Thursday, January 27, 2011
Wise & Son Advertisement
This is a interesting picture that hangs in a bar in the Hubert H Humphrey Terminal in Minneapolis. According to Tom Coen, who supplied this picture, the ad is from a 1908 phone book.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
The Coen Years!
As winter cruises along and the holidays come and go, there really is no time to work on the Cherup. While there seems to be no tangible progress being made on restoring her, there has been progress made on forging a new relationship that is reaping priceless amounts of intangible information that will surely help in bringing Cherup back to her former glory!
I continue to talk to Todd Warner when ever I have a questions about wood boats. During one of our conversations, Todd told me that he had been contacted by a former owner of the Cherup and he wanted to know if we could correspond. Email is great! Tom Coen of Kansas City and I have been writing back and forth, me...asking questions, he...telling stories, we...glowing about our mutual love for an old wood boat and creating a bond between the past, the present and the future. I can't decide if I am having more fun finding out about my new boat or if he is, telling me about his old boat!
The following stories and pictures are excepts from the email conversations that Tom and I have had over the past month or so:
It was an emotional goodbye when we left that afternoon.
We still go to northern MN where I have The Roamer, a 33 foot boat, the "other Dingle" which has been a big part of my life for 50 years. It is just amazing to think that Mr. Dingle and Mr. Wise probably knew each other and here we have best of friends, side by side, dock mates, the two "Queens of Cass Lake" the Roamer and the Cherup.
Chris, there is so much I would like to tell you. The electrical system was always 6 volt when we had it. We never had a bilge pump as we used the nob under the driver seat to open the valve in the back of the bilge. The nob was a check in case something got under the flap of the drain valve. Water pressure held the flap closed 99% of the time. We used the boat almost daily for the months of July and August and it never leaked very much. The ride is superb! With the deep "V" it was great. Cass Lake is the 6th largest lake in MN and we can get some pretty big waves. I remember the Scripps engine as being 115 hp.
I put the horn on the boat. Bought it at a junk yard in Cass Lake.
Thanks to Todd Warner for the fact that the Cherup is still around. . I first met Todd in 1977 at a Minnetonka boat show. At that boat show Todd thought he paid $2,000.00 but I thought it was $4,000.00. Oh,Todd Warner called me about 1984 or 1985 and asked me if I wanted to buy the boat back for $25,000.00. I believe he told me he had contacted your family in Florida also.
I continue to talk to Todd Warner when ever I have a questions about wood boats. During one of our conversations, Todd told me that he had been contacted by a former owner of the Cherup and he wanted to know if we could correspond. Email is great! Tom Coen of Kansas City and I have been writing back and forth, me...asking questions, he...telling stories, we...glowing about our mutual love for an old wood boat and creating a bond between the past, the present and the future. I can't decide if I am having more fun finding out about my new boat or if he is, telling me about his old boat!
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| Real Runabouts VI |
Purchased by my Grandfather about 1929 as I was told, my father was the primary caregiver for the boat but I helped a lot along the way. I have lots of pictures and some movies that I would love to share. I was transported in the boat in 1939 when I was not yet 1 year old. I just turned 72 in November. It also survived a tornado in 1939. I know every inch of this boat. In regard to the engine, I watched it being installed at about the age of ten. The old Scripps was very hard to start. The only thing major we did to the engine was to have the valves ground.
We never ran it "wide open" at our summer cottage at Star Island, Cass Lake, MN. It has a great sound! I remember going to junk yards with my Father to find the iron fittings for the exhaust pipe. It served us very well until about 1966. I do not know how it was treated when it left us but I think it could be restored. Gray Marine Phantom Six. The engine manual was in the side pocket when it left us. This is so perfect for the boat to return to your family.
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| Gray Phantom in the 1950's (Tom Coen Photo) |
I went to the boat auction on Friday October 15th, to see the boat and brought along my daughter Hanna, who had never seen the boat, and my grandson Ted.
It was an emotional goodbye when we left that afternoon.
We still go to northern MN where I have The Roamer, a 33 foot boat, the "other Dingle" which has been a big part of my life for 50 years. It is just amazing to think that Mr. Dingle and Mr. Wise probably knew each other and here we have best of friends, side by side, dock mates, the two "Queens of Cass Lake" the Roamer and the Cherup.
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| Cherup and Roamer , Cass Lake, Mn 1964 |
Chris, there is so much I would like to tell you. The electrical system was always 6 volt when we had it. We never had a bilge pump as we used the nob under the driver seat to open the valve in the back of the bilge. The nob was a check in case something got under the flap of the drain valve. Water pressure held the flap closed 99% of the time. We used the boat almost daily for the months of July and August and it never leaked very much. The ride is superb! With the deep "V" it was great. Cass Lake is the 6th largest lake in MN and we can get some pretty big waves. I remember the Scripps engine as being 115 hp.
