How Wooden Ships Are Built - A Practical Treatise on Modern American Wooden Ship Construction With a Supplement on Laying Off Wooden Vessels #270643

The revival of wooden shipbuilding in the United States dates from the latter part of 1915. In April, 1917, at the time we declared war against Germany, over 150 large wooden vessels were under construction along our coasts, principally in New England, the South and the Pacific Northwest. With America's entry into the war, the tonnage requirements of the entente allies were tremendously increased. It soon became evident that the United States would be called upon to construct an enormous armada of steel cargo carriers and in addition as many wooden vessels as could possibly be turned out. Subsequent events up to the spring of 1918 have served only to emphasize the problem. The universal cry is ships, ships - and yet more ships! The necessity, under these conditions, for a large fleet of wooden vessels is no longer disputed, and wooden shipbuilding flourishes all around our far-flung coast line from Maine to Washington.<br><br>This revival of the art of wooden shipbuilding has brought with it an insistent demand for information on how wooden ships are built. Compared with the needs of today, the number of expert wooden shipbuilders in the United States at the outbreak of our war with Germany constituted scarcely more than a corporal's guard. Thousands of new men have been inducted into the business. These men must be trained. They must be taught the "know how".<br><br>It is to assist in this important work of training that this book is offered. In other words, the book has been prepared to meet a war emergency and it is hoped the information it contains is of practical value.<br><br>Most of the material appeared originally in a series of articles published in The Marine Review between June, 1917, and March, 1918. The entire text, however, has been carefully revised and brought down to date.<br><br>The illustrations, which the publisher believes form perhaps the most valuable feature of the volume, have been carefully selected. Over 150 of the original photographs were made personally by the author expressly for this work. They were taken with the sole purpose of showing clearly and accurately how modern wooden ships actually are constructed. The aim in every case was to present important details of construction rather than general views. To obtain the photographs and collect the material for this work the author traveled extensively and visited nearly all of the important wooden shipyards in the United States.<br><br>An effort has been made to produce a book that is practical and illustrative and one that also reflects current American practice accurately.<br><br>The mathematical theory of ship design and other details which come more within the province of the naval architect than the shipbuilder have been omitted. As a supplement, however, two chapters on laying down wooden ships from the treatise of the late Samuel J. P. Thearle have been added. Acknowledgment is made to John W. Perrin, librarian, Case Library, Cleveland, for the opportunity to reprint portions of this rare work published originally by William Collins Sons & Co., London. While Professor Thearle deals with laying down British ships of the line, the underlying principles of which he treats are unchangeable and it is doubtful if any present-day author could present the subject more lucidly.<br><br>The publisher and author wish to express their appreciation of the generous assistance they received from the leading wooden shipbuilders of the country, without whose aid this work would have been impossible. By permitting full access to their plants and by whole-hearted co-operation in furnishing valuable data, detailed drawings, etc., they have set an example of patriotism and broadmindedness that many lines of business could emulate.