Boatnerd Discussion Forum

It's something I might be interested in if you are referring to us as the Sykes guys, please email me at matt.ludvigson at gmail.com

Hmmm I wonder if the Sykes guys would be interested in a 3 pic montage of the Sykes being launched in 49? It came from the AMShip offices when they closed the yard. Framed by BonFooey Gallery in Cleveland.

I believe I have located an image that shows a binnacle in the area we have been focusing on. Unfortunately, it is on eBay so I can't attach the image. The link is here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1981-Press-Photo-Inland-Steel-Co-s-Wilfred-Sykes-sailed-from-Indiana-Harbor-/251069118902?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item3a74e2b9b6

If you look in the visual center of the Sykes' stack, there appears to be a silhouette which closely resembles the shape of a binnacle. If you're having trouble locating it, draw an imaginary line straight up from the "W" on the boat's name and look just left once you hit the top most deck. It may help to use eBay's roll-over magnifier feature to see it.

This image was taken in 1981, so it's close enough to fit within the confines of the binnacle's origin story. Still on the hunt for the definitive photo, but the trail is getting warmer.

On an unrelated note, it looks as though the Manistee has the exact same make of binnacle on her bridge as seen here:

http://www.boatnerd.com/news/newpictures/reisspilot11-13-00-tz.jpg

Thanks for the extra views Chuck, and thanks to everyone for their past and continued help.

Couple of other views of the area in question from 2008 when the Sykes was on the Calumet River.

[attachment=0]Sykes Aux Steering Station.jpg[/attachment]

You guys have been busy, good stuff from everyone. Thanks again.

After a little digging, I found one of my pictures that shows this area with some detail (sometimes having a lens that can't quite reach is a good thing). This was taken in early '08 at Bay Ship - it's clear that there's no binnacle behind the left-most wheel (pump driven). Also apparent is at least one of the items on a pole stand that has the small tarp on the maiden voyage picture.

After closely looking at the maiden voyage picture in relation to the '08 picture, it looks as though something is missing underneath the tarp covering the left-most pump driven wheel. There appears to be two distinct bumps, one in front of the other. The first bump in order closest to the viewer appears to be wheel shaped judging by the way the tarp lays over it. It is also at the same height relative to the pole mounted item just to the right seen covered by the small tarp in the maiden voyage picture. The second bump in distance from the viewer appears to have the same hulking shape of a binnacle covered by a tarp - rounded top with the compensating iron balls jutting out on either side.

I've attached pictures to illustrate the wheel height in relation to the poll mounted instrument on the '08 picture and a blown-up view of the maiden voyage picture with detail on the left-most wheel.

In a nutshell, I think you are all definitely on to something. I'm really looking forward to a definitive image to show what was there beyond a doubt.

Thanks again for all your previous and continued help, everyone.

Kaye E Barker aft steering station ... just a little newer than the WS but AmShip as well.

So, after having had the chance to see the last picture posted by Roger, I would say that the double wheel / direct mechanical aux steering station was the larger item under the right tarp and that the smaller wheel / pump aux steering station was under the left tarp. And perhaps the original / first generation binnacle on a different style stand was the smaller item under the tarp in the middle.

From the SNAME paper on the Sykes: "[i]Three auxiliary steering stations are provided, two on the after deckhouse roof and one at the steering gear on the main deck aft. One of the stations on the deckhouse roof is for full manual steering by pumps located in the steering column. The other after roof station is direct mechanical control of the steering gear through a shaft transmission[/i]."

Unfortunately, no pictures of the aft aux steering station were included in either article, nor was there a deck plan showing the after deckhouse roof. I did see one view that appeared to show a double wheel arrangement on the after deckhouse roof and nothing more. As it appeared to be more on the center line, I'm assuming that the double wheel arrangement corresponded to the direct mechanical option.

Did poke around and look at some of the Sykes pictures in the Fleet Gallery. If you look at a couple of the July 2002 stern shots taken by Wade Streeter on the 1st page of the gallery, you can see the aft steering station double wheel just forward of a small fuel tank (?) and incinerator stack (?).

If you go to the 2nd page of the gallery, which also appears to be from 2002, Roger LeLievre has posted a couple pictures of the pilot house that appear to show the 2nd generation binnacle. It looks like a hybrid between the original from the 1950 article and the one in your pictures. If you go about 9 rows down on the left and look at the picture taken from dead astern, you can see a second smaller wheel to the left of the double wheel which I'm guessing corresponded to the manual steering by pumps option.