Today's picture treat! One of my favorites. Love the red steering wheel.
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| Cherup on Lake Cass in the 1950's (Tom Coen Photo) |
The metal plate was to cover up the hole where the double spotlights were removed after it left our ownership. I do not think my family added the lights. They did work and were very bright. But, they are not in the Col.Chase pictures that you sent. Sounds like something Chase would have added. They raised up above the windshield and the shaft went to the floor. It got in our way so we cut the lower part off which accounts for the small piece of gray linoleum on the sloping floor. I installed that linoleum front and back. That was a radio on the dash. Never had a key. The black button on the right was the ignition.This picture also shows the green color of the bottom that my father used although I remember seeing a darker green color as probably the original color.
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| Cherup at rest in the 1950's : Note the spotlights and the lime green bottom (Tom Coen Photo) |
Chris, there are two items that are not original but they are about as old as I am. You mentioned your children. The folding seat in the front was made by my father. I remember fighting with my brother to sit there very comfortably.
Also, the life preserver cabinets in the back cockpit that were made by my father. There used to be metal liners inside. They have held up pretty well.
Additionally, the mahogany strips around the upholstery were made by my father, replacing a narrow aluminum strip with a narrow red insert of the red upholstery material. He also made the step pads. The stern flagpole is longer in the original pictures. My father shortened it as he thought it was too long. It looks like the same plastic lens that I adapted from a screw in lens. I attached the spring around the port and starboard light to keep the flag pole in place.
I put the horn on the boat. Bought it at a junk yard in Cass Lake.
First owner, Col. Chase, second owner my grandfather Wilbur F. Coen, Sr. (1929). In 1966, we donated the boat to Unistar, a Unitarian Church camp on Star Island, where we have been summer residents since 1912. The church camp had been given by the Anderson family (M.D.Anderson cancer hospital in Houston) they (Unistar) used it for 2 or 3 years. My cousin Lawrence Coen, now deceased, bought it and held it for 2 or 3 years. Then it was purchased by a professor at Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN by the name of Charlie.... for 2 or 3 years. Then Sailstar Marina (who may have acquired it for back storage) owner Connie Larson sold it to Todd in 1978, I think.
Connie Larson and his father Arnold Larson operated Cass Lake Boats and could do anything with wood. Arnold reluctantly came over to Star Island to help my father install the present transom board and portions of the keel were replaced. I helped pour hot water on the transom board to bend it and often wondered if it would last, but it looks to be in good shape. That board stuck out from the very beginning, it has not moved in all these years!
Stay tuned...Tom has already sent me more pictures that date back to 1939 that show his Mom and Dad with some friends on Cass Lake. Black and White!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
1920 Wise and Sons 20' Launch
I had known for years that The "Cherup" existed. Grandpa Robert had been offered the boat by Todd Warner around 1985. In the back of my mind, I was always, one of these days.......
When word got out that Todd was auctioning off some boats, I got a look at the list. Low and behold, Todd didn't have one Wise boat, he had two! It is exciting to know that there are two examples of Wise boats still in existence.
When we went to Winsted to pick up the Cherup, we were given a chance to look around the warehouse. Much to my surprise, the1920 Wise & Sons 20' Launch was still there. While in very rough shape, it is still in restore-able condition. Not a project for the meek at heart!
So with out any more to-do, here are the pictures of the "other" Wise boat.
When word got out that Todd was auctioning off some boats, I got a look at the list. Low and behold, Todd didn't have one Wise boat, he had two! It is exciting to know that there are two examples of Wise boats still in existence.
When we went to Winsted to pick up the Cherup, we were given a chance to look around the warehouse. Much to my surprise, the1920 Wise & Sons 20' Launch was still there. While in very rough shape, it is still in restore-able condition. Not a project for the meek at heart!
So with out any more to-do, here are the pictures of the "other" Wise boat.
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| Picture by Texx |
Sunday, December 19, 2010
First Look
The Wise Boat and Bus Works 1924 23' twin cockpit runabout.
Warehouse kept by F. Todd Warner since 1978, The Cherup is a time capsule.
It has not been in the water in over 30 years!
The hull is in good shape with no apparent rotted wood. The hull seems sound to my novice eye.
The transom has a board that is pulling away from the frame at the exhaust pipe, some work needed here.
The hull has a deep V. The beam is just 6' but appears very broad at the front cockpit. The keel is six inches wide and runs the length the length of the hull.
The front cockpit with the fold away step to the right.
