Gordon M Posted December 11, 2023 Report Share Posted December 11, 2023 Found this lovely ship in a light bulb at estate sale yesterday. First Baltimore clipper, Ann McKim. Beautiful. About 9" tall, 4" across. But I can't find info on how it was made, since it's vertical with hole (with screw end removed) on BOTTOM, not side. How was this done?! Also, I didn't see any other vertical examples online, only bulbs on sides. Are these rare? Circa what year? Estate sale house had lots of deep sea fishing gear, I think it was built by fisherperson whilst idling away, waiting for a bite.... This seems super rare - is it worth much? The one flaw is the lighthouse fell over in a storm and is loose on the sea, rolling in the surf... Thanks in advance for any info on construction and value. IgorSky and JesseLee 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JesseLee Posted December 30, 2023 Report Share Posted December 30, 2023 Is the bottom (sea) packed full of putty? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon M Posted December 30, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2023 Hi, thanks for responding! It looks like it's blue...putty or acrylic all the way down. My brother is an engineer and we discussed just yesterday and concluded together that likely the completed lovely ship and cool island were each attached to the end of sticks pointing up from bottom, then liquid was pumped up from below to level. I don't know much about SIAB building but this explanation makes sense to me. See additional pics of base i took for brother. Also of fallen lighthouse - suggestions for repair are welcomed. Haha! I've just made up the story there was a storm, see, and... : ) Cool piece, I love it, but if you know anyone who wants to buy it, let me know! I'd bet $100 is a good price, it's a fine piece! Gordon JesseLee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JesseLee Posted December 31, 2023 Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 Fascinating! I cannot understand how they positioned them in place after putting putty in from bottom and keep everything straight and at the right level and depth in the putty without things leaning over in the process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon M Posted December 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 I don't know, either, but if you had a wood base with a clamp to hold bulb upright, and two long rods holding two objects stable, and a tube to pump liquid resin up into bulb, then sealed bottom of bulb, that might work. Rods might still be in there maybe. Then when it hardens remove bottom seal and reattach socket? JesseLee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ise Da Bye Posted January 1 Report Share Posted January 1 Happy new year. I wish I was as lucky to find something like that an estate sale. I think I know the answer to this one. Everything was assembled and fastened with the bulb laying flat on a thin layer, maybe 1/8 inch thick of “sea“ and then the bulb was rotated to the vertical and glued in place And the underneath was either painted or puttied to blend. I think I can make out the thin anomaly of the original thin base. Too bad about the lighthouse but still a beautiful piece. You get extra credit if you figure out how to reattach that. JesseLee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon M Posted January 1 Author Report Share Posted January 1 Happy new year to you! How would the thin layer right under the two objects be built if bulb is on its side? It was truly a lucky find. It was among a bunch of glass jars, I guess no one noticed it! For sale! JesseLee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ise Da Bye Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 It’s fantastic that she survived her voyage so far. That’s not your average bulb either. It might help date when the model was built. The way I might guess it was done is for three or four tongue depressors or equivalent, laid side-by-side and cut into a circle, then taped on the back in such a way as to let them hinge and fold, allowing the insertion through the bulb neck. Then unfolded and glued together flat when inside the bulb on its side. Taking care not to glue the base to the side of the bulb yet. Paint the base blue, add some sea texture camoflauge and color to base as needed, add waves, structures, and the ship itself, etc. Make sure the base and all its details are free to move and rotate the bulb to vertical and glue or putty base in place from the bottom over the neck access. Easier said than done. I’m intrigued and I am adding this to my build idea list. JesseLee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon M Posted January 2 Author Report Share Posted January 2 That is good thinking. Sounds very plausible. I tried finding the bulb online, didn't see exact one but maybe 1920s or 30s? Good luck building one, it looks super cool! If that doesn't work out you can buy this one! Thanks for helping solve this mystery gordon JesseLee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allegheny Posted January 8 Report Share Posted January 8 I've seen this old bulb type before, and if I recall correctly it was originally a 3-way bulb used in the tall brass floor lamps. Those lamps had 3 satellite smaller bulbs situated around a white glass shade. The lamp shade then rested on top of it. Those long bulbs were still available in the 60's and 70's. The one you have seems to have a brass base - which were rarely yet available in the 60's. JesseLee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon M Posted January 8 Author Report Share Posted January 8 Thank you for this info! It certainly helps date it. I thought the bulb might be older but the blue sea material seemed more modern. Your information is very helpful! JesseLee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JesseLee Posted January 15 Report Share Posted January 15 Duh, Can't believe I didn't think of this because I used that exact method to do one in a Christmas tree ornament (clear bulb) but with the narrow part on top instead of the bottom. Age is playing hide and seek with my memory! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon M Posted January 15 Author Report Share Posted January 15 Hi, JesseLee - Which method did you use on the bulb: the one suggested by Isa Da Bye, with an unfolding platform of tongue depressors, hinged, on which ship and island are built, or the method of placing the two things on sticks mounted to a base, like my illustration? Also, if bulb part was on bottom it would be easier because you could maneuver things from the hole on top, even after the "sea" was poured into the bulb part below? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JesseLee Posted January 16 Report Share Posted January 16 The unfolding platform with the inside of the glass under the sea platform painted to give the illusion of it being filled with something. Yes, could control how things ended up sitting from the top. It is on here somewhere. The Rouse Simmons, nicknamed the Christmas Tree Ship in a Christmas ornament globe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon M Posted January 16 Author Report Share Posted January 16 I'll look for that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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