Narcissus Restoration Update - Part 3 - Exterior Poplar Frames 4-22-2016

A complete "half" of one newly built exterior poplar arched frame

for the 1912 Portland-Lewiston Interurban, Narcissus sits on top of a

few frame segments. The segments will be assembled following the addition of

"fingers," gluing, and planing. Each complete "half" arched frame will then have

turns on three specially made shapers before several passes along special router

blades that will then shape the arched frame with contours and grooves to

match the graceful lines of the original poplar arched frames of the Narcissus.

PWM

This Narcissus Blog post is the third in a series on the exemplary woodwork being done with the exterior poplar arched frames by Seashore Trolley Museum member/volunteer, Lary Shaffer. The exterior poplar arched frames hold the mahogany sash/frames that contain the ornate leaded stained glass windows that are above each pair of passenger windows, except on the No. 2 end, where there is a single sash window (The No. 2 end of the Narcissus is affectionately referred to as the "Teddy End". For it is from the open train door on the No. 2 end, from whence Theodore Roosevelt waved to the assembled crowd of residents 

    There are thirteen passenger windows along each side of the Narcissus. Twelve "double-sash" or pairs of windows and one single-sash window. There is an arched wooden frame on the exterior of the Narcissus over each single or each pair of windows. Each of the poplar arched frames is made up of a combination of left and right, "half", and a "tail that extends from the top of the frame and runs parallel with the body of the car. These are extremely complicated designs. In addition, the original design had each half of the arches made from one solid piece of poplar board. This use of a single board would prove to be a design flaw. Within the tips at the ends of each arched half, failing.

The flaw in the design relates to the grain of the poplar wood in a single board. The direction of the grain of the poplar in the final two or three inches at the tips of each arched frame is structurally the "weak link", and virtually every end had broken away from every single poplar arched frame section. Good fortune had two broken end pieces nailed into place. Having these allowed Lary to have one complete set of the two halves intact. Although in pieces. With these intact arches, he could then create a wooden pattern to use as he developed the plan to repair the ends of fifty "halves" of arched frames and to rebuild four halves completely.

An original arched frame half will need repair. PWM

Lary Shaffer used the shaper table to cut "fingers" into the end. The

new vintage poplar arched frame segments will be used to replace

missing frames of the Narcissus. PWM

Lary Shaffer holding the jig he made to hold an arched frame

half-segment to have its "fingers" cut by the knives on the shaper

table. Lary had to make several different jigs to be used on

the shaper table for the various segments made to

repair and/or build the complicated design of the exterior

arched frame of the Narcissus. PWM

Three of the fifty arched frames with the vintage poplar wood in

place. Each of these arches will have turns on three specially-made

shapers before several passes along special router blades that will

then shape the new arched frame ends with contours and grooves

to match the graceful lines of the original poplar arched frames

of the Narcissus. PWM

An original poplar arched frame from Narcissus resting in a vise.

Waiting for the glued "fingers" that now

connect the original poplar to the new vintage poplar end.

PWM

The first video (below) has Lary explaining, creating, and using a couple of the shapers. And the use of the router table with different blades.

The second video (below) has Lary assessing the block of vintage poplar for where to make the cut for the new section of the frame, then squaring it up.

The third video (below) has Lary explaining the assembly of the segments.

The fourth video (below) has Lary gluing the fingered segments together, then, plane, a completed "new" half-arch frame.

Part four of this series will be released after Lary has completed repairs to all original arched frame ends (50) and finished building three complete sets of arches. When all the above is done, we will video Lary attaching and "running" left, then right, then complete a half with the various router knives, on the various jigs, made for the shaper.

Click here to see Part 1 in the series of 4 -  exterior poplar framework and to see Lary's bio.

Click Here to see Part 2 of the exterior poplar framework

Click Here to see Part 4 of the exterior poplar framework

Click here to view the post on the leaded stained glass windows

Click here to view the first post on the mahogany sash and passenger windows work

Click here to see the story of finding the reclaimed lumber for use in Narcissus restoration

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

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

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 captivate, fascinate, and then generate 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 donating today!

