Mahogany, Mahogany, & More Mahogany - Narcissus Restoration Update 2-8-2020

April 1992, No. 1 end of the 1912 Narcissus is showing its age

and its white-painted mahogany components; the interior of

doors, bulkhead, and vestibule ceiling. Tom Hughes Collection

No date on this interior image of the Narcissus. Mid-80s image?

One of the items we can pick out from this image is which panel

has the gold leaf "14" attached. This image has us looking at the

number 2 end bulkhead. The doors are still attached to their

hinges and all mahogany panels on the window posts are still

in place. This image helps us in part as a "before" image.

Image Donald Curry slide collection 

Handling the existing mahogany panels today that are from the 

Narcissus when it received cleaning and had various materials

applied to the cleaned exterior face of the panels in the 90s, 

the "14" was not to be found on any panels. Fortunately,

the Gray Historical Society has the original mahogany

panel from the Arbutus, sister to Narcissus, with the "10"

clearly visible. We will be able to use this "10" to create

the gold leaf "14" for the Narcissus panel when it comes

time to have that work done. PWM image.

This image has the "14" barely visible probably after the

mahogany was cleaned in preparation for applying a coating

of varnish or shellac composition. You can see that the sliding

doors in the bulkhead are still attached and operable. You can

see one of the window frames still in place in the vestibule

with some white paint still visible from when the coach

was at the Vallee summer camp. As a camp, the lights were

rewired for 120v AC use. Notice the dangling on/off-chain.

 May 1992 image from Tom Hughes Collection

Closeup of the "14" from the previous image

Early in 2019, the various mahogany pieces were brought

upstairs to the woodworking shop for assessment and

then inventoried. This image shows but a very small

portion of the hundreds of original mahogany components

removed from the interior of the Narcissus. PWM image

We were so fortunate to have Seth Reed start working in the

shop on the Narcissus during the first week of February 2019.

Seth's woodworking experience on historic preservation

projects is just what Narcissus needed. Seth is seen

here doing the painstaking task of removing coating materials

from existing mahogany components. PWM image

An interior image of one of the

Laconia Car Company-built interurbans

of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban.

Four of these original coaches were built in 1912

were identical. This image is believed to be

of No. 10, the Arbutus.  Looking at the

No. 1 end of the coach. Through that

single door is the smoking compartment.

Literally, all the wood in this image is

mahogany. The seat handle assemblies,

all the trim, panels, arches, ceiling

panel strip dividers, on and on...

Image from Seashore Trolley Museum

These are panels from the Narcissus that are the same as the

ones that can be seen in the Arbutus image above. The

panel on the left with the hole in the center is the panel

seen above where the rope for the bell travels through

for use in communicating signals to the motorman

and conductor. The "lines" seen along the borders

of the panels are three lines of inlay. The centerline

of the inlay is "black" Ebony (wood) which is then

bordered on both sides with "white" Holly (wood).

The door on the right is 

the bulkhead door from the

number 2 end that separates

the passenger compartment

from the vestibule. You can

see a similar door is in place in

the Arbutus interior image

a few slides above.

The door on the left is one

of the sliding doors for

the bulkhead between the

passenger compartment and

the smoking compartment.

PWM image

Seth is seen here removing the coating from one of the sliding

doors for the bulkhead between the passenger compartment

and the smoking compartment. PWM image

Original brass handles from several of the doors in the

Narcissus. PWM image

Seth working on one of the

sliding doors. See the mahogany

in the background that Seth has

previously removed materials

to reveal the original wood

and inlay. PWM

These doors received

attention in the mid-90s or

very early 2000s. They

need repairs. PWM

Seth has this door set up and is making repairs. PWM

Closeup of one area of repair. PWM

An interior image from September 1995 of the bulkhead

separating the passenger compartment from the number 2

end vestibule. Some mahogany panels were removed. The

large arched panel with inlay is still in place.

The remaining smaller center panel with its hole for the signal

bell rope is still in place. Sliding doors were removed.

Image from Tom Hughes Collection

Seth with the large arched panel pointing to the inlay.

PWM image

Seth's finger is pointing at the section of the inlay in need

of repair. The center inlay of "black" Ebony (wood) is

bordered on both sides with "white" Holly (wood).

PWM image

There are dozens and dozens of mahogany trim boards. Many

of these trim boards are also decorated with the same inlay

pattern. Here Seth shows us where a repair has been made

to one piece after the coating of varnish/shellac materials

was removed. PWM image

The left side corner of the passenger compartment/bulkhead

on the number two end of Narcissus in May 1992. You can see the sliding

door in the bulkhead in place. The window in the bulkhead is in

place. The interior of the vestibule and door has white paint.

Look to the left at the arched single-sash window. This is

another clue that this is the number 2 end of the Narcissus. 

The number 1 end has the smoking compartment and there

are a pair of passenger windows together with one large

ornate leaded stained glass window "Eyebrow" above the

pair.  In this image, please notice the upper portion of

the vertical trim board to the left of the arch/passenger

window. These are made up of two pieces of mahogany.

See more below. Tom Hughes Collection.

Another May 1992 image of the interior of the Narcissus.

The vertical center window post that seems to be separating

the arch down to the lower wall has a mahogany trim

faceboard covering. These boards have no inlay decorations.

The window post between each pair of windows extends up

towards the upper, wider, horizontal trim board. 

