Mark's Monitor Build

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Richard, They built/assembled the engine in a 6-7 week time period from what I can find and then installed it in the partially built hull on December 16, 1861 and the top deck with turret and cannons installed in the following 6 weeks before launching at the end of January 1862

Rich
 
Hi Richard, Sailors have always managed large loads, (Anchors, cannon, cannonballs, rocks for ballast, etc.) by the use of ropes and pulleys from shear legs or cranes from above. (Many ships had masts that hauled very large loads, but the Monitor in dock would have had an overhead crane for this task). A cylinder weighing 1/2 ton would not be a problem, but a 30ton engine was probably assembled in the hull from suitable sized sub-assemblies, perhaps even before the side frames and sheeting were built-up. (As per Brunel's ships of that era?).
https://vanda-production-assets.s3....7de-e75a55d525d6/2006BH5367-Great-Eastern.jpgTitanic had the ships keel and bottom frames built, then the engine mounting frames were fitted, and a huge milling machine (Sold 15+ years ago by Harland and Wolf to Korea for around £2m... on E&@y!) finished the final machining so the bed was flat before the engines were assembled on top.
K2
 
Hello everyone, I am Mark T's sister Dana. I am so sorry to have to tell you my brother Mark passed away on December 20th. He was 72 years old. On Thanksgiving day he enjoyed a wonderful meal and he was looking good, but a couple days later he began to feel sick. His wife took him to emergency where they determined he was having a major heart attack. After a few days in the hospital it looked like he was going to make it and making slow progress, but then things started to go the other way. After three weeks in the hospital Mark passed away quietly and peacefully. Mark loved his shop, his projects, his family, this forum and the people in it, the deer that bedded down in his yard and just maybe most of all his cats of which he had many over the years. Reading through this project thread of Mark's I was at once happy to see how much he was enjoying this project and sad that he was not able to complete it. I'm not sure what else needs to be said, but if you have questions I'll check in here tomorrow and answer what I can.

Dana T.
 
This is terrible news indeed.
So sorry to hear this.

It was obvious from following this thread that Mark had immense talent.

No doubt his family is dealing with a huge loss at this point.

It was an honor to watch Mark's work progress.
Very inspirational stuff for sure.

Thoughts and prayers to all of you.


.
 
My friend Mark? How could he? He certainly did not look to be 72--maybe in his 60s. I visited him twice in Mossy Rock and got to see his incredibly interesting models. He told me he had some health problems and so he was careful what he did. I was planning to visit again, maybe in the spring time. He was a heck of a nice guy. I hope his wife can handle it, I'm sure she was somewhat prepared.

Very sorry to hear of his passing.
 
Hello everyone, I am Mark T's sister Dana. I am so sorry to have to tell you my brother Mark passed away on December 20th. He was 72 years old. On Thanksgiving day he enjoyed a wonderful meal and he was looking good, but a couple days later he began to feel sick. His wife took him to emergency where they determined he was having a major heart attack. After a few days in the hospital it looked like he was going to make it and making slow progress, but then things started to go the other way. After three weeks in the hospital Mark passed away quietly and peacefully. Mark loved his shop, his projects, his family, this forum and the people in it, the deer that bedded down in his yard and just maybe most of all his cats of which he had many over the years. Reading through this project thread of Mark's I was at once happy to see how much he was enjoying this project and sad that he was not able to complete it. I'm not sure what else needs to be said, but if you have questions I'll check in here tomorrow and answer what I can.

Dana T.
Dana, I am really sorry to hear this. Did you ever see that prize-winable photo he had of the wild cat? It was a fabulous photo. He photographed a lot of wild life (I thimpfk) from his livingroom window.
Don
 
Dana T !
So sorry to hear this.
From someone on the other side of the earth .
Projects that MarK has built on are mechanical works of art, I've always loved the engines he's built. All engines he did are a source of motivation and inspiration for me and others
Dead are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them
Mark and his projects will live forever !
 
Hello everyone, I am Mark T's sister Dana. I am so sorry to have to tell you my brother Mark passed away on December 20th. He was 72 years old. On Thanksgiving day he enjoyed a wonderful meal and he was looking good, but a couple days later he began to feel sick. His wife took him to emergency where they determined he was having a major heart attack. After a few days in the hospital it looked like he was going to make it and making slow progress, but then things started to go the other way. After three weeks in the hospital Mark passed away quietly and peacefully. Mark loved his shop, his projects, his family, this forum and the people in it, the deer that bedded down in his yard and just maybe most of all his cats of which he had many over the years. Reading through this project thread of Mark's I was at once happy to see how much he was enjoying this project and sad that he was not able to complete it. I'm not sure what else needs to be said, but if you have questions I'll check in here tomorrow and answer what I can.

