The Sleeve Inscription:
Commissioned in 1920, the USS S-1 (SS-105) was the lead boat of the United States Navy\'s famous \"Sugar\" class of coastal and fleet submarines that formed the backbone of the American interwar submarine service. Known for experimental aviation trials (carrying a collapsible Curtiss seaplane in a tank aft of the conning tower) and intensive fleet maneuvers out of New London and Boston, the S-boats carried a heavy fixed 4-inch/50-caliber Mark 9 wet-mount deck gun on their forward superstructure designed to engage surface merchantmen and escorts.
Captured looking directly down and forward from the submarine\'s conning tower bridge by Boston Herald-Traveler staff photojournalist Leslie Jones:
The 4\"/50 Deck Gun & Deck Grate: A commanding perspective centered on the heavy steel naval rifle, conical pedestal mount, training wheel gear, counterweights, and waterproof muzzle cover, set against the slotted wooden free-flooding deck casing. A mounted ship\'s life ring stenciled \"S-1\" rests on the mount railing.
The Assembled Ship\'s Company: Over thirty submariners and naval officers in service dress blues and peaked combination caps stand in tight inspection formation across the curved bow forward of the gun, with the American flag flying from the jackstaff.
Charlestown Navy Yard Setting: The submarine is moored alongside the stone and timber quay wall with gangways, high-pressure air and power hoses running from the wharf, and the brick shop buildings of the Charlestown Navy Yard visible across the water basin.
Specifications:Format: Heavy antique silver gelatin 4x5 glass plate negative, exposed directly in a press camera, circa 1920s.
Archive Ephemera Included: Accompanied by the original vintage tan kraft darkroom morgue filing envelope.
Please Note: This listing is for the original antique glass plate negative and its period paper archive sleeve only. Any positive photographic images shown in this listing are modern inverted digital scans provided solely as a visual representation to show what finished photographs print like. No physical paper photograph, modern print, or paper product of any kind is included with this purchase.
Condition:Very Good to Excellent antique condition. Heavy glass plate is structurally sound with no cracks, fractures, or perimeter glass breaks. The silver gelatin emulsion is remarkably clean, sharp, and stable throughout, capturing pinpoint clarity across the deck grate, gun mechanics, and naval uniform insignia. Displays only minor authentic edge silvering and faint handling wear strictly along the extreme outer borders outside the primary image area. Accompanied by the original period kraft morgue filing sleeve.
The glass plate negative measures 4 x 5In.
If you collect glass negatives, please check out our collection in our store. We are currently listing thousands of original glass photo negatives from this DJD collection through the remainder of the year. Follow our store, and feel free to reach out about any questions about the negatives in this collection.
Ships with extreme care in archival materials to ensure safe transit. Feel free to reach out with any requests or questions).
Combined shipping is available (with other glass negatives)
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![1920s US Navy Sub USS S-1 4\](parts-images-large/g/nF4AAeSwC05quDN-/s-l1600/1920s-US-Navy-Sub-USS-S-1-4-Deck-Gun-Crew-Boston-N.jpg "1920s US Navy Sub USS S-1 4\")