Preview: The Toy Dory Jig, with Harry Bryan
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March 11, 2020
Email this Video to a FriendIngenuity in action. Watch how Harry Bryan sets up a system of jigs to produce multiple toy boats…the very toy boats he played with as a kid.
Dedication: Harry would like to dedicate this video to the craftsman in Fall River, Massachusetts who provided generations of children with the joy of owning their first wooden boat. That gentleman generously shared his process for making the little boats, and Harry is hoping that this video will cause more of these wonderful little boats to be built, continuing this legacy for children of the future.
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69 Responses So Far to “The Toy Dory Jig, with Harry Bryan”
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Donald Fraser says:
As much as some of Harry’s videos look pretty pedestrian when you start it up, I am always amazed at the thoughts and the rationale he provides for doing something a certain way; and making it look easy!
I NEVER miss one of his videos! I am always rewarded with so much useful information from each and every one.
Charlie McLaughlin says:
Wow.
Thanks Harry and OCH !
Peter North says:
This video is still fascinating a couple years after the fact. Perhaps because I was one of those boys that treasured his identical dory that my mother purchased from Welch & Co in Scituate MA I later purchased one for my son who is now 39. These days I use the CLC dory kit for the grandchildren, but think original is really better. Thanks Harry for sharing this with us.
David Yeowart says:
Hi Harry, I have made a handful of these dories so far for all the kids in the family, I would like to send some photos, how would i do this?
Steve Stone says:
Great to hear this David. If you email the photos to support(at)offcenterharbor(dot)com we’ll forward them to Harry for you and I suspect you might hear from him.
Tony Vink says:
Thank you for this video, I love the idea of building multiple boats for the younger generations. This is something I’ll look at after my ‘normal’ sailing dinghy build. More like this please!
John Swansey says:
This brings back memories. I had one of those exact toys, growing up on Cape Cod. It seems so simple to look at, never imagined the effort it took to make it. Mine was Blue-gray on the outside, and yellow inside. I towed it around in the tide pools, with shells and periwinkles in it.
Thanks for this wonderful video.
Walter Hobbs says:
Would it be possible to purchase a dory or two?
Walter Hobbs, Lincoln, RI
Bill Taylor says:
I saw some on Etsy – Joy Toy Dory!
Steven Joseph Dorr says:
Hi Harry, I just finished watching your toy dory video and I didn’t know whether to laugh out loud with joy or cry at the essential beauty of your hands and their work. If I sound all mushy-gushy, it’s because I am, after viewing the care and precision with which you work and seeing the obvious love you have for what you do. I grew up with a grandfather who was a cabinet maker in Germany, and there was nothing I loved more than being in his workshop. To this day I can smell the wood and see the look of his hands working a plane, as I caught the papery curls falling to the floor, delighting in the possibilities offered by their elegant spirals and volutes. Thank you so much for bringing this joyous diversion to my day. What an informative and simply lovely video. All best to you and Martha and your family as we all navigate this challenging time we’re in. Elke Dorr
Ryan Rodgers says:
Am I the only one who found the “plans” to have less than the bare minimum information to fabricate this dory? I see in the comments that a number of you have gone ahead and made this toy, I’d be curious to know how many hours are invested into deciphering the build.
Harry Bryan says:
Ryan,
I did not intend the drawing of the toy dory’s mold to be a complete plan, but felt that it included enough information (along with the video of the jigs) to give someone a significant head start should they wish to duplicate the process. In any case, building the number of jigs required makes sense only if a run of 20 or more is contemplated.
Thomas Tracy says:
Thank you Harry!
paul barrett says:
You are amazing Harry! Such a joy to watch.
It’s beauty like this and much more that makes one so glad to have a subscription to OCH!
WILLIAM MACKEY says:
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing. Take care Harry.
Cyrus and Rita Brown says:
Didn’t get to watch the vid because of overworked internet but Harry is really awesome
Peter MacLearn says:
Harry: I remember, as a boy, my parents buying me a small wooden toy dory similar (identical?) to the one you build, while vacationing down in Hyannis, on the Cape, . Red outside, with a work boat, yellow/orange interior. Loved that boat. I would guess by the pile of toy dories that you have in your shop, that there are going to be a lot of other happy youngsters in the near future. Might even try my hand at building up a couple for my grandchildren. Thanks for the inspiration, and thanks for keeping the skills alive.
David Tew says:
I wonder if I had the same little dory! We sailed from Osterville to downeast Maine in the sixties, towing the little dory all the way and back. A child’s dream, like “Paddle To The Sea”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddle-to-the-Sea
Ryan Woofenden says:
That is a really lovely image, thanks for sharing that memory.
Bill Kenneke says:
LOL… “Nova Scotia dimple… we don’t use that term here”
Mark MacLeod says:
This is just good medicine. For the builder, the lucky new owner, even the observer.
Robert Baird says:
Always such a joy to watch Harry make things look so simple! A testament to years of experience. Thanks you OCH for capturing a true genius at work in his shop for us rookies.
Michael Vaughan says:
Harry for President!
mike kitchen says:
Cheers to Harry. I needed him this month as the world slowly stops turning. Now I am relaxed and calm. Thanks again OCH!!!!
Anthony Aman says:
I have three grandchildren and lots of Covid Time on my hands. Please consider replicating this little dory “on paper” for us. Don’t wait too long though. They grow up so quickly and Covid is on my tail. Thanks!
Anthony Aman says:
Look under the heading, Navigate Further, you old fart.
Harry Bryan says:
Anthony,
Under “Navigate Further” above, there is a downloadable plan for the jig which will give you the dimensions needed to make a dory close to those in the video.
Harry
Bill Taylor says:
I Just removed my first toy dory from the jig I made from your diagram during my home confinement! Yes, it was pure joy.
