[Irish Traditional Boat Building / Manuscript Day-book Passage West] Roberts, Capt. R.E.

Manuscript Folio Day-book of Passage West (County Cork) Boat-builder, Captain R.E. Roberts [direct relation of relative of Capt. R.R. Roberts of ‘The Sirius’]. With original correspondence, manuscript and typed letters to Roberts, Drafts of his replies and notes on wishes of clients regarding the building of Boats, delivery of Oars, detailed wishes of clients for the building of boats. Orders which reached Roberts range from Yachts and their accoutrements to Punts and Dinghies. Clients included C.W. Read, solicitor (insurance claim for gangway accident on the S.S. Amarglin), Miss Hill (‘daughter of H. Hill, Architect, regarding the Yacht “Yodash”), A.J. Wolfe (Yacht “Marion”), J.F. Quain of Ardmore etc. (see further details below).

Passage West (County Cork), 1939-1940. Folio (21.5 cm wide x 31.5 cm high). 242 pages of an alphabetized Ledger of which 48 pages are full of manuscript-entries and numerous other pages have been used to tip-in letters which Roberts received from clients. With numerous further letters, postcards loosely inserted. Original Hardcover. Binding in rough but still firm condition with stronger signs of external wear. Fantastic example of a Day-to-Day Order-Book of an irish Traditional Boat Builder, active in the war-years of 1939 and 1940. Captain R.E. Roberts Boat-building Business, being a direct relative of R.R.Roberts (″The Sirius”), is a great example of traditional succession in irish craftsmanship. The Day-book gives us insight into the wishes of clients, pricing, quotes and reason of orders and how on the one hand irish Traditional Boat-Building was revered abroad and also greatly supported and sought after by the local irish population. Roberts’ Boat-Building-company also had contracts from overseas and the correspondence reflects the hard times and imminent outbreak of war, which plays a role in the worries of Robert’s clients and must have had an enormous impact on his company. Client W.R.ffrench Mullen speaks in a letter from April 15th, 1939 of the fear of not being able to come and meet his boatbuilder: “I am (unless Europe boils up before in the next forty-eight hours) coming over on about a fortnights leave, leaving London Saturday next.” In another letter from May 2nd, 1939, ffrench Mullen hopes “the boat is progressing well” and that the company of D.O’Brien Corkery & Co. can deliver it in their lorry to Kenmare. Roberts notes about this client in his day-book an important message to one of his builders: “My client says he knows nothing about sailing – would you suggest that the area of Sails be in the Small Side for Safety – the boat is for use on the Kenmare River”. Roberts notes about another client, Mrs. Howell of Fountaintown, who ordered a 11ft boat for children on Sunday 4-9-38 for Easter 1939 – Quoted 22 per ft = £12 / Roberts notes about “Miss Hill from Monkstown (daughter of Lt.Hill Architect) ordered 7-1-39 Centre Board Boat, Spirit Sail (brown), oars, rudder, Name on transome “YOLDASH”, varnished top sides painted underneath – agreed price £16 – To be ready for Easter Holidays – Took Boat away 7-4-39 – pleased”. / More details on other orders below.

Further interesting orders of Boats, correspondence and details in manuscript-drafts about his clients by Roberts include:

1. Correspondence from P.O’Keefe, Ardnagreine, Bantry, County Cork to Captain R.E. Roberts, “Simla”, Passage West, County Cork – [P.O’Keefe was Managing Director of G.W.Biggs & Co. Ltd. – Corn Millers, Merchants and Manufacturers in Bantry, County Cork]
The O’Keefe correspondence includes three letters (two MLS (Manuscript Letter signed) and one typed letter) between the 25th of January, 1939 and the 31st of March, 1939. Roberts notes his draft-answer on one of the letters regarding an inquiry by O’Keefe for Roberts’ 8-foot Dinghy. The drafts in the Day-book are of particular interest because Roberts gets into detail in his answering letter from January 30th, 1939: “I note you are thinking of getting a punt specially built – to fit upside down on Cabin with moveable thurant to allow for Skylight – I appreciate your difficulty regarding obtaining height of boom until Mast is stepped – would it not be possible to get this from the mark of deck on Mast from the wedges or Canvas Collar to gooseneck. Since seeing you I have got three orders for centre board Sailing Boats – two for this harbour & one for Sneem …..″

2. Postcard – Order from J.Kelleher, Ringabella, Carrigaline: “Have measured the boat mentioned to you about a week ago & find it is 10 ft. long. The same will do now I expect to get a good serviceable boat. Please let me know when ready. I would like to get it soon but if you can’t procure the best of timber at once, I will wait until then – J.Kelleher” (c.1939).

3. Letter from M. O’Connor – Rossdohan, Tahilla, Killarney, County Kerry – Monday 10th, 1938:

″Dear Sir, Pardon my delay in writing – I saw Mrs. Prettymans punt she is very nice, but is too fine for me. I want a strong built smooth sided seaworthy boat, best timber, galvanises fastening. If this do[sic] not convey sufficient knowledge you can suggest a boat you think would suit and state price roughly….″

The list goes on and on and includes interesting orders from other clients.
The Day-Book includes notes on proposed repairs on Wolfe’s Yacht “Marion” (purchased from W.Johnson in Kinsale)

• Keywords: Catalogue – Maritime History · Catalogue Irish History Five – Local Irish History · Catalogue Irish History Six – General Irish History · Catalogue Irish History Three – From Famine to Free State · County Cork · County Cork Boat Building History · Iirish History of Traditional Boat Building · Irish Culture · Irish Customs · Irish History – Rare · Irish History in the 20th century · Irish Maritime History · Passage West
• Language: English
• Inventory Number: 32028AB

EUR 3.500,--