I have been researching the history of the River Boat Liberator for some time now and am finally at a point where i can shear my findings.
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Just a update.
The draft research paper is now 61 pages long with lots of corrections and additions. I also started going through the english magazine The Engineer, from 1865 to 1900 and prepared a paper on all references to Yarrow and Co. Also took copies of all references to locomotive boilers, horizontal engines and drawing of river boats. That paper is now over 150 pages containing direct references to my project. But its time to take a break and get back to k to modeling the Thorn. I AM RESEARCHED OUT.
The draft research paper is now 61 pages long with lots of corrections and additions. I also started going through the english magazine The Engineer, from 1865 to 1900 and prepared a paper on all references to Yarrow and Co. Also took copies of all references to locomotive boilers, horizontal engines and drawing of river boats. That paper is now over 150 pages containing direct references to my project. But its time to take a break and get back to k to modeling the Thorn. I AM RESEARCHED OUT.
Some of the river boats built by Yarrow and Co
Her are some more
This is the finial batch. I have included a few made by other builders as they helped me understand some issues.
These are images of the locomotive boilers that was used on the Libertador
And here are some of the horizontal steam engines used in riverboats
These are the original and enhanced images of the Libertador
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There was at least one American company that specialized in building these river steamboats for export. It was located in Pittsburgh, PA. Once built, these boats were dissembled into shippable sections to be reassembled at the destination. I used to have a reprint of a catalog but gave it away several years ago. I don’t ember the company’s name.
Roger
The name of the company in Pittsburgh is James Rees.
Roger
The name of the company in Pittsburgh is James Rees.
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Here you go. Thanks
James Rees was born in 1821. He worked in the Western Pennsylvania shops and foundries which built steamboat machinery, and he later worked for noted steamboat engine builder, Andrew Hartupee. In 1854, he established his own operation in Pittsburgh along the Allegheny River building steamboat engines, machinery and boilers. Later, he also built complete steamboats.
In the late 19th century, Rees constructed metal-hulled western river type steamboats for export around the world. These boats were fabricated, then disassembled and shipped abroad with a crew who then reassembled the vessel and taught its purchasers how to operate the boat. Rees’ boats plied the Volga, Nile, Magdalena, Yukon, Columbia, Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio rivers, to name only a handful.
Modern river transportation came to many hinterlands of the world via Rees steamboats, and their heartiness and quality became legendary. The company’s Idlewild, built in 1914, continues operating today as the Belle of Louisville.
James Rees was born in 1821. He worked in the Western Pennsylvania shops and foundries which built steamboat machinery, and he later worked for noted steamboat engine builder, Andrew Hartupee. In 1854, he established his own operation in Pittsburgh along the Allegheny River building steamboat engines, machinery and boilers. Later, he also built complete steamboats.
In the late 19th century, Rees constructed metal-hulled western river type steamboats for export around the world. These boats were fabricated, then disassembled and shipped abroad with a crew who then reassembled the vessel and taught its purchasers how to operate the boat. Rees’ boats plied the Volga, Nile, Magdalena, Yukon, Columbia, Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio rivers, to name only a handful.
Modern river transportation came to many hinterlands of the world via Rees steamboats, and their heartiness and quality became legendary. The company’s Idlewild, built in 1914, continues operating today as the Belle of Louisville.
I have settled on these two images for the boiler and the steam engine until i can find more conclusive information on the equipment that was used on the vessel. I continue to look and have located an out of print book on Yarrows first 100 years which may lead me to better information. I have also located the family of Jose Bonnet, one of whose relatives wrote a number of papers that referenced much of what i had already found in Colombia. They added the two additional photographs of the family and an image of Jose’ company in Bogota Colombia. Every week i get some small addition to the research. They are supposed to have his original journals which supposedly account for the initial order of the vessel. I am waiting to see if this journal can be located. The University of Glasgow has also approached the owners of two sets of documents that “ may” shed light on the vessel.