Click Here: Donation Options

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 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

Gold Book Award Winner plaque for

 Middle Reader category for The Eric

Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to

award-winning Maine author,

Jean M. Flahive

Narcissus Restoration Update - Part 2 - Exterior Poplar Frames - 4-22-2016

Narcissus Project Sponsor Phil Morse, pointing to the single-window

exterior poplar frame placement is on the right side of the number

two end of the Seashore Trolley Museum, National Register of

Historic Places, Narcissus. Donald Hutchinson photo

     This Narcissus Blog post is the second in a series on the exemplary woodwork being done with the exterior poplar frames by Museum member/volunteer, Lary Shaffer. The exterior poplar frames hold the mahogany sash/frames that contain the ornate leaded stained-glass windows above each passenger window. The image above shows the single passenger window that is on each side of the number 2 end of the Narcissus. All the other exterior poplar frames are larger, and each spans a pair of passenger windows. Lary is working on the poplar frames in his Scarborough Marsh Fine Furniture woodworking shop.

Click Here: to view the first post in this series and to see Lary's bio.

Lary Shaffer assessed a board of reclaimed vintage Poplar in

his woodworking shop, Scarborough Marsh Fine Furniture.

The reclaimed Poplar is being used in rebuilding/repairing the

exterior frames of the Narcissus. PWM

      The challenge today, when restoring a historic wooden interurban built in 1912 with wood available at the time, is finding wood products that are similar to those originally used. We think in terms of "old growth" or "reclaimed", "recycled", or perhaps, "vintage" wood. The Narcissus has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places, along with nine other Maine Railway vehicles at the Seashore Trolley Museum. Finding wood materials for the restoration that are as close to the original as possible is very important. The Museum is very fortunate to have found a local supplier in southern Maine that has had great success supplying the Museum with period wood for previous restorations like the 1906 electric locomotive, Atlantic Shore Line No. 100. John Rousseau of Rousseau Reclaimed Lumber (formerly Barnstormers) has been able to supply the Town House Restoration Shop with some wonderful vintage Poplar for use by Lary to repair/rebuild the exterior Poplar frames of the Narcissus. An earmark of a great piece of vintage wood is the number of growth rings in the tree from which the board came. A very close series of rings will tell us that the tree was growing in a heavily wooded forest and was forced to grow more slowly due to the competition for sunlight and growing space.

The very tight growth ring pattern is clearly visible on the poplar

wood supplied by Rousseau Reclaimed Lumber. Notice the rings

nearer the heart (left) of the tree are wider, and as the tree grew,

the rings are closer and closer together. Evidence that more space

and sunlight were available to the tree when it was a young sapling.

PWM

The first video in this post (below) has Lary explaining part of the planning process for working on the exterior Poplar frames of the Narcissus.

Lary uses the template he created to assess the newly constructed,

 exterior Poplar frame. This early-stage frame will go

through many more steps before it is a finished product. This series

of videos has Lary taking the viewer through the various stages.

     The second video in this post has Lary explaining more about the various stages in the process of repairing /rebuilding the exterior Poplar frames of the Narcissus. These video clips were taken over two days. The videos in the series of blog posts may not be in the order in which the original video was taken. Some by Lary may seem out of place...FYI.

The Next post in the series will be released in the next day or so.

I hope you are enjoying them :) Let me know...

Click Here: to see Part 1 in the series of 4 -  exterior poplar framework and to see Lary's bio.

Click Here: to see Part 3 of the exterior poplar framework

Click Here: to see Part 4 of the exterior poplar framework

Click Here: to see the post on the leaded stained glass windows

Click Here: to view the first post on the mahogany sash and passenger windows work

Click Here: to see the story of finding the reclaimed lumber for use in Narcissus restoration

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

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

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 captivate, fascinate, and then generate 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 donating today!

Click Here: Donation Options

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 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

Gold Book Award Winner plaque for

 Middle Reader category for The Eric

Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to

award-winning Maine author,

Jean M. Flahive

Narcissus Restoration Update - Exterior Poplar Frames - Part 1 - 4-22-2016

The license plate is on an interior wall in Seashore Trolley Museum

member/volunteer Lary Shaffer's Scarborough Marsh Fine Furniture

woodworking shop.  PWM

     Lary's father was an admirer of Franklin D. Roosevelt and had this license plate on his car. As luck would have it, Harvard University commissioned Lary to replicate several significant pieces of furniture as part of the restoration of FDR's Harvard dormitory room. Lary is currently restoring/rebuilding exterior poplar window frames for the 1912 Portland-Lewiston, No. 14, Narcissus. Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914. Lary's grandfather was a conductor on the maiden trip of the Flying Yankee between Portland and Boston on April 1, 1935. See more on Lary's and his Railway & Railroad family heritage below. 

