  Nautical Accessories
by AM USA
From forecastle to poop deck. Starting at the crew's quarters, as the expression goes, before the mast. Bunk beds all around, a large table bolted to the deck in the middle. Every man has his own chest with contents. And every sailor has his own hobbies; carving wood, making models, tying intricate knots, engraving a tooth. Storm lantern swinging above the table. This is where they sleep, eat and spend their time. From here we move to the aft deck. Amidship is the home of the 'midshipmen', young boys in training for officer. Below the aft or poop decks are the officer's quarters and mess. This is also where the helmsman is located, sometimes in the open, sometimes in a covered wheelhouse with windows. Don't imagine that he actually sees where he is going; too many objects obstruct his view. He steers a course on the compass. He holds his mahogany wheel, watching compass and hourglass, and sounds the 'glass' by ringing the ship's bell. Every glass is a half hour increment of the four hour watch, the on-and-off working shifts for the ship's crew. All the ship's fixtures and fittings have been designed and manufactured to withstand the worst onslaught of the elements. Salty spray easily corrodes, so lamps and most fittings are made in brass or bronze. As are their reproductions by AM featured in this section.
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