Some old glass slides courtesy of the Hudson River Maritime Museum, provide us with some new images of ice boating/ice motoring in the early 1900s. I'm still gathering more information on these, which were described as being acquired from "a reject pile at a house auction in the 1960s. " Thank goodness for collectors/pack rats!
These were noted as being from a Livingston estate, likely Charles Victor Livingston who lived in Ulster County, in a TuscanVilla-styled house on the shore, just south of where the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge now crosses. Ricky Aldrich, who knew Victor noted that he built both the ice yacht Rip Van Winkle and the 2 motorized ice yachts. Victor gave the Rip and another iceboat he built, Spider, to Ricky's father, in the 30s.
These first two are truly unique - a motorized ice yacht. This is a one of a kind creation, likely circa 1910? George Buckhout was experimenting with a motorized ice boat around that time. Who knows if this ever had a chance to speed down the ice on the Hudson. Those seats sure look comfortable!
All images are Courtesy of Hudson River Maritime Museum HRMM
Clearly 2 different versions, Both bow steering; Note the skeg that protects the front runner in first image.
Rip Van Winkle is part of the Rokeby collection in Barrytown. It last sailed in March of 2014 off of Rokeby. Early pictures of the Rip, and other Rokeby ice boats were subject of a previous post, Ice Yachts off Astor Point
The Livingston slides collection has several earlier images of Rip.
Ice Yachts Prima, Rip Van Winkle, unknown. early 1900s
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