The faceboard covering has mahogany trim with

vertical window posts that have a decorative inlay.

Tom Hughes Collection

June 20, 1995, black and white image with a closeup of the

two-piece vertical window post mahogany trim face-board.

You can see the trim board that has the decorative inlay

extends up beyond the stained glass window arches. This trim

board with inlay is attached to the mahogany board that you

can see in this image where the bottom of each arch ends at

the top of the board the inlay trim board extends from. 

See the image below for clarity. Tom Hughes Collection

These are all from the Narcissus interior. The pairing of

boards in the background are ones for the facing of the

interior window posts between each pairing of passenger

windows. PWM image

Here is a closeup of the joined pieces.

The delicacy of the inlay and how

beautifully the inlay compliments the

mahogany is a work of art.

Thank you, Seth, for your dedication to

bringing out the beauty of this woodwork

PWM image 

Window post facing that has no inlay for the posts "separating"

the stained glass window arches. PWM image

The Narcissus arrived on the Museum campus on October 31,

1969. Here is the  Narcissus at the Museum in March 1970.

The number 2 end shows only one window sash on the left

side of the vestibule. The vertical tongue and groove dasher

boards are missing under the window opening on the right.

This left the inner mahogany panel exposed to the weather.

Paul Kehoe Collection at STM Library

       

Narcissus (on the left) at the Museum in November 1971.

The number 1 end vestibule window sash and train doorway

exposed to the weather.

Paul Kehoe Collection at STM Library

Number 1 end of Narcissus today. To either side of the train

doorway (center opening) in the lower section of the

interior of the vestibule, are two mahogany panels. The pattern

of these panels is the same as the pattern you see here on

the lower panels of the bulkhead. PWM image

A closeup of the pattern of the mahogany

panels in the vestibules. PWM image

The panels had been painted white when Narcissus

was at the Vallee summer camp. PWM image

Once stripped, the condition

of each panel was assessed.

PWM image

Repairs by Mr. Vallee varied. Repairs will be made where

practical. Replacement of sections or complete panels may be

necessary. PWM image

This panel was missing an end section. PWM image

It cleaned up pretty well. PWM image

Vestibule window sash that survived.

On initial inspection, it was thought

there was one that was completely original. Upon

a more detailed inspection, which included

dismantling, the sash, it became clear, that there

were repairs made to varying degrees to both.

Repairs and replacements will be in order.

This is not the Narcissus. It is its sister

PLI coach Gladiolus. However,

the Narcissus was involved in several

accidents over its 19 years of service

operating on the Portland-Lewiston

Interurban line. The likelihood that

vestibule windows needed

repairs following any of those accidents

is a very strong possibility. Image

from Seashore Trolley Museum Library

Vestibule window sash inspection up close. PWM image

Here is an image of the lower right side of the Narcissus.

The closest is the smoking compartment on the number 1 end,

with the passenger compartment trailing off to the left. Each

of the openings seen below the beltline (the horizontal

length of wood running the entire length of the body attached

to the vertical window posts), above the side sill, is where

a panel is attached with a mahogany veneer facing towards

the interior (see image below). PWM image

One of the mahogany veneer panels is seen from the interior

of the Narcissus. The outline seen is made from the metal

plate frame assembly that holds the passenger seat cushion.

February 2001 Tom Hughes Collection

Not all, but a number of these mahogany veneer panels

survived and are in various degrees of condition. Like many

components in the Narcissus, the repair or replacement of

these panels is complicated and time-consuming. PWM image

Above is seen the outer veneer of one panel that clearly

attaches where metal supports are located.  To the right is

a panel that its mahogany veneer faces toward the interior of

the car and you can see the holes where the seat bracket attaches.

PWM image

Each panel starts with an inner layer of boards that are

tongue and groove. Each side then has a veneer layer of 

either poplar or perhaps birch, then the side facing the interior

of the passenger compartment has a veneer layer of

mahogany, while the side facing the exterior of the

coach has an additional veneer layer of poplar or birch.

PWM image

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We continue the restoration work on the 1912, Narcissus, the only surviving high-speed, luxury interurban coach of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban. 

Click Here: Narcissus Restoration-Related Posts

Being more than a century old, the stately, "Elegant Ride," Narcissus, is a gem.  This shimmering precious stone of Maine transportation history is brilliantly resplendent as it emanates so many elements of history, including; time, places, people, and events, that it was coupled to, that when just a smattering of its seemingly innumerable stories are shared, the contents captivates, fascinates, then generates, interest to learn more 🙋. The majestic Narcissus is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Please consider joining the epic journey to complete the Narcissus Project by making a donation today!

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The restoration of this majestic icon of Maine's electric railway history is but one in a series of captivating stories containing an abundance of incredible coalition of narratives.

Click Here: History-Related Posts - Narcissus and Portland-Lewiston Interurban

     The Narcissus is featured in the national Gold Award-winning novel, Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride. The "Elegant Ride" is the Narcissus. Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914, between Lewiston and Portland, Maine, while campaigning for the Progressive Party candidates.

Click Here: Bookstores and Businesses promoting the Narcissus Project

Independent book publisher, Phil Morse, holding

the Gold Book Award Winner plaque for

 the Middle Reader category for The Eric

Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to

award-winning Maine author,

Jean M. Flahive