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Historic Restorations

Saturn V Rocket

UHP has been involved in many historic projects. In this particular case the renovation of a static display of the Saturn V Rocket for NASA. The entire surface of the Rocket was washed with care and a new Coating system was applied to bring life back into this piece of space history.

More Information on the Saturn V Project

Coating of the likeness of the Statue of Liberty

UHP’s Commercial division has experience in the application of all types of architectural and industrial coatings. Pictured below is the application of a protective coating to a historic likeness of the Statue of Liberty.

More Information on the Statue of Liberty

Historic Applications

First Shipboard Radar
Preliminary Condition Report
For
The Historical Electronics Museum

Historical Background

The first radar array to be used successfully aboard a naval vessel is currently located at the Historical Electronics Museum in Maryland. There is a plaque mounted on the base that gives the following information. According to Leo C. Young, a consultant for the Naval Research Lab in Washington, DC; during the 1920’s he and Dr. A Hoyt Taylor, a Navy physicist, began to notice disruptions to radio signals from Haines Point when ever large naval vessels came up the Potomac River. They contacted the Navy Bureau of Steam Engineering for permission and funding to pursue their research but were advised to abandon the project and continue with their assigned research projects. Eventually they received funding for the project and sought assistance from Dr. Robert M. Page. Within 10 months and for less than $ 25,000 they produced the first naval radar assembly. Dr. Page was later credited as the “Father of Radar.”

The radar assembly was mounted on the battleship New York in 1939. Shortly thereafter the New York was deployed to the Caribbean Ocean to participate in naval maneuvers. Under cover of darkness naval destroyers prepared a mock attack on the New York. The radar assembly aboard the New York successfully detected the destroyers before they could begin the attack.

Radar is an acronym for “Radio Detection and Ranging.” Prior to radar ships relied on search lights and visual identification. Radar enabled ships to detect other vessels many miles away, from any direction, and during darkness and fog.

The radar assembly was removed from the New York and placed on exhibit outdoors at the Navy Yard in Washington, DC. It was eventually disassembled and moved to the US Navy Cheatham Annex near York Town, VA. The radar assembly at the Historical Electronics Museum is historically significant and in need of conservation.

The Radar Assembly at Cheatham Annex

Description

The overall dimensions of the radar assembly are 23’ 9 1/2” high by 18’ 10 3/8” wide. The dimensions of the screen are 17’ 10 1/2” high by 17’ wide.

Base: The base is a pyramid constructed of steel tubes welded together and covered by sheet steel. The point at the top of the pyramid is the pivot point for the primary aluminum support. An electronic motor would rotate the primary aluminum support 360° horizontally.

Primary Aluminum Support: The support is constructed of three aluminum box beams that are riveted together and internal bulkheads for additional strength. One of the vertical beams has an electronic motor to rotate the radar screen in vertical directions (bed springs). The box beams are constructed in a manner similar to that used for aircraft.

Radar Screen: The screen has four rectangular girders made of formed Aluminum pieces that are riveted together. This frame is attached to the Primary Aluminum Support at two pivot points. Aluminum wires were attached to the almost square framework in a grid-like manner. The wires were attached with ceramic insulators and served as the radio antenna for the device.

Condition

The site visited was conducted on 5 June 2008. At that time the pieces of the radar assembly were located in a storage area adjacent to the Historical Electronics Museum. Base: The base was painted white. The sheet steel covering is corroded. Some of the steel tubes are severely corroded and there are losses near the weld joints that could compromise the structural integrity of this element which supports the entire structure.

The Pyramid Base

Note the severe corrosion of the steel tubing that forms the base. Some of the tubing will have to be replaced to ensure the structural integrity of the radar assembly. The paint used on the radar assembly should be tested to determine whether it contains lead and if so precautions concerning removal and disposal should be taken.

Primary Aluminum Support: There is extensive corrosion in some areas and in some instances such as the interior bulkheads the metal has been eaten away. Exfoliating corrosion was noted where some of the aluminum pieces are riveted together and galvanic corrosion was noted where steel elements were in contact with aluminum elements. Some damage resulted from disassembly prior to relocation to the Cheatham Annex.

An example of exfoliation corrosion and loss on the bottom box bean of the aluminum support frame. Note also riveted construction.

Radar Screen: Minor corrosion was noted. The frame was cut apart near the corners and will require considerable repair and reassembly. One of steel pivots on one of the vertical elements has been cut away. Most of the wire that served as the antenna is missing. Previous repairs were also noted to the square frame. These repairs are made with aluminum angle stock and “pop-rivets.”

Detail of the girder construction for the antenna and the cut-away pivot pin.
These are two ends of the vertical girders for the radar antenna. The horizontal girders were cut away from the vertical girders. As a result the ends of the horizontal pieces will have to be reconstructed. The ends of the vertical girders will have to have the rivets drilled out so that the reconstructed horizontal girders can be properly attached. There are also a number of inappropriate repairs to the girders that should be un-done.

What is left of the aluminum wiring and ceramic insulators that were strung from the girders of the antenna assembly. Additional wire and ceramic insulators are required to complete the restoration.