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Thread: My last madness

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Iquitos, Peru
    Posts
    796

    My last madness

    This I think will be my last mad dream. We are in the process of buying this mill and plywood factory. We have the original homestead document when the land was purchased and conctruction started in 1899. It is the first industry in the Peruvian Amazon and built by a company called Astoria from Astoria ,NY. All of the original machinery is there and operational and made in America From Duluth , Minn. to NY. It was steam powered but in the last few years has been switched over to generators.

    It has about 250,000 bf under roof and on the bank of the Amazon about 20 minetes down river in a 65 hp. This has to be the biggest "This Old House" project ever. We are going to restore it to its original new condition. The entire constuuction is of Spanish Cedar and Mahogany. It is an incredible operation with a couple of miles of RR track to move logs, boards or whatever ,where ever.

    This will be declared a historical site of Peru. It will take a year or so and about 20 carpenters with helpers and a few thousand gallons of paint to get it to new condition but will be a fun challenge.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    SE PA - Central Bucks County
    Posts
    65,675
    Wow....Jim's gonna be busy!
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Fort Smith, Arkansas
    Posts
    1,984
    Juppin Jehosophat!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Tucson
    Posts
    5,001
    Blog Entries
    1
    I hope you can post pics as you guys do the job.
    What you listen to is your business....what you hear is ours.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Schenectady, NY
    Posts
    1,500

    Outstanding !

    That's great Jim. Sure is nice to see older facilities restored and staying in working condition. I imagine it will be a big boon to the local economy. Best of luck and post some pictures when you get a chance please.
    Happy and Safe Turning, Don


    Woodturners make the world go ROUND!

  6. #6
    Jim, That is awesome! Will it be operational as well as a historical site? If so, I hope you'll practice renewable/responsible logging and give us a special discount!

  7. #7
    Sounds like you could get free work by charging people to come and stay at your Historical Eco-Friendly Restoration Experience "Resort."

    "Ok Thanks. Yes that'll be three thousand dollars a week in advance and you can re finish that floor over there. It's down like so: wax on - - wax off."

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    SF Bay Area, CA
    Posts
    15,332
    My goodness! Were I single and could take a year or two off from paying Uncle Sam, I'd come down and give you a hand! Sounds like oodles of fun and sweat!

    Do you have problems when the Amazon floods?
    Wood: a fickle medium....

    Did you know SMC is user supported? Please help.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Mtl, Canada
    Posts
    2,379
    Please post some pictures. Should be really interesting to see!

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Bloomington, IL
    Posts
    6,009
    I think you should add a couple guest rooms for SMC member vacations. That looks CRAZY Awesome. Congrats.

    I also would love to do some amazon catfishing!

  11. #11
    Hey Jim,

    Good for you and that's not madness at all.

    In 1870, Steinway moved it's factory to Astoria, Queens, NY.

    They also built a company town there a few years down the road.

    By 1890, I wonder how and where they purchased their raw materials.

    Florida Mahogany was pretty much gone by 1900.

    Did they try to cover manufacturing from all ends, like

    Henry Ford?

    Is it possible? And could you check?

    Per
    "all men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night....wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible."
    T.E. Lawrence

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Hoschton, GA
    Posts
    185
    Somebody should do a documentary on this. That would make a great Discovery channel special - in HD! Keep us posted.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Amarillo, TX
    Posts
    42
    The History Channel might like a piece of this action as well! This could be a really cool story to follow.
    Dave
    aka The Putz

  14. #14
    It sure is a small world. Born, raised, and still live in Duluth.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Hoschton, GA
    Posts
    185
    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Ball View Post
    It sure is a small world. Born, raised, and still live in Duluth.
    GA? Well, hello neighbor. It is a small world and the Creek has no borders. From The Madness of Jim King in the Peruvian Amazon, to the Great Auz Down Under, to Japan, to Thailand, to the UK and Europe (East and West) and even to little ol' Hoschton GA. From saw mill operators (and restorers!), to construction pros, to Master Craftsmen, to artists with both the flat and round, to wanna-be beginners like me. The Creek seems to welcome all.

    Maybe part of Jim's documentary should highlight the Creek!

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