mikie Posted December 21, 2016 Share #1 Posted December 21, 2016 Hi, What do you think of this ebay listing? It sounds plausable, so I jumped in for a 3 inch section. Pretty neat if true, but who knows? In the old days, the Royal Navy had the tradition to save wood from scrapped ships and have sailors carve and sell souvenirs out of it to benefit RN invalids, widows and orphans. These nick-nacs are some of the only surviving pieces of some great ships. I wish the US Navy did the same. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Teak-Wood-Railing-from-the-USS-Baltimore-USN-Cruiser-/291864904211?hash=item43f4810213:g:wfQAAOSwIgNXv77j Mikie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted December 21, 2016 Share #2 Posted December 21, 2016 Quite common actually when modernizing vessels in the shipyard. Often, there were items made for the crew from the old railings (and planking for older capital ships like Cruisers). I can see rails and planking making their way into private hands from the scrapped parts salvaged by yardbirds and the like. I have a piece of the bridge rail from one of my ships, USS LUCE (DLG-7/DDG-38). This piece of mahogany measures out at 5 1/2" x 3" x 1 1/2" - Many. many watches and nautical miles on this piece of lumber. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zsmith Posted December 21, 2016 Share #3 Posted December 21, 2016 I have a small piece of decking from the USS Missouri. I went to Hawaii several years ago for a friend's wedding and at the time they were doing deck repairs on the Missouri. I'm not sure if it's an original piece or a piece from the previous restoration they did in the 1980's. They were ripping up large sections and there were pieces everywhere so I picked one up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
268th C.A. Posted December 21, 2016 Share #4 Posted December 21, 2016 I got a few pieces of PT-305 being restored at the National D-Day musuem...Like said this stuff is not at all uncommon. I told them they should sell the stuff rather than throw it away. Brass screws and Mahogany hull planking. Not plywood like everyone seems to think.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikie Posted December 21, 2016 Author Share #5 Posted December 21, 2016 I agree, as long as they don't go overboard (sorry about that, I couldn't resist), I'm sure they could use the leftovers and scrap as fundraisers, donation gifts, etc. I have a piece of the USS North Carolina from their museum store. Thanks for the comments. Mikie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MastersMate Posted December 23, 2016 Share #6 Posted December 23, 2016 There is a USN tradition connected with retaining pieces of wood. Crewmembers assigned in the first crew were referred to as 'plank owners'. As such, they were entitled to a small piece of any wood work when the ship was scrapped or the wood removed... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MastersMate Posted December 23, 2016 Share #7 Posted December 23, 2016 https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/customs-and-traditions/plank-owners.html A bit of information about plank owners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikie Posted December 23, 2016 Author Share #8 Posted December 23, 2016 I am glad to see that there is at least some small part of these ships still in existence, at least not as a refrigerator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hink441 Posted December 23, 2016 Share #9 Posted December 23, 2016 Here is an old one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted December 23, 2016 Share #10 Posted December 23, 2016 Here's an example from a carrier: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sigsaye Posted December 24, 2016 Share #11 Posted December 24, 2016 I have deck sections and nut plugs from USS Iowa. They were removed during her 1980s refit, so had been there from when she was decommissioned in '54. My father had served aboard her from '52-'54. They were given to me by a buddy who was assigned as a Deck Seaman in her re commissioning crew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted December 24, 2016 Share #12 Posted December 24, 2016 I have a nice chunk of the Franklin's flight deck. They had their annual reunion in the same hotel as our Navy Ball. After talking to the old vets and telling them the story of saving Gary's MOH from the trash, they presented me a piece of the deck they had. One of my prized possessions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted December 25, 2016 Share #13 Posted December 25, 2016 It's kind of hiding in the display, but this is my chunk from the Franklin... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
67Rally Posted December 25, 2016 Share #14 Posted December 25, 2016 I am a plankowner of USS Vincennes (CG-49) but it is a ceremonial recognition only. I did acquire pieces of my ship as she was being cut up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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