Almost 269 years ago Abraham Carpenter, a cooper, advertised his many services in rhyme. This might be the first advertising jingle in the Colonies.
He had handsome (hansom) chairs and horses for hire at a time when the city had, other than walking or riding horseback, few means of transport.
Located near the the waterfront he offered masts for vessels and cringles for sails. And of course, he was a very good hoop-maker, even if he did say so himself.
–Suzanne Ellison
I couldn’t help but think of this when I read; “Two handfome chairs…”
https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2013-11/enhanced/webdr02/13/11/enhanced-buzz-20679-1384361422-9.jpg
This is so cool. The internet of yester year.
Close handy to Carpenter’s Dock as well
I enjoyed this for a odd reason. One of my first woodworking classes was with a High School shop teacher from Mass. His father turned Mast’s for sailing ships in his back yard. Got tree trunks and turned then into masts. now that is really turning for a living.
I’d be _really_ impressed if he used a treadle lathe. 🙂 What was it Galileo said about levers…
I think it was Archimedes who said the thing about levers.
Very catchy and inspiring… any good resources on the art of the cooper? With all the amazing Brewers here in Fort Collins, CO I have been thinking about getting into it… Thanks for sharing!
Interesting read. What’s the source of the map?
The map is from 1762, the closest year I could find with a good close-up of Dock Street. The map is from the website Philly H2O, http://www.phillyh2o.org/canvas/canvas02.htm
I read that as “And known to be a very good hoop-maker for masts of vessels”. Fore and aft sails, say the driver on the mizzen of a square rigged ship, were attached to the mast with a series of hoops. Also, cringles were the small hoops that reinforced the holes in a sail where the sheets or other cordage passed through the cloth. The cringles would be stitched into the sailcloth with the edges turned into them, and the whole hole bound round with a whipping of waxed thread that may then be tarred.
Abraham Cooper’s shop is long gone, most recently replaced by a Sheraton Hotel. But Dock Street is still there, and the City Tavern around the corner on 2nd Street dates from 1773.
https://goo.gl/maps/6v7PuNsG4jE2
And tomorrow is Jacob Arend Day, Suzanne!!!! Cabbage and peas for everyone!
We will be honoring Jacob tomorrow. Thanks for the dinner idea!!