This note is a description of the project to replicate the pot rack, cutting boards, towel rack, trash bin, shelf battens, oven shelves, and pots in the galley of USS Pampanito. It is also thank you note to the individuals and corporations that made it possible.
The pot rack is mounted under the fume hood above the range in the galley of the submarine. In any normal kitchen this would be the last place anyone would store pots, i.e. where all the grease and fumes rise off the range. However, on a submarine there was literally nowhere else to store the pots.
The pot rack was missing from Pampanito when opened as a museum in 1981, however three of the hanging brackets from WW II were still in place. We researched photos from other US submarine museums, drawings from microfilm, and mounting holes in the hood. No photos from Pampanito have been found of galley.
In the process of researching the pot rack, we realized that the Hobart A120 mixer should have been next to the coffee urn, and the proper size and shape of the galley's missing cutting boards. We were also missing the shelves to the pie rack and did not have any garbage pail. Then we replaced the missing shelf battens, towel rack, rinsing pan and dish drying rack. We saw that we had two ill-fitting modern oven shelves and were missing one. Finally we also learned that we were displaying the wrong pots and pans.
REPLICATION:
Even though pot rack has pretty simple geometry, we started by creating a 3 dimensional model of the parts in Autodesk Inventor CAD software. The software was then able to calculate the correct bend radius adjustments and length of the uncut rod stock. We used a Hossfeld Bender and Lincoln TIG welder at Techshop to bend the rods and weld them. To match the drawings we had the pot rack and hanger hot dip galvanized at Pacific Galvanizing. Finally, it was powder coated it white (Cardinal Industrial Finishes) to match the other galvanized and painted steel parts in the galley.
With generous help from John Boos & Company the proper size, shape and material cutting boards were replaced.
Thanks to Nash Metalware Co. Inc. we have the big and small kettles on the range. The original pots were custom made to be half the width of the range and the full depth to maximize the volume of food that can be cooked on the rectangular range. The donated full sized kettle was probably made in the 1950s for a newer style, slightly wider submarine range.
Thanks to Bundy, Chicago Metallic we have a strapped 3 bread pan to go in the pot rack. Its dimensions are slightly different, but its construction with folded ends and spot welding could be identical to WW II. These are still in production for commercial bakeries.
We found the drawings for the shelves to put in the original pie rack and replicated them. Of course the drawings from 1943 of the rack where off from what they actually built so the shelves were adjusted to match the actual pie rack. Note that there are nine shelves, enough for 72 slices of pie to be stored after baking overnight. This would have been enough in the beginning of the war, but the crew size grew as more equipment was added to the boat. The probably had to store the extra pies in the officers pantry. Thanks to Focus Foodservice, LLC and Restaurant Equipment Professionals, Inc. we have the pie pans to fit in the rack.
We located drawings of the garbage pail. After accurate replication this came out to 24 lbs. of steel. Note the drawing indicate they had four of these. We think they kept the other three under the scullery until there was a safe moment to go topside and dispose of the trash. We installed the burlap bag (thanks to Graffeo Coffee) because the drawing labeled the hooks for a burlap bag. The can loads upright with a line through the handles straight up thru the 24" crew's mess hatch.
The shelf battens and batten flange on the aft shelf were straightforward to replicate. The shelf batten over the sink was curious because the holes for the flanges where offset from the front of the shelf. There was also a bracket for an ash receiver that would cause a interference. We offset the batten to fit.
The holes for the towel rack over over the scullery matched one of the WW II drawings with round bases. We matched the galvanized steel 1943 version of the dish drying rack. The brass bars that are part of an improvised fuse checker built into the crews mess water heater control panel were removed sometime during the 1990s. We created replicas to replace them. We found handles to fit the scullery sink.
While researching other details we found reference to the kettle holders in the WW II drawings, a quick check found the holes above the range and then we found photos from the 1980s with these in place. We have no idea why these where removed and we cannot find the originals. So we replicated them based on the photos, the holes in the bulkhead, paint pattern on bulkhead, and details matching the drawing. They fit perfectly with the handles on the kettle donated by Nash.
We bought an extra 1943 version of the Cookbook of the United States Navy and put it on display (there is another copy in the permanent collection.) The spice cans were bought on eBay. They probably had bigger containers with less printed on them but it is hard to tell from the photos.
Earl Powell replicated the missing cigarette but can. This was called an ash receiver in the WW II drawings. He spun aluminum (instead of steel in the drawing) on custom made mandrels. He made a dozen of the 40 that were probably mounted throughout the boat.
