Mariners Museum in Newport News, VA USA

[Rebus]

Took a trip yesterday to see the Crabtree model collection at the Mariners Museum. My grandfather took me many times as a young kid to see them. From a young age I have had a desire to build wooden ships but only started this year. These models are the ones that sparked that interest. Took a few pictures. They are all 1:48 scale.

Think you can see all of them on their website and read more about them here.

The Miniature Ships of August & Winnifred Crabtree

About the exhibit: Discover the jewel of The Mariners’ Museum in The Miniature Ships of August F. and Winnifred Crabtree. From a primitive raft to a Venetian galleass decorated with 359 carved figures, the evolution of boatbuilding is depicted in an unmatched display of craftsmanship by...

www.marinersmuseum.org

It was great to see them again and remember my grandfather taking me to see them.

 

[Roger Pellett]

Me Too!

August Crabtree, like some of us was obsessed about building Ship models, but he did have Business Plan which to him apparently made sense. He would travel the country exhibiting his models to those willing to pay to see them.

Going back to post war 1940’s and the 1950’s. Department Stores in cities were “destination locations.” Women taking a break from running a household went downtown to spend time shopping in them. As least in our house it was an occasion.

One of these two locally owned department stores in Akron, Ohio near where we lived offered exhibitions as a way to generate store traffic. These included a display of Crabtree’s models displayed in their glass cases in the store’s conference room. My mother took me to see them. I was probably about 7 years old. I knew about ship models because my father had been building a model of Flying Cloud.

From that time on I was hooked. I went home and began building crude ship models from scrap lumber in my father’s basement workshop. I’ve never quit.

Roger

 

[GIG1810]

Ohhhhhh...so wunderbar...Danke Rebus!!
Cheers Günther Schiff-1

 

[GIG1810]

Hey Rebus,
wow sooooooo beautiful. Thanks for watching.....
Cheers Günther

 

[Sylph VI]

Yes, thanks for sharing. An inspiring collection.