The Genius in the Journal

General Discussion
21

Here’s a hollow one, chambered any way, 9’0" x 23" , wood was less than what could be considered light, so rather than let the customer’s wall collapse, I glued it for chambering.

The fins aren’t burl,but well figured. the customer did NOT want rope in the halo, so I milled the fins to 5/8", double sealer coated the end grains and waited 3 days to dam them up and cast the resin halo. Foiling them after I had run them through the thickness sander at 3/8", was scary, at the end of the foiling only about 1/8" of a foot print was adhering them to the fin and I was afraid part of the halo would snap out, but pulled it off.

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22

Jim…

Probably a question you’ve answered before: You ever built a rib and spar hollow…???..

Love to see one someday…

23

Why yes I have, the hardest part was not having the skins flatten the rocker. I have a jig mounted flat against my wall, with slide mounts to clamp and glued the sections to when building individual spar and rib

24

And that advice is invaluable. Especially when I start to get impatient and tired of walking back and forth, then I can hear your voice somewhere back in my head saying. “Small cuts with the planer set a little more that zero”.

25

bill, I think you are speaking to me

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Yo Jim,

It’s about time you got overdue recognition, mate.

The smallest passes are often the most important, so I’ve learned over the years.

You learn this in spades when you start refininng polishing technique or getting rails

as they should be.

Mahalo, Rich

 

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I got my copy of TSJ yesteday. I never knew that the “genius” moniker was originated by Pan.

One thing I’m not clear on… I always thought that Phillips Surfboards of Rhode Island in the mid sixties was owned by another “Phillips” and Jim was just a shaper for that label. Am I mistaken?

29

I had landed in New England, living in my trusty Rambler Cross Country station wagon, did a little work for “Goldie”, Howie Goldsmith, but got introduced to Charlie Phillips, he was trying to figure out the board building biz, I did a little work for him. I went to California and started shaping for Bahne and Channin/ Diffenderfer, but earlier in that year I had made unwanted contact with the powers that be. The probation department back then was neo nazi, I was hazed about the length of my hair, it was a sign to the other hippies that I was ready and willing to light one up.

 

I put in papers for a transfer to Barnstable County, Mass., but actually reported to Middleboro, Mass., the pressure was off from the pigs man. During the day, it was framing, roofing, pouring concrete, all that needed to be done to help my then retiring father build his home. By night, it was hop in his pickup and beat a track to RI and shape for Charlie, I had always let Charlie know it was only temporary, Gene Cotrell was taking the bus up from Joisey on weekends to shape also.

Little Rhody at that time offered up uncrowded, reef, point, river mouth, off shore islands, Little Compton, Ruggle’s, it was a good place to be, so as an incentive to stick around, Charlie and I became partners and this gave me the incentive to work REALLY hard and by the end of '68 we had become the biggest factory on the east coast.

I’m still the poor surfboard builder and Charlie is a millionaire, moral of the story, become a jewelry store owner

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“Become a jewelry store owner”…Who’s happier Jim?

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Yes. I remember it well.

You’d be amazed how crowded it is now. Even LC and the islands are a zoo whenever a good swell hits. Especially when the Weather Channel starts hyping a hurricane.

I had forgotten about “Charlie” Phillips. Certainly remember Goldie.

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Well, I’m pretty f’n happy, I don’t drive to work and home with a .40 Ruger on my lap, have the RI state police unravel a plot from inside the ACI to kidnap my wife and force me to open the safe to the store. and… Charlie still has a folder filled to the brim of articles and pictures of our board building days, he still has it is his blood

33

Great article. Beautiful boards, too. Who’d a thought Middleboro, Ma. housed a shaping legend at one time. I drive on Rt. 44 right through the

'Boro just about everyday. Small world. All the best, Belch.

34

Got my issue today, I know Pez is old-school but if he quit sending them by horseback we might get them sooner here in the hinterlands of Florida.

Jim, all I have to say is that I'm sooooo stoked that you got ''written up''. I know how hard you've worked all your life. I know some of the things you've endured. I'm proud to say I know you.

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Nice!

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congrads jim !

 

and epac that's some nice woodwork !

herb

37

Great article Jim,  Congratulations

38

After re-reading the article a few times, I sort of wish PH had covered the Florida/Magnolia St. years a bit more. The list of people you influenced out of that old bread warehouse would have made a nice addition (Charlie Kuhn is only one mentioned). The Wilson brothers, the Brasington brothers, Richard Chellemi, El Toro Rojo (lol), and many others...

The ''embezzling business partner'' bothered me a bit also. That scumbag was just an employee that you trusted more than you should have, nothing more. I remember quite well when his ''activities'' became apparent; given your other circumstances at the time it would have been the final straw for lesser men.

Still a great piece, I don't want to sound too critical.

39

Mike, I told Paul Holmes the “whole story”, which although very amazing, breath catching, disgusting, unbelievable, stomach turning, hilarious, lowest of low, God’s gonna git yah, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

Kelly’s double wing round pin template still hangs just inside my shaping from the days of his days with Shagg’s

40

The ''whole story'' wasn't fit for a family publication :)

I would like to have seen something about the chambered foam boards and synthetic fibers you were doing for/with Kurt Wilson. Or the fact that those boards had rocker #s that were ridiculous for the times, but right in line with what's normal for hpsb today. Or the complex wood longboard fins going on longboards with complex in-house stringer glue-ups. All rare stuff in 1980.