Pen From Wood Of Uss Constitution

[Peningitis]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/THE-SEER/USSCOnstitution.jpg

 

I just obtained this interesting pen that was made from wood taken from the USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. The wood was removed from the ship in 1973 as part of a refitting done by the U.S. Navy. The ship was launched in 1797, one of six frigates authorized by Congress to defend the trade of our young republic. She was named by George Washington and commissioned by John Adams. Soon she was serving with distinction against Barbary pirates in the Mediterranean. Her greatest fame came in the War of 1812 when she defeated several British frigates and earned the nickname “Old Ironsides”, when cannonballs reportedly bounced off her thick oaken hull. She returned to Boston in 1897 for her Centennial celebration and has remained there since. The pen came with a medium steel nib and uses cartridges or converter.

[Guest Subvet642]

The battle that gave Constitution one of her nick-names (the other one is "Connie") was against H.M.S. Guerrière, a British frigate:

 

 

She and her sister ships had been giving the British captains fits as they were a bit different from other frigates of the day, being larger and more heavily armed with longer guns. When H.M.S. Macedonian was taken by Captain Stephen Decatur commanding U.S.S. United States (Connie's sister ship), Captain Carden RN complained to the British Admiralty that it wasn't a fair fight because the Americans were sailing disguised Ships-of-the-Line. This inspired a London wag to pen this poem:

 

War in Disguise; or

An apology for His Majesty’s Navy

 

One Stephens, a lawyer, and once a reporter,

Of war and of taxes a gallant supporter,

In some way or other to Wilberforce kin

And a member, like him, of a borough brought in,

Who a master in Chancery since had been made,

Wrote a pamphlet to show that Jonathan’s trade

Was a “War in Disguise”; which, though strange at first sight,

Events have since proved may have been but too right;

For when Carden the ship of the Yankee Decatur

Attacked, with doubting to take her or beat her,

A Frigate she seemed to his glass and his eyes;

But when taken himself, how great his surprise

To find her a seventy-four in disguise!

Edited June 23, 2011 by Subvet642

[Bo Bo Olson]

Been on it, and it's made for 5'6" folk or smaller.

 

 

One of the 4 or five reasons for that rebellion that is not mentioned in the HS history books, besides quartering of soldiers in folks home...a hungry soldier in a bad climate time in the little ice age, was that the best and straightest timber in the colonies were reserved for the 'our' British navy.

The US made wonderful sloops, schooners and ketches. In 1816 or there abouts the first of the clipper ships came off the wharfs of Baltimore. Later they grew in hull line to be the real Clipper ships.

 

 

Adam Smith said in his famous book on Capital that a nations wealth was it's timber/industrial wood for charcoal...the book being pre- ground coal. And one must think at that time England was having a wood shortage.

 

Had England kept the colonies of America, steam ships would have been later...in they were coal powered, and England would have still had cheap mast timber from the US.

 

Having not to worry about pirates of the English channel of the time and shortly before. The Americans could make very fast ships in the sloops, schooners and ketches classes.

 

Ketches are much underrated. For cargo from Boston to Baltimore a ketch is a fantastic boat. From Boston to Bahamas or long distance a schooner because of it's longer hull line was faster but a ketch could work with lighter wind.

[amble63]

I'm enjoying this thread - we're going to Boston for our summer vacation and one of the stops we have planned is the USS Constitution. Thanks guys!

[Bo Bo Olson]

74's were three deck and our long frigates were two decks of guns. Heavy cruisers going against light cruisers.

 

We were not confined to British government standards, so could build a better boat.

They cost as much as an aircraft carrier then.

 

The French made great looking boats (faster but less solid when taking cannon balls to the hull), but did not keep them at sea so the British sailor had more experience.

The French aimed at the masts and lines, the English at the hull. There for the different building styles.

 

Louis 14 time...The later finance minister, who built a wonderful river canal system, Colbert??? was put in charge of the French navy. A captive British Captain was astounded. The French could turn around a ship in 1/2 as much time as the English.

But the King took him away from the French Navy.....the man was a genius.

[hbquikcomjamesl]

And keep in mind, even though it is a museum ship, it is still a U.S. Navy vessel, in commission, and the docents are all U.S. Navy personnel.

 

I don't know about you, but when I am about to step off the brow and onto the main deck, I turn to the nearest docent, and formally request "Permission to step aboard, sir?"

[OcalaFlGuy]

And on that Old Ironsides wood...