Next pictures that I looked at were Tom Kort's aerial pictures of the Sykes that he posted to the News Gallery on Apr 28, 2012. From those pictures, it would appear that the double wheel arrangement was removed sometime between 2002 and 2012 and that the smaller wheel station remained.

Lastly, I found a picture that I had taken of the Sykes last summer when she was loading at Port Dolomite. It appears to confirm that the double wheel was removed, and you can still see the smaller wheel in place to the left of center line. Also looks like there may be a binnacle in front of this wheel.

So, I like Al's hypothesis that the binnacle in your possession was originally located aft at one of the aux steering stations located on the after deckhouse roof.

[attachment=0]Sykes Stern View 2011.jpg[/attachment]

I suppose it could be under the tarp... 1949 photo (maiden voyage)

Interesting Al, never thought to look there... thanks for the lead.

If anyone has any information regarding this lead, I'd appreciate any imagery or charts that may confirm this.

I'm a bit thrown off by it's condition because it spent several years outside with its previous owner. I'm not sure when the majority of the weathering occurred.

What is everyone's opinion on whether or not I should restore the item? I'm sure it would clean up beautifully, but would I be compromising anything by doing so?

I was never aboard that boat, but your piece looks like it might have been the binnacle at the emergency steering station, which generally would have been located on the top of the after cabin more or less directly above the rudder's steering engine. On the vessels I've been aboard, that station usually had a smaller binnacle similar to the one you picture. Plus, yours obviously has been weathered for many years.

Perfect Chuck, thank you.

Now my mystery deepens - I recently acquired a binnacle that was described as coming from the Sykes. The seller had acquired it through her husband who served aboard the Sykes during the 1970s. In the late 70's, the navigation equipment was said to be upgraded and the couple received the binnacle. The wife remembers going to the ship to pick it up with the family car. I ran a check on the name in database searches, which collaborated fully with the history of the item given. I have full reason to believe the seller is honest.

I wonder if perhaps they used to put a case around the binnacle or if this could be the forward binnacle as it does not seem to match the picture. It doesn't seem likely that the Sykes would have 3 different binnacles by the wheel in it's lifespan, but perhaps I'm mistaken. Other thoughts are that while serving on the Sykes the husband picked up the binnacle from another freighter or boat (likely candidates the P.D. or L.E. Block) and the story became confused.

Regardless, it's a great piece.

I've attached pictures of the binnacle for reference, sorry for the poor lighting.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

June 1950 issue of Marine Engineering and Shipping Review had an article on the Sykes that included the attached picture of the pilot house. Article was written by the same folks who wrote the SNAME paper. With the exception of the ME & SR version containing additional pictures, content appears to be similar and the ME & SR version provided no additional information regarding the manufacturers of the navigation equipment. Tried to reproduce the image a couple of different ways, but the attached is the best clarity that I could achieve. Hope that helps.

[attachment=0]Sykes Pilot House from ME & SR.jpg[/attachment]

So close Roger, it's amazing what this community can bring up for any info request. Thanks for your help.

Did American Shipbuilding Co. make it a standard practice to photograph the newly completed boats inside and out? If so, are these accessible at a public location or resource? I point to Tom Wenstadt's [i]Freighters of Manitowoc[/i] as an example; it has many fine pictures of the interior and exterior of boats built by Manitowoc, apparently taken by Manitowoc Co. and held by the Wisconsin Maritime Museum.

Thanks again!

Oh, the photo was marked 1966.

Too bad there are people in it. ... From a set a slides I bought on eBay.

Thanks again Chuck, this information should help some. Any images of the bridge or specifics on the binnacle manufacturer would provide me with ideal material, but again I appreciate your information and help with the matter.

The paper does contain the following information:[attachment=1]Sykes Navigation Equipment List.jpg[/attachment][attachment=0]Sykes Navigation Equipment Suppliers.jpg[/attachment]

Thanks for the reply, Chuck. Unfortunately, I am looking more for photographic imagery but I appreciate the information. Does the paper specify where any of the instruments in the bridge were purchased from (manufacturers, etc.)?

Thought that I might find a picture in the 1950 SNAME paper titled "Design and Construction of Great Lakes Bulk Freighter 'Wilfred Sykes' ". The answer, unfortunately, was no, but I didn't know if the attached image would be helpful to you or not.