1930 Capt George Eaton US Lighthouse Service Spar Buoys Glass Negative OOAK
Original, one-of-a-kind (OOAK) camera-original antique 4x5 gelatin silver glass plate negative captured in April 1930: an authentic New England maritime and federal navigational history document: Captain George E. Eaton, Superintendent of the 2nd Lighthouse District, inspecting stacks of barnacle-encrusted timber spar buoys and mooring ironwork at the Chelsea Lighthouse Depot on the Mystic River.
Accompanied by its original vintage tan kraft darkroom morgue filing sleeve bearing contemporary newsroom documentation:
Historical & Maritime Significance:
Before being integrated into the U.S. Coast Guard in 1939, the United States Lighthouse Service was tasked with operating and maintaining every lighthouse station, lightship, foghorn, and harbor buoy along American coasts. The 2nd Lighthouse District—centered at the sprawling Chelsea Depot across the Mystic River from Boston—safeguarded the rocky Massachusetts shoreline, including Boston Light, The Graves, and Cape Cod. Captain George E. Eaton, an experienced coastal mariner, directed depot operations, buoy-tenders, and channel-marking efforts across Massachusetts Bay.
Captured on location at the depot yard with lens sharpness by Boston Herald-Traveler staff photojournalist Leslie Jones:
Spar Buoys & Rigging Hardware: In the center and background, scores of heavy wooden spar buoys pulled from shipping channels lie stacked on heavy timber bunks for inspection, re-tarring, and repair. Distinct details include wrought-iron end bands, ring links, shackle loops, heavy mooring chain eyes, and dry sea growth adhered to the bark.
Depot Inspection: Captain Eaton, wearing a double-breasted woolen overcoat, bowler/derby hat, and trim mustache, surveys the equipment rows on the yard apron.
Tonal Fidelity: Balanced continuous-tone silver gelatin gradation resolving the rough weathered timber, iron fittings, and overcoat tailoring.
Specifications:
Format: Heavy antique silver gelatin 4x5 glass plate negative, exposed directly in a press camera in April 1930.
Archive Ephemera Included: Accompanied by the original vintage tan kraft darkroom morgue filing envelope.
Please Note: This listing is for the original antique glass plate negative and its period paper archive sleeve only. Any positive photographic images shown in this listing are modern inverted digital scans provided solely as a visual representation to show what finished photographs print like. No physical paper photograph, modern print, or paper product of any kind is included with this purchase.
Condition:
Very Good to Excellent antique condition. Heavy glass plate is structurally sound and complete with no cracks, fractures, or perimeter glass breaks. The silver gelatin emulsion is remarkably clean, sharp, and stable across the entire image field, preserving fine definition across the buoys, hardware, and subject. Minor authentic handling wear and edge silvering confined to the extreme outer rebate borders outside the image area. Accompanied by the original period kraft morgue filing sleeve.
The glass plate negative measures 4 x 5In.
If you collect glass negatives, please check out our collection in our store. We are currently listing thousands of original glass photo negatives from this DJD collection through the remainder of the year. Follow our store, and feel free to reach out about any questions about the negatives in this collection.
Ships with extreme care in archival materials to ensure safe transit. Feel free to reach out with any requests or questions).
Combined shipping is available (with other glass negatives)
Related Items:
1930 Capt George Eaton US Lighthouse Service Spar Buoys Glass Negative OOAK
$150.00
1930s Capt A.W. Stevens High Altitude Air Photographer Aviation Pinback #58
$60.00
1930 Press Photo Capt. Hamilton Thorn & daughterssail to Panama Canal
$24.99
