Preview: Every Design, Now Online – MIT’s Herreshoff Legacy Project

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The MIT Herreshoff exhibit of models and drawings helps us understand the vast and engaging output of Nathanael Herreshoff, America’s premier yacht designer.

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21 Responses So Far to “Every Design, Now Online – MIT’s Herreshoff Legacy Project

  • John Pettersen says:

    This is so fantastic. Watching the video brought tears to my eyes. What is being done is amazing, as these drawings that have been in the drawers for years are now available for anyone to see and learn from.

  • Rich Dodson says:

    This is unbelievably wonderful work by the MIT team. Thank you so very much!

  • Greg grundtisch says:

    There are not enough words to describe the time, work, and professionalism that went into this project. Fantastic, incredable, beyond glorious, is almost an insult to those that are responsible for this project, and did all that fine work. Thank you! Very well done! We loved it and we are in joyful appreciation for what you did.

  • Matt Howard says:

    This is incredible, thank you for sharing. As one who has attempted these sorts of drawings, the talent on display here is just extraordinary. The resolution is superb. The further you zoom in the better you can appreciate the painstaking level of detail. For example if you zoom all the way in on the stbd midship cleat in plan view of the 1882 steam launch, you can see a smiley face. I have to believe this was not by chance. Or maybe that’s just me. :)

  • David Sinclair says:

    Phenomenal resource for information, inspiration and aspiration. Superb.

  • William English says:

    Absolutely amazing and marvelous project to preserve the work of such a master of nautical design. It is hard to capture the form and function of beautiful hull shapes as he did with results proven on the water. Just wonderful!

  • Wolfgang Doughty says:

    Now if only we could preserve the talent…..

  • John Wujack says:

    What an amazing resource and just a keystroke away! Thanks to all that have made this possible.

  • David Tew

    David Tew says:

    Maynard- Thanks for the thorough write-up and guide.

  • Ted Crocker says:

    This brings back memories for me. After 76 years in operation, in the late 1990s, Ingersoll Rand, the parent company of Schlage Lock Company, decided to close the Schlage San Francisco Plant and turn over production of its component parts to outside vendors. In order to facilitate handing over production to outside vendors, I was tasked with overseeing the digitization of over 12,000 hand-drawn and CAD in-house engineering drawings (tooling and parts). As mentioned here, it was laborious, but it was also a wonderful trip down memory lane as I was able to appreciate the drafting skills of many of the early engineers, including those of Walter and Ernie Schlage. Today, Schlage competes against China for low prices in the big box stores, but back when the founders were around, they built locks that lasted. Many homes from the 1920s through the 1980s still have fully functioning, original A-locks – a testament to good design. The same can be said of the Herreshoffs. Thank you for this video.

  • peter strietmann says:

    As a high end film maker this project is phenomenal! Congratulations to all who have worked to bring the images to light.

  • randall spurr says:

    Bravo! to all involved, absolutely amazing work!

  • Doug Logan says:

    Wonderful project, ingenious presentation. What a tribute to Herreshoff and a boon for boat people everywhere.

  • Doug Bell says:

    Great story! What is it about looking at boat plans that is so interesting? And then add Herreshoff! I’m planning a trip to Boston just to see this exhibit. My wife has worked in the document conservation industry for years and she was very impressed. Road trip!

  • Sean Hogben says:

    As a builder, I reckon this collection is pure gold.

  • Christoph Harlan says:

    a fascinating video of an awesome project!

  • John Supan says:

    Great effort & resource. Makes me want to be a boat builder.

  • Ian Hendrie says:

    I am truly amazed and grateful. The care being taken is outstanding, and what a resource for the world. All this from a guy who gets tired digitizing a few family pictures!

  • Philip Myer says:

    Outstanding video- wonderful project, can’t wait to start surfing these plans.

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