STEAMBOAT BOOKS
Drawings and photographs alone are not enough information for proper research for
model building or paintings. There are a number of books so essential that every
serious student should have them in his or her library. Topping the list are:
Way's Packet Directory - 1848-1983 and Way's Steam Towboat Directory.
Both are available
from the Sons & Daughters of Pioneer Rivermen, 126 Seneca Drive, Marietta, OH 45750.
For structural and mechanical information The Western Rivers Steamboat Cyclopoedium
and its companion book, The Western Rivers Engineroom Cyclopoedium are essential. They
are available from this catalog.
For general history Louis C. Hunter's Steamboats on the Western Rivers is beyond compare;
available from Dover Press and many bookstores.
BELLE OF LOUISVILLE
This is the heart-warming story of converting the AVALON into the
BELLE OF LOUISVILLE, the oldest operating steamboat in the United States, told with charm
and wit by Alan L. Bates, who served as architect and mate. You will enjoy many a roaring
laugh over the antics of crew and passengers. You will come to admire the devotion of the
crew to the boat and their gracious acceptance of the foibles of the public. Captain
Frederick Way, Jr.'s review says, "All in all the talent combined between covers has
given birth to a book of rare merit."
152 pages, 50" x 9" glossy paper, full-color soft cover, sewn, illustrated.
THE WESTERN RIVERS STEAMBOAT CYCLPOEDIUM
(available from the Howard Steamboat Museum, Jeffersonville, IN)
THE WESTERN RIVERS ENGINEROOM CYCLPOEDIUM
(available from the Howard Steamboat Museum, Jeffersonville, IN)
... is the companion book to the steamboat Cyclopoedium
which describes the entire power plant of the steamboat. Boilers, accessories, piping systems,
auxiliary machinery and propulsion engines are described in detail. It is illustrated with
historic photographs, renderings and drawings from textbooks as well as by a number of original
drawings. Eight different valve gears and five actuating cams are explained. A glossary,
index, bibliography and list of a dozen enginerooms that can be seen today (1998) are included.
Archaeologists will find this booklet particularly helpful in identifying artifacts recovered
at their river digs. 64 pages, 8th" x 11" glossy paper, saddle-stitched, paper bound, 110(+) illustrations.
COALBOAT WATER
This fast-moving historical novel will absorb you as you read about the
apprenticeship, adventures and eventual acceptance of Roy Williams, the novice deckhand
on the mighty coal-towing steamer OAKDALE. Roy, trapped between two implacable enemies,
must somehow survive their feud during a voyage down the Ohio River. The boat, the river
and the engaging individuals in the crew are described in historically accurate detail.
Captain John Hartford, composer of Gentle on my Mind, made the illustrations. Captain J.
W. Rutter's review states, "The descriptions of the interior arrangements of the OAKDALE
are authentic and the reader feels he is aboard. We are introduced to the crew members and
their characters are well-developed through dialogue; Captain Bates is an amused observer
of people."
126 pages, illustrated, stapled, paper bound, 80" x 11".
HARLEY TRYON TALES
This little book is for those who prefer their steamboat nostalgia
pure and undefiled. Ten amusing short stories tell about life on a typical steam towboat
of the 1920-1935 period. A true collector's item, each book is numbered, inscribed to the
buyer and autographed by the author. This book is not available through any other source.
77 pages, perfect stapled binding, card-stock cover, 7" x 8 1/2".
MOONLITE AT 8:30, The Excursion Boat Story
Captains Clarke C. (Doc) Hawley and Alan L. Bates
co-authored this, the definitive book about the oldest and happiest industry on the Mississippi
River system. It is the complete compendium about entertainment on river boats and barges.
Subjects covered include living conditions, advance men, officers, crews, passengers, musicians,
operations, competition, pranks and jokes, excitement and fights, personal sketches of notable
men and women, inspection and more. Many rare photographs, index, bibliography and map are
contained within this libraryquality book.
283 acid-free glossy 8 1/2" x 11" pages, 186 illustrations, sewn, hard cover, full color dust jacket.
McBRIDE'S RIVER
This is the heartwarming story of a riverboat family spanning a hundred and forty two years of
American river history from the days of Steamboat Gothic to the present. From the glamourous George
Washington McBride, through his son, the hard-working, hard playing, hard luck Leo Birch McBride and
his son, the thrifty George William McBride to two more generations of highly capable rivermen, the
Ohio River at Louisville has indeed become McBRIDE'S RIVER.
WENDY, THE WHALE(novel; not steamboat related)
This is the story about a mentally retarded girl and her mother, who overcome the
odds to gain normal lives. This tale will help many more fortunate people to understand
their problems. 157 pages, soft-bound, full-color cover.
|