The rear cockpit.
The motor has oil in it, the valve stems are freshly ground and the fly wheel turns by hand. The motor is a 1948 Gray Phantom 6-125. Very big and heavy! I hope she cranks.
Looks to be a 6 volt electrical system.
The wiring looks like it could use some going over.
The rudder control arm and worm gear.
The bow and the spot light control linkage.
The under dash horn!
F.Todd Warner identified the original dash as an Elgin gauge and a black tri-spoke steering wheel. These and the window parts are from a Gar Wood boat. The interesting thing is that in the early twenties, Wise was building boats in the Minnesota area, he was also building buses. Gar Wood started his hydraulic empire in the same area around the same time. Is there a connection here?
Other elements of The Cherup that come from other boat builders include the vent scoops and the step pads from a Hacker. The gas cap is from a Dingle, also from Minnesota.
What influences are seen in the hull design? Warner suggests that the boat is an advanced design for the time. Did these other boat builders contribute to the look of this boat? What will she ride like?
Stay tuned......
Warehouse kept by F. Todd Warner since 1978, The Cherup is a time capsule.
It has not been in the water in over 30 years!
The hull is in good shape with no apparent rotted wood. The hull seems sound to my novice eye.
The transom has a board that is pulling away from the frame at the exhaust pipe, some work needed here.
The hull has a deep V. The beam is just 6' but appears very broad at the front cockpit. The keel is six inches wide and runs the length the length of the hull.
The rear cockpit.
The motor has oil in it, the valve stems are freshly ground and the fly wheel turns by hand. The motor is a 1948 Gray Phantom 6-125. Very big and heavy! I hope she cranks.
Looks to be a 6 volt electrical system.
The wiring looks like it could use some going over.
The rudder control arm and worm gear.
The bow and the spot light control linkage.
The under dash horn!
Other elements of The Cherup that come from other boat builders include the vent scoops and the step pads from a Hacker. The gas cap is from a Dingle, also from Minnesota.
What influences are seen in the hull design? Warner suggests that the boat is an advanced design for the time. Did these other boat builders contribute to the look of this boat? What will she ride like?
Stay tuned......
Monday, November 22, 2010
Will the original owner, please stand up?
May I present to you, Colonial Charles Chase.
He was a world traveler, who spent some time in the Wayzata area in the 1920's.
Todd Warner found these pictures in this trunk, given to him by his neighbor.
Colonial Chase commissioned The Cheerup in 1924 from the Wise Boat and Bus Works.
Colonial Chase owned The Cheerup from 1924 to 1929, he then sold it to the Coen family.
The Coen's, then the Anderson's owned the boat until 1978, when she was purchase by Todd Warner. Todd's stewardship of The Cheerup is a whole other story....Check back for that one!
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| Colonial Charles Chase |
He was a world traveler, who spent some time in the Wayzata area in the 1920's.
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| You can't make a trunk look this real. |
Todd Warner found these pictures in this trunk, given to him by his neighbor.
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| Todd Warner's Photo Collection of Charles Chase |
Colonial Chase commissioned The Cheerup in 1924 from the Wise Boat and Bus Works.
Colonial Chase owned The Cheerup from 1924 to 1929, he then sold it to the Coen family.
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| Picture From Real Runabouts VI, Bob Speltz |
The Coen's, then the Anderson's owned the boat until 1978, when she was purchase by Todd Warner. Todd's stewardship of The Cheerup is a whole other story....Check back for that one!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
The Wise Boat Works History
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| The "Cherup" at Wise Boat Works Location on Lake Minnetonka |
http://mydigimag.rrd.com/publication/index.php?i=28710&m=&l=&p=11&pre=&ver=swf
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
We Did It!
The boat is now in Florida. It is back in the Wise family. Now it's time to go back to work. I could not have done this trip with out my two brothers. Thanks!
We really accomplished something special. I am still exhausted from the trip. Sleeping in a Suburban, traveling through the night, I must be Robert Wise's grandson!
We had a lot of fun being together on this trip and saw a some really cool stuff. I wish that Joe could have gone with us. I would take these guys with me anywhere because, as they say, they got my back! So, once again, thanks Mark and Matt!!!!
We really accomplished something special. I am still exhausted from the trip. Sleeping in a Suburban, traveling through the night, I must be Robert Wise's grandson!
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| Wind farm near Chicago |
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| Minneapolis |
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| 5 days on the road with 2 men, no sleep and bad food |
We had a lot of fun being together on this trip and saw a some really cool stuff. I wish that Joe could have gone with us. I would take these guys with me anywhere because, as they say, they got my back! So, once again, thanks Mark and Matt!!!!
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