Dana T.
I am so saddened by your loss.

Tim
 
Dana, My sincerest sympathies to you and all of Mark's family .
He was an exceptional man, and it is quite apparent he would follow his heart
and was unfazed when it came to new challenges . This is quite apparent with
the many challenges he faced with this current project that he solved with exceptional skill
I appreciate having conversed with him recently and this news is certainly a shock to me.
Thank You for letting us know, it shows Mark's personal communication concepts were also shared in his family and are very gracious !

Rich
 
Hello everyone, I am Mark T's sister Dana. I am so sorry to have to tell you my brother Mark passed away on December 20th. He was 72 years old. On Thanksgiving day he enjoyed a wonderful meal and he was looking good, but a couple days later he began to feel sick. His wife took him to emergency where they determined he was having a major heart attack. After a few days in the hospital it looked like he was going to make it and making slow progress, but then things started to go the other way. After three weeks in the hospital Mark passed away quietly and peacefully. Mark loved his shop, his projects, his family, this forum and the people in it, the deer that bedded down in his yard and just maybe most of all his cats of which he had many over the years. Reading through this project thread of Mark's I was at once happy to see how much he was enjoying this project and sad that he was not able to complete it. I'm not sure what else needs to be said, but if you have questions I'll check in here tomorrow and answer what I can.

Dana T.
So sorry to hear of Mark’s passing! I liked his posts; he was a great asset to this forum, and will be greatly missed.
Carlos Diaz
 
Hello everyone, I am Mark T's sister Dana. I am so sorry to have to tell you my brother Mark passed away on December 20th. He was 72 years old. On Thanksgiving day he enjoyed a wonderful meal and he was looking good, but a couple days later he began to feel sick. His wife took him to emergency where they determined he was having a major heart attack. After a few days in the hospital it looked like he was going to make it and making slow progress, but then things started to go the other way. After three weeks in the hospital Mark passed away quietly and peacefully. Mark loved his shop, his projects, his family, this forum and the people in it, the deer that bedded down in his yard and just maybe most of all his cats of which he had many over the years. Reading through this project thread of Mark's I was at once happy to see how much he was enjoying this project and sad that he was not able to complete it. I'm not sure what else needs to be said, but if you have questions I'll check in here tomorrow and answer what I can.

Dana T.
So sorry to hear..condolences to your family.
 
Thank you everyone.

At some point, the family would like to find someone with the necessary skills and interest to take on completing this project. It meant so much to Mark and he had so much time and work put into it, it would be a shame to see it go uncompleted. I'm not sure how to go about finding the right person, but suggestions and recommendations can be sent to me via private message (please do not make suggestions here, it might be awkward). It is very important to us the project is completed with the same skills and commitment as Mark had to produce a quality model.
 
Hello again everyone,

Well! I have some very exciting news to announce! With the help of Ron Kellis (KellisRJ) I have found someone to complete Mark's Monitor engine. Todd Cahill has very graciously agreed to take on the project. I believe most here are familiar with Todd's work, if not you can checkout his website here: ABOUT | steamachine. There's also YouTube videos highlighting Todd and his steam engines, and his wonderful drawings that can be seen on his website.



Todd will be starting a new thread for you to follow when he begins. That will likely be months from now as we need to figure out shipping from Seattle to Boston, and Todd is still in the process of relocating his shop.

Dana T
 
I didn't ask Todd why a new thread, perhaps he wasn't comfortable resuming this one. It is his project now, he has my full support and trust to proceed with the project, and to document his work here as he sees fit.
 
Todd Cahill seems like an excellent choice for someone to complete Mark's Monitor.

Todd appears to be deep into the style and class of the Monitor era engines, ie: 1840-1860's, so that will be very helpful.

It will be very exciting to see this engine move towards completion.
Mark worked far too hard on this engine to let it get stopped, and it is a superb lesson in lost wax castings.

Best of luck to everyone involved.
I will be following and supporting if necessary.

I will send Todd a note of support and encouragement via his website.

https://www.steamachinesculpture.com/about

Pat J
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