Today's QuestionFeb 9 Ships in Bottles?

Subject: Today's QuestionFeb 9 Ships in Bottles?
From: Peter T.
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 09:16 AM

How do you get a ship into a bottle? I remember reading once long ago that you put it all together outside and then pull a string and it all unfolds. Is that all there is to it? Anyone know how to do this -- and what else you have to do?

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Today's QuestionFeb 9 Ships in Bottles?
From: English Jon
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 09:18 AM

I think the idea is that bottle neck is wide enough to accomodate the ship, and the masts pivot forward (flat), then you pull on the thread and the masts come up vertical.

Never done it myself though. Probably harder than it sounds. Cheers, Jon

Subject: RE: Today's QuestionFeb 9 Ships in Bottles?
From: GUEST,Roll&Go-C
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 09:22 AM

First you have to empty the bottle, and then if you're still thirsty empty another, and another...

Subject: RE: Today's QuestionFeb 9 Ships in Bottles?
From: GUEST,Fibula Mattock
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 09:26 AM

Try this: How to make a ship in a bottle

Subject: RE: Today's QuestionFeb 9 Ships in Bottles?
From: MMario
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 09:46 AM

I thought that they were built by nautical relatives of the performers in flea circuses!

Subject: RE: Today's QuestionFeb 9 Ships in Bottles?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 10:03 AM

I've made several ships-in-bottles, and yes, that's how it's done. I also play the guitar: all you do is hold the strings down with one hand and pluck them with the other -- easy-peasy!

Steve

Subject: RE: Today's QuestionFeb 9 Ships in Bottles?
From: Naemanson
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 10:36 AM

My father has made several ships in bottles. He made for me a lamp which is a one gallon jug containing a ship on the rocks at the foot of a light house.

As he explains it you have to select the ship you want to put into the bottle. On a foggy night you get the skipper drunk and he will, in his confusion, just sail right into the bottle.

Subject: RE: Today's QuestionFeb 9 Ships in Bottles?
From: Jon W.
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 11:50 AM

Ha ha! just make sure the ship isn't an oil tanker or you'll end up with a real mess on your living room rug.

Actually there is another method, best tried on simpler ships. You stick the hull in some clay in the bottom of the bottle, then use long tweezers to put the masts in place. I've used both methods, but not on anything too fancy - it was when I was just a kid.

Subject: RE: Today's QuestionFeb 9 Ships in Bottles?
From: Peter T.
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 02:20 PM

Thanks, particularly FM. yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Today's QuestionFeb 9 Ships in Bottles?
From: Barry Finn
Date: 10 Feb 01 - 10:46 AM

The two methods I know are first the common one making the model outside the bottle then passing the fully made ship through the the bottle's mouth with masts & yards lying flat to the deck. Once inside the spars are all rigged to stand by pulling on a line already set up for that purpose. The 2nd & by far the most difficult & uncommon was to actually construct the vessel from scratch to finish inside (with you being on the outside) the bottle. I believe there's a model of one of the these in a museum in Melborne made be ex Cape Horner & master rigger George Herbert of West Geelong, he told me it took him well over half a year to create. Barry

Subject: RE: Today's QuestionFeb 9 Ships in Bottles?
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Feb 01 - 10:56 AM

Jon, do you know how to sink a Liberian tanker?.........Put it in the water.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Today's QuestionFeb 9 Ships in Bottles?
From: Hollowfox
Date: 10 Feb 01 - 01:47 PM

Hey, Peter T, these questions are fun and everything, but how about some folk-related questions? They don't have to be music; customs, word origins, folklore, etc. are just fine. Thanks in advance, hollowfox.

Subject: RE: Today's QuestionFeb 9 Ships in Bottles?
From: Naemanson
Date: 12 Feb 01 - 08:23 AM

Ships in bottles are folk life artifacts. They were built by the old time sailors as presents to family members or to sell in port for extra money. Can't get folkier than that.

Subject: RE: Today's QuestionFeb 9 Ships in Bottles?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 12 Feb 01 - 11:28 AM

If you like stuff in bottles (other than the stuff we take out of the bottles - we all like that), then visit Whitby Museum (the one in Pannett Park) when you're up at the Moor and Coast Festival in May or Whitby Folk Week. There's lots of stuff in bottles that shouldn't be there, but very clever. And it'll keep you out of the pubs for an hour or so, leaving more room in there for me!

Subject: RE: Today's QuestionFeb 9 Ships in Bottles?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 12 Feb 01 - 11:46 AM

And the museum at Blackgamg Chine, Isloe of Wight, has a big collection.