Thanks again,
Bill
James Hyde says:
What a joy in this time of so much angst to shadow such a consummate teacher and craftsman. These videos alone are worth OCH membership. Thank you Harry.
Erick Singleman says:
What a great Video. Love Harry and his mindset about things.
Christoph Harlan says:
AWESOME, therapeutic, the pleasure in things small!!!
Theodore Gentsch says:
As a lifelong woodworker myself, that was a joy to watch. Thank you Harry Bryan!
Skip Kemp says:
Excellent! 👌 Thanks, Harry Bryan! 😎
steve schwartz says:
Watching Harry’s videos is calming and therapeutic.
Bruce MacPhail says:
Loved learning of a “Nova Scotia dimple” ( not that that ever happens to me ) and hearing a sharp plane working! Wonderful to spend time with Harry and get fantastic course in jig invention. Also by coincidence watched wearing a red shirt with notebook brain substitute and pen in breast pocket.
Peter North says:
Please thank Harry for doing this video. My mother bought my brother and I boats like that when we were growing up in Scituate Massachusetts. She bought them from Welch’s downtown and I suspect they were made by the same craftsman from Fall River over fifty years ago. I in turn gave one to my son. I loved those boats as kid. These days I try to carry on a similar tradition using the clc dory kit. Not quite the crafted dory but well thought out and put together in a similar size. We towed my grandson’s red and yellow dory behind our Nutshell last summer.
Warren Peluso says:
Truly a man that loves what he is doing. You and your skills never cease to amaze me. Great job Harry.
Bill Taylor says:
Inspiring, I’ve been working with wood all my life but my shop has been quiet in my 77th year. I have a feeling it will come back to life again soon! Thanks much.
Ben Tombs says:
Brilliant, Thank you
Philip Myer says:
Harry’s work is amazing.
Tim Leary says:
Never fails to amaze me! Outstanding Harry!
Richard Wessner says:
I was delighted to see this video and surprised to see a boat nearly identical to one we purchased about 1990. I wonder if it came from Fall River or from Harry’s shop? We purchased it in Providence. Blue exterior and yellow interior. A favorite toy and object.
Patrick Daniels says:
“You’re a wizard Harry!!”
Stuart James says:
Another wonderful example of simple ingenuity and creative genius ~ great work Harry😉
Robin Hilliard says:
That was sorely needed – best ‘maker’ video of any kind I’ve seen in a year at least :-).
Lorentz Ottzen says:
Lorentz Ottzen
A very enjoyable video. Quality entertainment the whole way through.
Thankyou !
Marc LaFrance says:
Freakin’ amazing! It is so fun to watch Harry, his ingenuity is unfathomable.
More Harry Bryan vids please!
Trygve Faste says:
I love this! Great to see the entire process so carefully thought out.
Ed Altonji says:
Fabulous end to an otherwise trying week. Harry, I think you have more jigs for this little boat than I used on my full size build!
Dave Dickmeyer says:
Thanks guys for this amazing video. What a joy to watch with my morning coffee. Harry is the Master! Any chance you might digitize those templates of his into some drawings? I would love to make some of these for my grand and great grand kids!
Thanks again for what you do!
David Janis says:
As a power tool woodworker, this was humbling to watch.
Regards,
David J. Janis
Conbert Benneck says:
I am in awe of Harry’s tooling and his construction methods. Elegant simplicity that shows what a Master craftsman he is.
Thanks for a lovely visual feast of excellence in motion..
Oke Meyer says:
We have just self quarrintined ourselves after a visit to the NY metro area after being around the coronavirus and wondered what I was going to do for two weeks in my shop. I had lots of ideas in woodturning, some small box making, and now some small dory boats. Thanks for a wonderful visit to your shop. You are a very talented person Harry. Fantastic video
John Pettersen says:
Thank you so much! It made me remember my attempt to make a smaller but similar hull when I was a kid. The nails never went where I wanted them to go. The wood split, many nails stuck out, and I gave up trying to make it look good. I just slapped a thick coat of paint on the whole thing. I love Harry’s jigs, especially the metal ones that set the angles of the nails! Thanks again!
Edwin Slaughter says:
Always enjoyed watching Harry’s video’s. This is such an iconic boat with so much history. I would love to have a set of plans that show the details of the jigs used to create these. That is the key missing piece of the process to building. Can’t wait until his next video.
Raymond Vosper says:
I want to live next door to Harry!
Bob Barnett says:
He is a national treasure.
Paul Leonard says:
Oh how I love the visits to Harry Bryan’s workshop. They never disappoint.
Ron Grenier says:
A privilege to watch, and listen to, a craftsman. Thanks OCH!
William Seyler says:
Too Cool!!!
Daniel Palmer says:
Impressive, love watching a craftsman at play or work
Peter Sweetser says:
That is a fabulous video on so many levels. This is indeed what makes OCH special. Thanks to you all.
David Dickson says:
That was amazing! The jigs & prickers gave me a lot of ideas. Imagine spending a day following Harry around his shop. 😍
Now I can get out of bed and start my day. Well, maybe, just one more video! 😁
OCH 👏👏👏👌
Fred Murphy says:
It’s always fun to watch your videos Harry!
John Wujack says:
Fantastic! With appreciation, I’d happily pay for an autographed Harry Bryan Dory Model! Limited edition? May I be so bold to suggest that this video be used as a retail sales display at Mystic Seaport or other appropriate venue(s) and offer “Harry Bryan” dories for sale? I bet that you would probably be busier than you’d want to be!
James Turner says:
Made me smile. Thanks so much.
Ron Breault says:
this viewing is good practice for possible upcoming self quarantine days…..
Sam Robinson says:
Can’t get enough of the Harry Bryan videos. What a legend. Keep them coming!
Matt Clouse says:
Love it!