Shipbuilder's Half Hull, Quarter Block Lift Model of the Steam Ferry, "City of Norfolk"

An authentic American shipbuilder's quarter-block model of the steam ferry,  "City of Norfolk", circa 1930.  Constructed in 7 layers of pine (lifts) at a shipyard scale of 3/8" = 1' (1:32).

The Portsmouth-to-Norfolk ferry across the Elizabeth River is recognized as the oldest continuously operating pedestrian ferry in North America, with a history spanning over 300 years; the historic service ceased operations in 1955. By the 1920s and 30s, massive, multi-decked vehicle ferries like the City of Portsmouth (140 feet long) and the City of Norfolk (175-176 feet long) carried both pedestrians and early automobiles. The City of Norfolk was built later in the 1920s to significantly increase capacity over the City of Portsmouth, deliberately elongated to an operational length of 175-176 feet with an expanded hull width — the largest class of vehicle ferry ever built for that service.

Unlike standard ocean-going steamships, these ferries were entirely symmetrical, with identical bows and sterns and rudders and propellers at both ends. In traditional ship design, a "quarter hull" builder's model therefore represents exactly one half of the ship's length (from midships to one end) and one half of its total width (from the centerline keel out to the outer deck guard) — the bow matches the stern and the left matches the right, so one quarter of the geometry holds the whole design.

This builder's hull was displayed in the Portsmouth, Norfolk Ferry Terminal, at 102 High Street in Portsmouth, Virginia. The block model was originally displayed without a backboard, attached to a wall, by using the added narrow top board with 5 screws.

Measures 33 inches in length, 5 1/4" tall, and 8 inches deep at the widest point. The backboard measures 13 1/2" x 40". Weighs 17.20 pounds.