Rich, I've just had a good look at your memorabilia above, and it can very satisfying for you to to sit back years later and say "Those were the days!"
I know people who never take photos, don't accept momentos ("Naw, I don't want one of those!") and consequently, they will have nothing to sit down with later in life that will prompt a recall of a situation they may have been in, or a certain event that may have been involved in or may happened to them.
I have two rather large seats on my deck out by the barbeque - they are pistons from the No2 main engine on the first ship I sailed as C/E on. They are both a bit cracked (some would say, like their owner!) but, having had them powder coated, they still promote much comment, and are actually quite comfortable to sit on/in. The 2 valve cutouts on the crown circumference are a comfy shape to receive the thighs, and they are so bloody solid they are never going to tip over. A couple of people have survived kicking them, without any idea what they are until their toe gets bent. They are from a Bellis and Morcom diesel (made in England between the 18??'s & 1950's), and still have a lot of sitting left in them! The engines were actually designed as steam engines, then reconfigured to operate as diesels, with BBC turbochargers fitted as an afterthought. When on top notch, oil would squirt out every crack and orifice on the 3 main engines, and the motormen had to continually lubricate the rocker gear by hand, then wash down the entablatures every watch to clean up the mess.
By the way, I am still quietly working away on the ER photos for you in my quiet moments - easier to do them when at sea - helps pass the time. Having just taken about 2,500 photos in San Francisco, the Caribbean, Miami & Hawaii, I do still have a few from those locations to sort through as well (SWMBO wants the electronic photo frame loaded Yesterday please!.
Cheers
Skilly
