Found photo of DQ on test run 1947

Think you have a rare jewel there! We do NOT have a copy, I think there was a rather limited run of a series of Railroad Albums and even a Circus Album if I remember correctly. The ones I have seen are approx 10 x 16 (maybe) on coated stock, plastic spiral bound which wore badly with much (not too careful) use. When issued they were advertised in TRAINS magazine from time to time. Congratulations on the great find.

Capt. Fred Way copiled "Mississippi Sternwheelers" and it contains some of the best steamboat photos ever taken. Copies frequently turn up on Ebay and several were available at last summer's "Riverboat Rummage Sale" at the Howard Museum. Glad you have one Dave!

Jim,
That describes this book perfectly. I think it will take very careful handling to not have something happen to the plastic binding.
I found it on a "buy it now" for $6 plus a little shipping! Also picked up an original slide taken in 1956 of the DQ's "cousin" the Fort Sutter, probably her last days. There is an uncanny resemblance to the DQ, you can tell they're from the same family! I think the Ft. Sutter burned in Stockton??
S'
David D.

I hate to admit that I bought my copy new off a rack in a model train shop about 1949. Luckily it did not sell for some time allowing me to gather my nickles. In those days, the big orange Cincinnati Transit Co streetcars were still running. I seem to remember that the shop was near where the Ohio Bookstore (currentyl a favorite hangout) was located. Mine is about 10 1/2" by 14" and was published in 1947. It is in only fair shape in that it was well thumbed through the years. And, yeah, the plastic binding gave way long since. I always intended as a kid to build a model of the HUDSON, pictured therein as my ideal of a sternwheel steamboat. Thus began Fred Way's influence over me. Of course, my model would have been live steam powered and about three-feet long. As I grew older I discovered that with hardly more effort, you could have one big enuff to ride in! Congrats, David on your great find and buy. Cap'n Walnut

It may interest some of you Natchez fans that Wilber E. Dow, Jr., selected the Hudson as a prototype for the Natchez. He was shown that series of pictures by Captain Fred Way, as I understand it, and decided he wanted one. By the time the boat was built it was NOT like the Hudson, but it came as close as 1972 USCG laws and contemporary materials would allow. The result resembled the Virginia more than the Hudson according to the experts.

Wilber Dow brought the book to my office and said, "I want that."

Jim,
This one is Volume 1, were any other volumes printed?
Thanks!
David D.

The December 1951 TRAINS Magazine had a full page color ad reading (slightly abridged) 20 pages each 10 x 14....Albums 1,2,8.9 & 16 Out of Print.

At the bottom of the full page: No 19-Circus. Ships & Sailing Albums 1-Mississippi Stern-Wheelers, 2-Great Lakes Sailing Ships, 3-Our Navy's Fighting Ships, 4-New England Fishing Schooners.

1.50 each Postpaid.

So, apparently the only Stern-Wheeler album was the volume 1. Interesting!
I wonder if Kalmach still has the book galleys?
S'
David D.

*RE: Kalmbach Publishing/Ohio Book Store*
Hi, David & steamboating colleagues:
David, you found a real treasure there in the Stern-Wheeler album out there in California. This album a real treasure for steamboat lovers at the time and now. I've a copy here I'd nearly forgotten about [A senior moment] with another I gifted to Keith Norrington--or somebody on this web.

I did the Internet thing and up came KALMBACH Publishing in Waukesha, Wisconsin with listings and history of the company dating to 1934. Didn't see a reference to the above mentioned but that doesn't mean they don't have any in stock. I may be wrong but 'think' [?] I saw a copy in the cases at OHIO BOOK STORE [Book sales, rebinding/restoration] on Main St. here in Cincinnati some time back. Those interested in the album could contact OBS here at: [email protected] for an inquiry. The Fallon family owners/proprietors with 'Richard' manning the front sales desk doing computer research. Reminds you of an old, established book store in England or Boston. I picked up my copies eons ago at old KIDD BOOK STORE now out of business. KIDD one book emporium here who carried then all of Capt. Fred Way's books along with publications on rivers/steamboats by the late Ben Klein, formerly of YOUNG & KLEIN here in town.

'Capt'n Walnut' and I now-and-then hit IZZY'S for lunch in town before strolling up to OBS to look over their incredible stock of books new and out of date. Some real treasures to be found there locked in big oak/glass cases along with autographs, photos etc. Well, what do I know?

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.

Dale,

Must have been another lucky steamboat buff or buffette to whom you gave your extra copy of "Mississippi Sternwheelers", for mine was a gift of the late Paul W. Seabrook, prominent funeral director here in New Albany and a steamboat buff extraordinaire until his death, at age 92, in 1989. Mine is also autographed by Capt. Mary B. Greene.

For a time, copies were bringing $75 and more, but it's now easy to locate them on Ebay, Bookfinder.com and elsewhere for considerably less. Regardless, the book is a treasure and should be in the libraries of ALL steamboat enthusiasts!

