- A few years ago I began constructing a mobile workshop on a 1962 International Cab Over 1600 truck. That project stalled for numerous reasons, most particularly an illness in the family. Two other reasons were that - my fabricator went out of business and we never finished constructing the gates on the stake-bed and then I broke the transmission and could no longer practically operate the truck on the roadways. What sense is there in paying the costs of maintaining the truck on the roadway with a broken transmission? It works, but reverse is real bad and I have no first gear. I have not yet been able to find a T-15 Transmission, or even parts. If anybody has one let me know.
- My goal with the mobile workshop was to essentially construct a little barn on wheels. I do mean a barn. For some reason I want my workshop to look like an old barn. At one time I was concerned about the weight of the vehicle, but I'm not going to let that be an issue. I now intend to construct the doors out of wood instead of steel.
- I am designing the building to be modular, so that it can be removed from the truck in pieces.
- Part of the functionality that I have considered for this truck is to have it serve as a mobile stage, although I am not certain that I need to do this.
- I have concluded that if I want to use it as a dumping stake-bed for construction purposes, as it pertains to the IMS Studio Compound / Spiritual Retreat (see the Theatrical Development Centre), or a stage, etc. , then I can convert it for that use by removing the workshop building from the truck.
- The truck has a crane arm on it, but I have not gotten that working yet. The crane is a European Design that nobody seems to know anything about and I've wanted to find more information about the operating systems, before attempting to rebuild it. I do have some of the replacement parts, but I need a manifold which can be operated remotely from the ground. So far I have not had the need to finish the crane arm and my focus of attention is on the creative aspects of "The Gnomes of New Hope"
- The crane arm needs to have outriggers built into the chassis of the truck to prevent twisting the frame. My thinking with the crane-arm has been to use it for moving sets and such.
- At one time I maintained a recycling yard for set construction supplies and I killed my smaller truck numerous times hauling materials. This was one very big reason that I constructed this truck. It has always been my intention to reestablish the recycling yard as a member supported facility for area theatres to access supplies at a reduced cost.
- I also had the idea that I might like to make a camera adapter for this crane and to use if for camera work. It would go nearly thirty feet in the air, but it would be pretty tricky learning how to operate it smoothly for camera work. That probably will never get done, but I guess we'll see.
- Well, I decided to start working on my mobile workshop again and so I am going to post images here on this project as a way to kick myself in the butt and get it done.
- One very good reason to do this is the advancement of activities at Tamanend Park and the Shakespeareans. It is ironic that I had envisioned my supplies and equipment being used for remote productions on-the-road... and here I am, developing theatre two miles away from where I live. The surprising thing is that all the supplies that I have gathered over the years are directly applicable to this situation. Go figure.
- My anticipation was to establish the ability to tour with productions as a freelancer, which I spent decades doing as a technical director and theatre technician... and then I realized that I don't want to do that anymore.
- So, as you can see from other postings and from The Shakespearean Journal, I have been focusing on building a stage and a troupe of players here is Southampton, Pennsylvania. Admittedly this is rather self-serving. Mostly because I just don't feel like traveling around trying to dig up work on a continuing basis. If you are not an itinerant thespian then you don't realize that this is what the life of a theatre artist is (unless of course you are gainfully employed in a full time position in a regional not-for-profit or a school of some sort). Been there, done that.
- So as it turns out, if we manage to gather a dependable group of performers who want to tour material, we are almost there with a mobile workshop/hauling vehicle, an RV and (if it becomes necessary) a 35 foot antique house trailer which can serve numerous needs (dressing rooms, bathroom, shower, kitchen, sleeping quarters and an office). It would take a serious project (with some bucks attached) to pull that unit out on the road though.
- Well, I thought I'd post something on this subject in the way of getting me moving on completing the mobile workshop and at the same time letting you know about the resources we have available to us as we build The Shakespeareans of Tamanend Park.
- Look for pictures to appear here. I have a collection showing it's progress from a hulk to an operable vehicle. I think that would be interesting, so I'll post them here in the future. (I used to have a nice web page on this project, until AOL closed down Hometown. I'll try to convert that web site over to here.) AG