Click Here - FDR's Dorm Room Renovation work by Lary

Click Here - FDR Foundation & Adams House at Harvard

      The past two days, I had the pleasure of spending some time with Lary Shaffer at his Scarborough Marsh Fine Furniture woodworking shop in Scarborough, Maine. Lary allowed me to take pictures and video of him as he was working on rebuilding, and in some cases restoring, the exterior poplar frames from the Narcissus. The exterior poplar frames hold the ornate windows and their mahogany frames. Videos below. 

The first and second eyebrows. Notice the leaded stained glass sash

being held in place by the arched exterior frames. STM

Lary Shaffer, working to remove the 100+-year-old iron screw

from up inside the exterior frame that holds the large eyebrow sash

and stained glass windows. PWM

     Several video clips were recorded over the two days. Each takes the viewer through the various steps Lary has developed and is implementing in his efforts to rebuild/restore/recreate the various segments that make up these poplar wood frames. These clips are not shown here necessarily in the order they were taken. So, you may hear a reference here and there to points made earlier, when actually, you may not have seen the referenced footage yet :) There will be more than one blog post to share all the work by Lary on the Narcissus exterior poplar frames.

This first clip (below) will give you some background on the

first steps of dealing with the original exterior poplar frame

segments. PWM

"Tails" that Lary refers to in the above video. The tails are the

extensions that run from the top of the exterior poplar frames and

are horizontal with the body of the Narcissus. Removed in

the initial dismantling of the frame segments. The tails in this image

are in great shape and will need very little attention as they are

prepared to be reconnected to the restored/repaired frame segments.

PWM

Poplar wood frame segment after having its "tail" removed. PWM

The same poplar frame segment as above. You can see the tiny

triangular piece of vertical sheathing in what was the corner where

the tail extended away from the top of the frame segment. Lary

mentions in the video above and shows where this tiny triangular

piece is tucked in tightly in the corner. PWM

This second clip (below) is of Lary's mid-to-late 1800s lathe

and his use of it for turning wooden "plugs" for the exterior

poplar frames. PWM

     Finding wood materials for the restoration that are as close to those originally used is very important. The Museum is very fortunate to have found a local supplier in southern Maine that has had great success supplying the Museum with period wood for previous restorations like the 1906 electric locomotive, Atlantic Shore Line No. 100. John Rousseau of Rousseau Reclaimed Lumber (formerly Barnstormers) has been able to supply the Town House Restoration Shop with some wonderful vintage Poplar for use by Lary to repair/rebuild the exterior Poplar frames of the Narcissus.

This third clip (below) is Lary giving some background on becoming

a volunteer at the Seashore Trolley Museum and the Narcissus. PWM

Click Here: to see Part 2 of the exterior poplar framework

Click Here: to see Part 3 of the exterior poplar framework

Click Here: to see Part 4 of the exterior poplar framework

Click Here: to see the post on the leaded stained glass windows

Click Here: to view the first post on the mahogany sash and passenger windows work

Click Here: to see the story of finding the reclaimed lumber for use in Narcissus restoration

Seashore Trolley Museum Member-Volunteer Lary Shaffer

 Seashore Trolley Museum member/volunteer Lary Shaffer, in an

earlier career, is in a BBC publicity shot at the camera with

Niko Tinbergen, who directed some of the programs. The monster

lens, Nikon 800 mm, was very useful in getting close-ups of shy

animals. Image from LS

Railway and Railroad Roots in Lary's Family

Ernest Moody, Lary's grandfather, worked for the B & M Railroad

for 55 years. Image from LS

     Lary speaking of his grandfather: "Grandpa's 55 years at the B & M did not seem amazing when I was growing up, but I certainly appreciate it now. He worked for two years on the Boston Elevated before he went to the Boston & Maine, and that is my tiny streetcar bloodstream. He had sufficient seniority at the B & M; he became conductor on the first stainless-steel diesel-electric Flying Yankee run from Portland to Boston on 1 April 1935. Here he is (above), and also his logbook for that day. It shows how stoic he was that it was simply recorded as "6000 Motor". I think I would have had to put an exclamation mark or something after that entry. The Yankee must have looked like something from futuristic space travel among all the steam engines. He notes "5-speed restrictions" in the log. Without those, the Yankee made the trip an hour faster than the current Downeaster. However, the Yankee was nonstop, so I guess that was cheating."

Lary's Woodworking Shop

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

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

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 captivate, fascinate, and then generate 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 donating today!

Click Here: Donation Options

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 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

Gold Book Award Winner plaque for

 Middle Reader category for The Eric

Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to

award-winning Maine author,

Jean M. Flahive