To make this all easy to see we repaired the 120 VDC flourescent lights that were installed at the end of the war. The original interior lampholders and ballasts were removed in the 1960s, we replaced the damaged 1980s ballasts with new ones. We replaced the missing lamp reflector in the light over the individual battery voltage meter. We also have repaired the WW II oven thermostats so both the ovens and ranges are operating for the first time in years (also a lot of cleaning.) We replicated three missing oven shelves from the one original aboard. We opened a stuck check valve in the scullery sink drain and found the correct replacement handles for the faucets. We cleared three holes in the forward, centerline crew's mess table above the 20mm magazine loading frame nuts. Finally, we serviced our Hobart A120 mixer and received the donation of the slicer accessory. We are seeking the other accessories carried during the war.
WHATS NEXT:
So now that we have the pot rack, we need more pots. We have researched the size and type of pots were used during WW II. They are specially built to maximize the use of the small range top and oven. We will want to replicate the baskets that were used to store the plates in the crews' mess benches. We currently have officers fouled anchor china in the galley, we should change this out for the plain white china and handleless coffee mugs used by the crew and move the fancy stuff to the wardroom. Once we move the dishes, will will try to restock the shelves with the canned food, spices and other quick access cooking equipment that should be in the shelves. We are researching the correct type and marking for the mostly #10 cans. We are still looking for a DC (direct current) Model A120 mixer to replace the AC version that is currently aboard (they look and work the same except for the power.) We have the same problem with an AC deep fat fryer, and the one we have is missing its basket and cover. There are some details that are painted Navy grey that where probably white and need to be repainted. There are still some serving items that probably would not have been in the galley. Two of our crew's mess tables are the fold up type, but they are not mounted to bulkhead in a way that will fold up. The trays over the mess tables are missing.
After a busy year of restoration, we felt the need to "test" the ovens. The staff, volunteers, donors, and some very lucky visitors all enjoyed some submarine apple pie.
We appreciate the advice, help, and donations from individuals and companies that made this project possible:
ADVICE AND HELP:
Volunteers and Staff of USS Pampanito, https://maritime.org/sub
The "dream consultants" and class instructors of TechShop, http://techshop.ws
Ralph Waller, Joe Waller
Earl Powell
Excerpt that shows the pot rack from the WW II microfilm.
Photo of the galley aboard USS Bowfin, a similar submarine during WW II.
The pot rack after bending, welding and galvanizing.
Mounted aboard USS Pampanito.
From the same drawing, U3 Cutting Boards 27" x 16" x 1 1/2" Maple.
Excerpt from drawing showing correct mixer position. A later version of this drawing shows an updated counter that is wide enough so the mixer feet do not stick out. Pampanito did not get this modification.
Drawing missing pie pan shelf.
Photo of the pie rack with the replicated shelves and pie tins installed.
Drawing of the 24 pound trash bin.
Photo of the replica trash bin.
Photo taken on Pampanito in the 1980s before a barbarian removed the kettle holders.
Drawing of the missing kettle holder, note that ours as shown in the photo above are a slightly simpler shape.
The replica kettle holders matching the photos mounted in the original holes.
Drawing of a towel rack showing material.
Another drawing shows the round flanges and single long bar construction that matched the paint and holes on the boat.
Drawing of dish rinsing pan. The tapered sides match the walls of the sink.
The replica rinsing pan installed in the sink. Post war the scullery sinks were often replaced with a split sink (dirty and rinse) eliminating these pans. Pampanito never had this modification.
The scullery sink with replacement (new old stock) handles. They very closely match the original handles in the galley (12 spline, 1/2"). We store them in the galley when not in use to keep visitors from operating the sink.
Three replica oven shelves that match the one original we had from WW II. 16-3/4" x 16-3/4", 5/16" wire on edges and twelve 3/16" cross pieces, about 3.5 lbs each.
Drawing of missing ash receiver, i.e. cigarette but can.
Cigarette but can installed on the original flange.
1943 drawing of missing dish drying rack, and mesh basket.
Photo of scullery with replica towel rack, rinsing pan, dish drying rack, fuse test bars, and replacement drinking fountain.
Cutting boards, pot rack, triple bread pan, kettles, pots, pie rack shelves, trash bin, shelf battens installed and the mixer moved in 2012.
Note that the plates, glassware, mixer, coffee urn, pail, deep fryer, toaster, can opener, serving pieces, muffin tins, drinking fountain are all replacement items that came from WW II ships, mostly from those in the Susuin Bay Reserve Fleet. Some of the dishware is on loan from the USN. The plates, etc. will eventually all move into the correct stowage position in the lockers under the seating the crew's mess.
