Laying the Deck – IMS Photography

“Laying the Deck” by Robert Olley. South Shields Museum, England

“Viewing from left to right, this painting illustrates the laying of timber decking. Lengths of timber are lowered by crane onto the steel deck which is being coated with a fixative. The pre-drilled deck boards are placed onto threaded bolts of the steel deck, and washers and nuts applied to hold the decking in place. Wooden dowels are then glued in place, before being trimmed off by a shipwright using an ‘adze. The gaps between the decking are then sealed by ‘caulkers’ hammering

‘oakum’ into the gaps between the deck boards. Finally, hot pitch is poured into the joints, allowed to dry, the deck is then soaked with water expanding the timbers, sealing the deck completely.

“Oakum was the name given to recycled old rope. In Victorian times old obsolete rope was collected from the many shipbuilding yards and docks and sent to prisons where the rope was unpicked by prisoners and recycled into balls of oakum then sold back to the shipbuilders!

This is where the saying “Money for old rope” originated.”

Robert Olley

Object description
Type: Easel painting
Location: South Shields Museum & Art Gallery, Tyne & Wear
Material: Oil on board
Artist: Robert Olley (b. 1940)
Date: 2021

Image details
Date: 15 June 2022
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Wide Camera 26mm ƒ/1.8
Focal Length: 26mm
Aperture: ƒ/1.8
Shutter Speed: 1/100s
ISO: 1,250
Licence: Image of a North East Museums asset. This image cannot be licensed.

Image details (above)
Date: 15 June 2022
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Wide Camera 26mm ƒ/1.8
Focal Length: 26mm
Aperture: ƒ/1.8
Shutter Speed: 1/25s
ISO: 25
Licence: Image of a North East Museums asset. This image cannot be licensed.