Today was quite an interesting day. There was a mix of emotions. Waking up at dawn to go out and water the plants, and accomplish something before it became too hot to work, I could not help but feel melancholy. Today was the last day that our daughter and two grandchildren would spend with us. They leave for their Texas home tomorrow morning. We had such a good time these last three weeks, and today was no exception.
We had planned to spend the day on the beach and boardwalk at Ocean City, N.J., with my Father and Sister, but a cold got in the way. No sense passing one of those onto everyone! Instead, we enjoyed the morning, then went out for lunch at a favorite Italian restaurant. After returning home, there was a pool party with our neighbors, Patty, and Anna, picking blackberries, and a nice dinner. Everyone is gone for a while visiting one of Chloe's artist friends for a going away gift. I'm cooking down the blackberries for jam, and writing.
In addition to spending time with our loved ones and friends, I received some terrific emails today from Caicos Bob, Bruce, Marie and Roger Kornilova, and Per and Amund.
Marie and Roger just returned from Sweden and Moscow, and had some wonderful history to impart about the Torvald Stranne business, and some amazing photos of floats they saw and came home with. I've got to write them back to ask if I should share the information here on this blog, or let them share it first with the readers of their website. You will be amazed, no matter where you read the history, or see the floats.
Per and Amund had a great day. Some of it was spent fishing, and boy! did they catch some beautiful Cod. They also did some research, and Per wrote early this morning to clear up some of the translation from yesterday's historical findings.
It was a full day, and no matter how the heart aches at times, a very happy day.
Per and Amund's emails are as follows:
Hi Tom
I have some problems with a few words when I am writing, I'll try my very best.
Bjørum Glasswork was situated in Overhallsveien on the eastedge from
Namsos at Stensbekken.
The Glasshut was approx 50 x 23 meters and 12 meters high, similar to
the Glasshut situated at Aasnæs Glasswork.
When Namsos Glassverk was shut down, all equpments was sold at an
auction to Bjørum Glassverk.
18 people was working at Bjørum Glassverk: 1 head master, 4
glassblowers, 4 helpers, 2 people took care of the oven and the
rest were extra helpers.
In the year 1875, the glasswork production was 53,948 glass floats for nets,
4,717 oval knapkavl ( buttonfloats) and 534 Teardrops.
The picture send yesterday (the list of floats and sizes that is shown in the photos from yesterday's post) shows a sale from year 1886 at Bjørum
Glassverk. The floats ranged in size from 5", 4.1/2", 4", 3.1/2", 2.1/2", 2" and approx 12" teardrop which were named middels bøjer (medium teardrops)
Seagras was a very important ingredient in glass production at all
glassworks situated in Norway. The Seagras was hung and dried then used for glass production..
Per
Seagras or seaweed was dried and applied to the glass mix for its potash content. I asked Per if the Oval Knapkavls were used on longlines or along the headline of the net to help mark it. And whether the Flat Ended or Button Ended Alesund floats found on the spring expedition might have been made in the Namsos area. His replies were as follows:
You Are right, oval knapkavl was used on longlines baited with plenty of
hooks.
I don't know if the Ålesund floats was produced in Namsos area.
The netting sorrounding floats was dipped in tar, and some Teardrops had
skin inside the rope and some did not.
See you later, we Are gone fishing, hopefully we will catch a huge
fish or five.
Per
Hi Tom
Just a picture from an perfect AASNES float with hole in sealbutton
All the best from Amund
Hello again
Float is not damaged it has a minor glass bubble inside and the hole
is from the glassblower pipe.
We are planning the Island visit. It is a 6 hour drive and there are 4 car ferries. One of the ferries has a travel time as long as 1 hour and 50 minutes.
So we will have to stay on the Island for one night. We will try to get all the
facts about floats and purchasing before we drive, so we don't buy junk
after several hours travel time. You never know. Hopefully there will be
superb and interesting floats, if not..##%&*!!..all that travel for
nothing ;-)
I guess you miss your family! I guess they all have travel back home
when you are reading this email?
Too bad, I miss my family too, even if I love to travel, fish and
treasure hunt with my good friend and brother in law Amund.
Hopefully we will have great news from the island far out tomorrow.
Take good care to you and your lovely family Tom.
Per and Amund
There you have it! They've found their first float of the trip, caught a mess of nice fish, and uncovered some wonderful history to add to our knowledge. Good luck tomorrow guys!
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