 

I only became aware a couple years ago that every July 4th, they turn the U.S.S Constitution around so it points the other direction while docked so that the wood on the ship ages in the sunlight somewhat more evenly.

 

I only more recently learned that they don't just do a simple turnaround AT the dock, they tug the ship well out into Baastan haba AND they fire a 21 gun salute from it's cannon.

 

I spent a couple years one summer long ago in Boston. Even though the bench warrant has expired by now, I really have no desire to go back. (Now Nashua...that's another story...) However, seeing Old Ironsides firing a broadside might make it worth the while.

 

(Probably almost as cool as the end of the summer concert on the banks of the Hudson river at West Point. Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. With real bells <200 year old catholic chapel belfry> and REAL cannon firing.)

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL-and the all girls school in Highland Falls offers some fun too

[Guest Subvet642]

And keep in mind, even though it is a museum ship, it is still a U.S. Navy vessel, in commission, and the docents are all U.S. Navy personnel.

 

I don't know about you, but when I am about to step off the brow and onto the main deck, I turn to the nearest docent, and formally request "Permission to step aboard, sir?"

 

That's funny, when I was in the Navy, we were called Sailors.

 

BTW, First face the ensign (the Flag), then turn to the topside watch or OOD and say: "Request permission to come aboard, Sir."

Edited June 23, 2011 by Subvet642

[JefferyS]

I believe I saw that a few months back in a Fahrney's catalog. How is it as a writer?

[Peningitis]

I believe I saw that a few months back in a Fahrney's catalog. How is it as a writer?

 

 

It's actually not bad as a writer, although not smooth enough to want to use on a regular basis. I'll stick to my Pelikans for that.

[antares1966]

Equally cool is that the US Navy holds a lottery every year the "turnaround cruise". 150 winners and their guests get to be on board during the trip.

 

And on that Old Ironsides wood...

 

I only became aware a couple years ago that every July 4th, they turn the U.S.S Constitution around so it points the other direction while docked so that the wood on the ship ages in the sunlight somewhat more evenly.

 

I only more recently learned that they don't just do a simple turnaround AT the dock, they tug the ship well out into Baastan haba AND they fire a 21 gun salute from it's cannon.

 

I spent a couple years one summer long ago in Boston. Even though the bench warrant has expired by now, I really have no desire to go back. (Now Nashua...that's another story...) However, seeing Old Ironsides firing a broadside might make it worth the while.

 

(Probably almost as cool as the end of the summer concert on the banks of the Hudson river at West Point. Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. With real bells <200 year old catholic chapel belfry> and REAL cannon firing.)

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL-and the all girls school in Highland Falls offers some fun too

[AtomicLeo]

My in-laws gave this to me as a birthday present last year. It lays down a fine line and it a bit toothy. I love loading it up with Private Reserve American Blue. :-)

[JefferyS]

I'll bet it would be a better writer with some Noodler's Eel Blue.

[Lawrence Fox]

If I remember correctly from the tour we got aboard several years ago, the "turnaround cruise", in part, is what keeps her commission active. IOW, if it never left the dock, it would not be considered an "active duty" ship.

[hbquikcomjamesl]

BTW, First face the ensign (the Flag), then turn to the topside watch or OOD and say: "Request permission to come aboard, Sir."

 

I'll keep that in mind. Particularly since I'm planning on Boston (and a grand tour of New England) for this fall.

 

--

JHHL

[dcpritch]

I love that pen, even if you say its not the best writer (you could always get the pen worked on by a nibmeister, you know), because of its heritage. This photo is from Old Ironsides, taken in 2004 when I was last there. Such history - you can sense it tangibly when you step aboard. I've read all of Patrick O'Brian's books (twice through, I'm afraid) and most of one of his Aubrey-Maturin novels centers around Boston during the War of 1812 - a great read!

 

I think any visit to Boston would be incomplete without a visit to the USS Constitution. Same thing for stops at Bunker Hill, Faneuil Hall, Fenway Park, Little Italy ... oh, I have a long list of things to see every time I'm in Boston. I envy those who will be visiting soon.

 

[ANM]

Not only was it bigger than British frigates-to hold more cannon but it was broader to make it a more stable gun platform but finally it had extra spars to run out and drop more sail so it could out run anything it could not outshoot.

 

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii101/matthewsno/DSCF3109.jpg

[farseer911]

In my past I have had the privilege of sailing on the Bill of Rights. While smaller than the Uss Constitution, she makes you love the sea a way no other vessel could possibly do.