Pit saws were used to cut planks from tree trunks, for house and boat building. The “pit” in Brock would have been a hollow in the sand dunes. The log was placed horizontally across the pit or frame and the saw was usually operated by two men: a top-man above and a pit-man guiding the saw from below. This may have been a one-man saw
With the absence of local sawmills the use of pit saws would have continued long into the 1800s and possibly even the 1900s
Boatbuilders’ wooden clamp belonging to Donald MacIntyre, Gott (1925-2020). Donald used the clamp when building his boat, the ‘Isabella’. After the planks had been steamed, they were tightened by hitting a wooden wedge in at the top of the clamp.
Colour photograph of the boat ‘Tiree Maid’ built by the father of Duncan Cameron, Scarinish, for Nick Turnbull for fishing lobsters from Croig, Mull in 1973.
Silver and blue enamel Admiralty lapel badge given to essential shipyard workers during WWI. Bears a silver crown and the words “On war service, 1914”. On the reverse are stamped the numbers 12485, suggesting that it was numbered after 1916.
Scans of ledgers, school workbooks, ships logs and other documents belonging to Duncan Alexander Campbell, Balephuil (1828-1911), who emigrated to Bruce County, Ontario, aboard the ‘Britannia’ in 1846, with his wife Elizabeth Forrest, Dumbarton(?) (1831-1906). Before emigrating to Canada to join the rest of his family, Duncan became a ship’s carpenter in Dumbarton. Includes background information compiled by the donors.
Photograph of a painting of a sailing ship found in Rhum View, Vaul, and presumably belonging to Catriona MacKinnon who once lived there. Paintings like these were often painted by members of the crew and the sails signed by all in the crew (but not in this case). It is assumed that the painter or a crew member was linked to Rhum View.
The photograph includes notes made by Angus MacLean, Scarinish, in 1994, on the types of masts and sails, and an annotated sketch of the ship giving the names of the various sails.
Local news: report on boat-building and restoration course; report on Christmas craft fayre; Tiree Community Business chairman’s report; S5 pupils say thank you for support of mountain climb; TRD’s cinema wins funding award; hoax telephone calls; managment of campervans; in influx of house mice; letter to the editor from Derrick Wolstencroft in Spain; New York marathon update by Matt Boyd; announcing Tiree Association scholarship awards; announcing Christmas lights competition; report on the Think Pink fundraising event at the Lodge Hotel.
Local news: new primary school intake; former teacher, Rev John Cairns Christie, to be Moderator for Church of Scotland; report on Tiree Access Steering Group meeting; letters to the editor – year and names in photo in issue No. 453; call to nominate Skerryvore for Trad Award; forthcoming An Iodhlann AGM; boat restoration and building project launched; report on Youth Club meeting; Feis Thiriodh news; cinema news; community Powerdown loans; letters to Alan Reid MP regarding volunteer firefighters; health and wellbeing event; notice of outdoor clothing supplier visit.