Surprise finding

Thanks David for starting this most interesting thread. I was thinking I didn't have a copy of this book, so I ventured upstairs to the main museum room, and there it was. I guess it is a case of an embarrassment of 'riches', because it has been filed in that bookcase for years without being perused. I opened it and found that I had no autographs, but there was a tattered 11 x 14 b&w rendering of the new NATCHEZ. I presume that Alan will verify this is a fairly early one, considering the outside stairs to the pilothouse and the wooden frames in the pilothouse windows which were infamously disallowed by the Coast Guard, among other features not contained on the finished boat. My guess is that Doc gave me this book, considering the accompanying NATCHEZ drawing and considering how generous he has been over the years in gifting his steamboat friends. Sorry that the entire drawing didn't make the posting here, too long for my scanner.

*Thanks Keith for remembering*
Your memory on this better than mine. No doubt whomever it was I gave the book to on this web may remember. I 'think' I gave you the period AVALON and SHOWBOAT MAJESTIC posters from the stuff I inherited from Capt. John Beatty. Well, what do I know?

R. dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.

Dale, Indeed you did give me the two aforementioned posters. I used the SHOWBOAT MAJESTIC poster in a special display at the Howard Museum for "River Ramblings" in 2007 when Pat Carr was the presenter for "Footlights Afloat".

I recall you telling me that the AVALON poster was a gift to you from Betty Blake. It advertises the final excursions of the season from Evansville, Indiana. It is prominently displayed in my River Room. Thanks!

*RE: Posters/KEERECK!*
Hi, Keith,
Yep, MAJESTIC poster and another AVALON one from Capt. John Beatty along with a large scrap book of river materials he had collected made from old wallpaper sample books. I saved most giving things hither and yon. Betty Blake handed me the AVALON poster along with unused letter head paper/envelopes/brochures from when the office was in the old Duttenhoffer Bldg here now owned and occupied by P&G she'd kept in an old 'dusty box.' That was a long time ago!

A Cincinnati antique dealer phoned me some months back saying they found in Pittsburgh "Original old plans for an old steamboat" and the consigner says he knows it's "worth $800." It gave me a moment pause. I asked for further details asking about the plans. Come to find out it was a set of plans Alan Batesw had drawn up and his name and description clearly was shown in the bottom legend box. I heard not another word. Well, what do I know?

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.

Old folks of the river...

How lucky Dale, Keith, and I have been to know such expert and generous river people over the years who have shared so much with us. But it does give me pause to realize that now WE are the 'older' river folk who are now sharing our river wealth with others! I only hope that there will be younger people interested in river history who will want the things we'll have to pass down later, as our benefactors did... I know there are many others with large collections, I am just mentioning us three because we post so much using items from our collections and make reference to our many benefactors and mentors.

Judy, it has been most interesting to me too, and gone places I'd never have thought! I have picked up some other interesting items myself over the years. About 15 years ago I found an Avalon brochure at a yard sale here in Oroville-think I paid a whole 25¢ for it! I just went looking in my file cabinets, and it must be in a box somewheres. . . . How that piece of paper found its way to Northern California???
Another interesting eBay finding is a privately published hardbound book, "the Legendary Queen From Scotland & Events Before & After" by Leslie Glenn. While it's a bit of a strange book, one reason I jumped on it is the inscription on the front page: "To Mrs. Chris La Rie Greene" "Leslie Glenn, Nov. 30, 1988" and below that, in a different ink & handwritting, "This if for my darling Gloria-- La Rie."

I think this is a real find??? Anyone know more about it??
(and is this the dumbest--or the least knowledgeable-- question I've ever posted???)
S'
David D.

Us "younger" folk our happy that you are willing to share your experiences and knowledge for our benefit. I missed the boat in my earlier years, but since we moved down here near the Ohio River it has been in my thoughts alot more, and judging by my ebay and Amazon purchases has been seeping out through my bank account to.

the EBay monster

Yes, EBay has been a great source for me, but now I don't see much I don't have, luckily. Its amazing how a little $5 purchase here and there can add up to a couple thousand in one year! Be careful.

FYI: While rooting in "dusty boxes" of steamboat stuff, I ran across a copy of another booklet issued by Kalmbach Publishing Company in 1947. Entitled Our Navy's Fighting Ships, it is issue number 3 in The Ships & Sailing Albums, compiled by Lt. Commanders William C. Moore and John H. Kemble. It is the same size and format of Mississippi Sternwheelers, which was issue number 1, except that the focus is upon military ships.

No time like the start of a new year to tidy up, so I'm sorting and paring things down and clearing the decks of clutter. Since my collections and interest don't really include deep water ships this volume will go to the Friends of the New Albany Public Library booksale or perhaps the used book shelf in the Howard Museum gift shop.

*RE: Old folks on the river/Sharing*
Hi, Judy & steamboating colleagues:
Just back in 'Ragtown' from the cold, snowy, icy wilds of Michigan for New Year. The 'thaw' was followed yesterday by plunge in temps again with snow.

Judy is sooooo right about those of us now in the "old folks" category. Yet, consider the alternative. Where have the years gone? I've been retired since 1997 but did go back to work part time for some years folowing and am now closer to 70 than 60. YIKES! I found oodles of old 35 mm. color slides going way, way back to the 1950s here in KODAK slide wheels I've been viewing/editing. I MUST get with it and master the trick of posting direct to the web. HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2011!

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.