Shipbuilding Tools & Artifacts

THE MUSEUM HAS A VERY SPECIAL COLLECTION OF OVER 8,000 PIECES RELATED TO SHIPBUILDING HISTORY

The Essex Shipbuilding Museum has over 8,000 artifacts related to the local history of shipbuilding. The tools and artifacts showcased below are by no means the entire collection, but rather a small sampling of what you can expect to find when you visit! If you have a specific interest and would like to speak with one of our Historical Society specialists please contact the museum, we would be happy to help you.

We are grateful to the Smithsonian Institute for their gracious loan of 19 Ship models, on exhibit at our 28 Main Street location.

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Builder’s Clamp

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Trunnel Die and Work Horse

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Moulding Planes - photo courtesy Len Burgess

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Handmade Block Planes

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Frame Up Diorama

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Block Plane, Moulding Plane, and Slicks

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Peavey, Hand Saw, and Windlass Bearing

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Old augers (center) and windlass cutting tools

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Caulking Irons and Mallets

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Trunnel Die

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Pit Saw Diorama - photo courtesy Len Burgess