Looking for Junk models and photos in museums around London

  • 17 Nov 2016 21:14
    Reply # 4398195 on 4396756
    John Kwong wrote:I found a book "Coasting Past by Stephen Davies" which is still available from the gift shop of Hong Kong Maritime Museum.
    I looked for it on line.  None at Abe books and only for sale in Hong Kong as far as I can see.  At $94 (I assume US), it's beyond my pocket, sadly.  But the shipping was cheap!
  • 17 Nov 2016 07:43
    Reply # 4396764 on 4360118

    Thank Asmat and Annie for recommending and finding the book "Setting Sails" for me. I have asked my son to buy it in UK. Hope to get a copy next week.

    John

  • 17 Nov 2016 07:32
    Reply # 4396756 on 4360118

    I was disappointed by the reply from Dr. Rooney:

    "Thank you for your message. I am afraid that the Maze Collection models are no longer on display at our museum, but are held at our reserve store in Wiltshire, some 75 miles outside London. Researchers may request to view items held in our store, but this must be done in advance and unfortunately we no longer have researcher appointments available this year. The new year for appointments begins in March 2017."

    Better luck next time. 

    Thank you for recommending "Setting Sails". Will look for it.  I found a book "Coasting Past by Stephen Davies" which is still available from the gift shop of Hong Kong Maritime Museum.

    John

  • 14 Nov 2016 19:29
    Reply # 4389383 on 4385828
    Asmat Downey wrote:

    Have you managed to track down a copy of the book "Setting Sails"  I mentioned? It was published by the South China Morning Post, some time in the 80s.


    Lots of copies available through Abe books, and not expensive!
  • 14 Nov 2016 16:40
    Reply # 4385828 on 4360118

    Hi John,

    I don't think you will be able to view the whole Collection. Dr Rooney tells me that researchers may arrange to inspect individual objects. 

    Have you managed to track down a copy of the book "Setting Sails"  I mentioned? It was published by the South China Morning Post, some time in the 80s.

    Good luck!

    Asmat

    Last modified: 14 Nov 2016 16:44 | Anonymous member
  • 14 Nov 2016 08:48
    Reply # 4383247 on 4360118

    Thank everybody to giving me so much help. I am writing to get permission to see the Maze Collection. Will take a lot of photo and post in the forum.

    John Kwong

  • 08 Nov 2016 19:29
    Reply # 4370909 on 4360118
    Further to Chris's delightful model and Asmat's reassurance that the Maze collection still survives: I'm presently reading (and hugely enjoying) GRG Worcester's enchanting book, The Junkman Smiles.  In it, he recounts how he went to a vast amount of trouble, inconvenience, discomfort and not a little danger to investigate and sketch the Lu-ch'uan or Oar Boat, which he considered 'such an inadequate description of the craft that I prefer to call it the Crooked-Bow Junk.'  These were used to transport salt from Tzeliutsing (which, as far as I can make out, is the present day Zigong).  The salt was made from brine, drawn up from wells, some of which reached over 4,000 ft, and was frequently processed using natural gas from the same well.  The first mention of these wells is around 250 AD!  Anyway, the point of this post is that Worcester was so fascinated by these little junks, that he made scale patterns from carefully drawn-up plans, with 'nothing of the least importance omitted'. and got two local junk carpenters to make a model.  There is a photograph of it in the book, and it looks quite wonderful. 

    The postscript to the story is that it was built to the same scale as the model of the Crooked-Stern Junk, and presented it to Sir Frederick Maze, but as it was in real life only a small boat, by junk standards at 57ft, the model measured 4ft 9ins in length and was refused on the grounds that all the other models were never less than 6ft long.  I won't say what I think about Sir Fred's decision.

    GRG kept the model, however, and obviously managed to get it back to England intact (which considering how many of his possessions were lost to fire, looting, bandits and war is quite an achievement), because he mentions trying it out in his duck pond and being fascinated by how truly it tracked without any form of steering.

    I wonder what happened to it.

  • 08 Nov 2016 10:29
    Reply # 4370145 on 4360118
    John Kwong wrote:

    I shall be visiting London end of this month. Would very much like to have a detail study of the models and photos of Chinese Junks collected in the museums there. Anyone have good suggestion and point of contact?

    John Kwong

    John,

    I've discovered that the Maze Collection of junk models remains safely in the Science Museum's care. It may not be viewed by casual visitors, but individual items may be viewed by researchers, by prior arrangement. This can be done through the Museum's Keeper of Technologies and Engineering, Dr David Rooney: david.rooney@sciencemuseum.ac.uk

    The 1930s illustrated catalogue of the collection is held in the Museum's library, which is open to the public. Copies are also held at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich and at libraries in Cambridge, Manchester and Belfast.

    If you don't already have a copy, I can recommend a beautifully illustrated book, "Setting Sails", by Derek Maitland, which contains  many photos of fishing and trading junks taken just before they vanished forever. I share your interest in these fascinating vessels; although they are obsolete, they were the inspiration for the yachts we are sailing today. Developed over two millennia, they evolved to a point of fitness for purpose from which we can still learn. Lacking a theoretical understanding of aerodynamics or naval architecture, the Chinese junkmen knew how their ships should be designed and rigged to be efficient and profitable.

    Good luck with your researches,

    Asmat


  • 07 Nov 2016 11:43
    Reply # 4368069 on 4360118
    Deleted user

     These might be worth a look:


    J. Pietri, Voiliers d' Indochine, 1943; and, U.S. Navy, The Blu Book of Junks, 1963.


    Pietri was Fisheries Commissioner for French Indochina.

  • 03 Nov 2016 21:35
    Reply # 4363242 on 4360118
    Deleted user

    On the subject of models of junks, I recently acquired a very nice one via Lynda Chiddell from an acquaintance of hers. Although it was given to me personally, I accepted 'custody' of it, feeling that it rightly belongs to the JRA.

    About 3 feet long, my research indicates that it might be a 'Ma Yang Tzu', an Upper Yangtze river junk. There is a model of one in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich - theirs is only two feet long, but lines look very similar, and the rudders, which are quite characteristic, are identical:

    http://collections.rmg.co.uk/mediaLib/589/media-589009/large.jpg

    From their site:

    "These craft may be over 30 metres in length, plying below Chungking and capable of carrying 100 tons down river and 80 up. A permanent crew of about 8 engages a further 60 men for the trip up river and 50 for the trip back down. 12 men are required at each of the 4 yulohs and 13 on the bow sweep on the downward trip, though 16 are required to work the latter on the way up as well as 50 on the tracking line. As many as 400 may be required on the tow rope to haul the craft over the rapids at Hsint'an. The tiller, which may be over 7 1/2 metres long requires three men to handle it in a difficult rapid."

    The model requires a little repair/reassembly, for which I'm hoping to find time in the near future.

    Chris

    Last modified: 03 Nov 2016 21:41 | Deleted user
       " ...there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in junk-rigged boats" 
                                                               - the Chinese Water Rat

                                                              Site contents © the Junk Rig Association and/or individual authors

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software