I am 100% Sure NOBODY’S Wife Gave Them THIS for Christmas!

[jackieschmidt]

As many know, I kinda like taking old things and restoring them, just because.

I told my wife quite a while back that I wanted to find an old ship’s Porthole and restore it back to as new condition.

There are replicas to be had, (China), for decoration, but I wanted one that came off of an actual ship, built to ABS standards.

I kinda forgot about it, but she did not. A good friend and her Husband of her’s was on a cruise that did a port stop in Maine. They went into an old antique shop and found a real live, complete brass Porthole. The glass must be at least 1/2 inch thick.

She contacted the shop, bought it, and surprised me with it.

Now I get to take it all apart, clean it up, (wire brush, no blasting or sanding), and figure out a nice place to display it.

Previously I have done a Steam Engine Governor and a Locomotive Bell.

Anyway, here it is, ready do disassemble.

 

[tikkaman308]

That's really cool, it ought to be pretty nice all polished up and shiny!

 

[Pat A.]

I have something similar on the door to my cellar.

 

[Leo_B]

You are fortunate to have such a thoughtful wife. And you better post pics when it's done Buster. Oh, and cut a hole in the wall of the house and install it.

 

[CJ6]

As many know, I kinda like taking old things and restoring them, just because.

I told my wife quite a while back that I wanted to find an old ship’s Porthole and restore it back to as new condition.

There are replicas to be had, (China), for decoration, but I wanted one that came off of an actual ship, built to ABS standards.

I kinda forgot about it, but she did not. A good friend and her Husband of her’s was on a cruise that did a port stop in Maine. They went into an old antique shop and found a real live, complete brass Porthole. The glass must be at least 1/2 inch thick.

She contacted the shop, bought View attachment 1724738it, and surprised me with it.

Now I get to take it all apart, clean it up, (wire brush, no blasting or sanding), and figure out a nice place to display it.

Previously I have done a Steam Engine Governor and a Locomotive Bell.

Anyway, here it is, ready do disassemble.

That's cool Jackie.
You have a very special wife for sure.

 

[AlNyhus]

Jackie, that's just too cool. A thoughtful, classy lady!

 

[Sandstorm]

Very cool indeed...

 

[MikeT124]

Guys just remember "Wives never forget anything", EVER.

Mike

 

[FNSafari]

Great project! Related, is Gene Parsons and his significant musical career with the BYRDS. In later years he went back to his machine experience and family history to do many things. Here are some...

If you like guitars and banjos, see this one from Gene....

A very talented multi instrumentalist and machine tool operator. Clarence White (LeBlanc) was from my hometown in Maine.

 

[ShtrRdy]

That's a great idea!

 

[Cecil S.]

Cool gift.

 

[FNSafari]

I'm not much of a psycho music lover but this performance by the Byrds is pretty cool. L to R, Clarence White, Skip Battin, Drums Gene Parsons and Roger McGuinn. Despite you like or dislike, great talents. A far cry from Sweetheart of the Rodeo...

 

[JohnW...ski]

Thats cool, nice gift.

I got this one out of a sunken coal barge at 130 feet.



I have another that I have wanted to install on an outside wall of my house but have never gotten around to it.

 

[M-61]

Have one and replaced the glass, which was broken. with a mirror

 

[Bottom Fodder]

Very nice and cool, the gift that will put a smile on your face and hers every time you look at it, Congrads

 

[K9TXS]

When I was working, one of my coworkers was stranded in St. Martin due to hurricane Irma in 2017. After the storm passed through, they walked around the streets near their hotel and found a port hole still attached to part of a jagged piece of a hull. He hung it up on a wall in his house with a small plaque of the incident. He added the plaque so he didn't have to repeat the story every time someone asked him about it.

 

[ebb]

A penthouse apartment in Palm Beach I worked in had an old port hole window installed in a shower. It connected to a nitrogen filled brass tube the same size as the glass in the port hole and allowed the owner to look out the window a boat traffic on the Intercostal Waterway. I thought that was pretty cool

 

[jackieschmidt]

Thats cool, nice gift.

I got this one out of a sunken coal barge at 130 feet.

View attachment 1724872

I have another that I have wanted to install on an outside wall of my house but have never gotten around to it.

This is what I have in mind.
In the living area of our house, looking out to the backyard, we have five big windows.

While they are quite thick, I am thinking of contacting a window man and getting the center one replace with some heavy safety class, with the port holes bolt pattern centered. I can then mount the Port Hole on the window.

I visualize it as looking really neat.

I figure the glass window will not be cheap. I could drill the holes with the proper diamond drill, which are really not expensive, then the widow man could mount the widow properly.

 

[AlNyhus]

Hey....how cool would a vintage divers helmet be with that port hole!

 

[59FLH]

I think that would make one hell of an objective lens.