make ventilators. Alex entered his ships in several hobby shows in Dayton, Ohio, winning "Best of Show" in 1959. He had exhibited at the 1960 hobby show just a few weeks before his death. This album is a collection of newspaper articles about and photographs of the models he built. Most of them are no longer in the extended family, although a few still exist in the homes of his descendants. He gave away many of his models to his friends and acquaintances, and one even ended up in the White House when he sent it to Franklin D. Roosevelt as a present. I remember several ships for which there are no photographs, including the U.S.S. Hartford, one of his largest models at a little over 3' long, and a slave ship. This virtual album is the closest thing we have to a complete record of his work. Follow this link to read his memoirs, Hedunit: The Memoirs of an Ex-Blue Jacket, and this link to read, download, or order a print copy. The descriptions (to be added as time permits) of some of the ships in this gallery were written by Alex and included in a notebook he kept containing photographs of each model. The notes appear to be for a slideshow that he presented to various audiences.» Alexander Martin Model Ship Gallery «Prev «1 ... 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 ... 58» Next» » Slide Show
U.S.S. Essex
After the American Revolution the American Navy was allowed to dwindle in strength almost as a matter of course, while our overseas commerce expanded rapidly in extent and volume. Without protection, this commerce was subject to molestation by the Arab powers in the Mediterranean, British impressment of seamen, and petty piracy of other European nations. To protect our ships a number of frigates were built by popular subscription, including Essex by the citizens of Essex County, Massachusetts.
She was a 32 gun frigate, length 146 feet, beam 37 feet, depth of hold 13 feet, launched Salem, Massachusetts, September 30, 1799.
Her fascinating history with the account of her lone wolf raid into the South American whaling areas during the War of 1812 is told in detail by F.B. Robotti in the Nautical Research Journal.
During my training as an apprentice seaman in the U.S. Navy, December 1898 to April 1904, in May 1899 I was stationed on the training ship U.S.S. Essex. She had been recently remodeled as a trainer. We were taught to climb the rigging and make and furl sail, gunnery, signaling. We made a 9 month European cruise. Our first trip from Newport, Rhode Island, to Queenstown, Ireland, took 23 days. We lay in a calm with no wind at all for 3 days with all sails flat. It was a delightful cruise. We visited all the countries in Europe and experienced shore leave in every port wherever we dropped anchor for fresh water and provisions.
| File name | Essex.jpg |
| File Size | 824.4k |
| Dimensions | 3023 x 2406 |
| Albums | Alexander Martin Model Ship Gallery |
» Alexander Martin Model Ship Gallery «Prev «1 ... 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 ... 58» Next» » Slide Show