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Circa 1600 This antique model of the Second Rate Portuguese Man 'O War is very ornate with art work from the Post Renaissance Period, which was used to represent the power of the nation during this time in history. Murphy and his staff completely restored this model which includes 99 brass canons and cloth sails. Included with this model was a hand-made glass case 36" high, with polished brass trim that rests on a solid mahogany base 48" long, 18" wide and 2" thick. The workmanship that went into this model can only really be appreciated by seeing this masterpiece in person.
One of Murphy's collectors, who was stationed on the U.S.S. Currituck (a Navy Seaplane Tender) from 1964 until 1967, had Murphy replicate this ship from keel to masthead in solid mahogany, including a Martin Mariner PBM-5 Seaplane in 1/212 actual size or 1" = 17'9" (30" overall length). This ship was commissioned by the Navy in 1944 and underwent several overhauls and numerous changes. This model was a replica of how it appeared in 1964. During his 3 year tenure on this ship, Murphy's collector took numerous photos which were a big help in this replication. As with all of Murphy's models, all details, now matter how intricate, were hand-carved from mahogany, right down to the wheel hubs on the seaplane landing gear and the tiny propellers on the seaplane. It was finished in authentic Navy colors. Included with this model was a hand-made glass case 18" high, with polished brass trim that rests on a solid polished mahogany base 48" long, 18" wide and 2" thick.
U.S.S. SENNET SUBMARINE
Before the U.S. Lighthouse Service knew how to build a lighthouse on an underwater hazard, ships built just for that purpose were anchored on site with as many as forty 6,000 lb. anchors. Optic lenses were installed as masthead lights and could be seen for many miles by ship captains to help guide them safely around the hazards. Since 1853 there has been a Brenton Reef Lightship strategically placed in the Narragansett Bay area in one of the most traversed sea lanes in New England. Lightship #102 (later numbered #525 by the Coast Guard) was the last lightship moored at Brenton Reef. She was built in 1915 and took her position at Brenton Reef in March, 1938. In 1938 a hurricane devastated New England, but the lightship sustained little damage. In September, 1962 she was replaced by the Brenton Reef Tower, ending 109 years of continuous lightship service at the station. As with all of Murphy's models, this replicated lightship was scratch built and hand carved from solid mahogany, leaving out none of the fine details that accompany this beautiful designed lightship. The railings and a lot of the rigging and bracing on this ship are of a very fine brass wire that was carefully soldered into place. This lights on this ship, including the masthead light, as well as the foghorn, are authentic working models. The foghorn emits the familiar sound WEEEEOOOOO when activated. The beautiful model was enclosed in a hand-made glass case, 18" high and trimmed in polished brass. It rests on a solid mahogany base 30" long, 14" wide and 2" thick.
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