Sat out Alameda last Sunday...still managed to get in trouble...

[CarltonHendricks]

I had to work last Sunday so sat out the Alameda Point show...So I was feeling pretty good about it...didn't spend any money...and wham...I spot this 1903 Yale Crew Team trophy rudder on eBay...darn it...But I just unpacked it this afternoon and I'm very happy I got it...

I was half dead when I found it...about to hit the hay...so zonked couldn't focus so tired from work...It had a BIN that wasn't out of the question...with best offer option...that and how great it was made me nervous to wait till the morning to at least make an offer before turning in...but trying to research it half dead was impossible...but on the other hand I wasn't going to get involved unless I could find some historical references on it first...So I let go and went to bed...Naturally first thing I did when I got up was see if it was still up...yes still there...fiddled around for couple hours looking at this and that...found Muzzy ok...it was only the freshman eight...Would much prefer it was from a varsity race...Nevertheless...first of all I think it's the only American trophy rudder I've ever seen...or at least recall...I've seen a few decorated rudders....but not many...and they're always bloody English...So to find an American one is very rare...

I did find that this race between the freshman of Yale and Columbia was a yearly tradition at Lake Whitney in the early 20th century...Lake Whitney was about four miles from New Haven...The coxswain referenced on the rudder H.T. Muzzy remains to be researched further...doesn't appear to have gone on to cox a varsity eight at Yale...Apparently there may have been something special about the race to warrant this trophy...to the cox only...not the whole team...As for the actual rudder used for the trophy...may have come off another boat than the one in the race...I can't imagine raiding parts off their boat for a trophy...I don't know anything about boat rudders but the decorated ones I've seen on line are a little taller...Maybe they got one from a boat repair shop off a dingy...Then again it's possible they actually confiscated this one off the shell they raced then replaced it...All I know for sure is I found documentation the race did take place on Saturday May 16th...and Muzzy was the coxswain for the freshman eight in 1903...and the rudder is definitely old from the period...

I thought it was interesting the freshman and varsity crews almost got in a fight the day of the race with striking teamsters for unloading the boat off the train...and two policemen had to ride on the truck along with fifty students to protect the boat from getting smashed by the strikers...all while getting pelted by decayed vegetables and coal...see the newspaper clipping at the bottom...Maybe that was somehow related to this trophy?!?...

[gnaz01]

Carlton, you’re not supposed to buy anything when you’re tired (just kidding, great piece)

Congrats!!

[CarltonHendricks]

I sent my friend Tom Weil a link to this thread...Tom is the go-to guy for info on rowing stuff...below is his reply...Very interesting to learn it was tradition for coxwains to get a trophy rudder...as opposed to oarsmen getting a trophy oar...

Carlton -
Very nice bit of memorabilia, and it looks genuine.

The size: Rudders cause drag. The older ones were higher. As time passed, while higher ones weren’t immediately abandoned, lower ones were introduced. Today’s rudders are metal or plastic pieces about the size of playing cards and attached under the hull.

The practice, when “boat parts” awards were made, was to give decorated - or, as the Brits would say, “illuminated” - oars to the victorious oarsmen, and rudders to the coxswains (I have a couple of awarded bow balls as well, but that was much less common). It is somewhat interesting, but not at all unprecedented, that this was done for a lesser (Yale vs Columbia freshmen) race than what was the standard annual biggie - Yale vs Harvard. In a time when hundreds might turn out for crew when the year started, there were many shells and oars about the boathouse, and to find spares to tart up and give away was no big deal. Also, in that era there might only be three races - total! - in a year, so each one was a little more special, and perhaps there was some such sentiment attached to this one. These guys won their freshman Harvard race as well, so perhaps Mr. Muzzy had two to hang in his office or study. BTW, I can confirm that he did not participate in any Harvard race later in his time at Yale, and one might well conclude that, whether or not he was part of a very active intramural crew scene, he was not involved at the varsity level.

Best, Tom

[Fballguy]

I was captain of my high school crew team...also in Connecticut. Very cool find.

Rob

[CarltonHendricks]

Just unpacked this...my $10.00 only bidder ebay puchase...In 30 years collecting I've never come across this small version...I have an enquiry in to learn if it's something from the 1920's or so...or 19th century...

[Shoeless Moe]

but is it real?

or fantasy?


https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-1903-O...p2047675.l2557