From the Field

Bob's Desk

Field notes and photographs from a career spent in Canada’s offshore, marine, and defence industries.

Marion 8050 dragline excavator Athabasca oil sands Fort McMurray Alberta 1980

Heavy Equipment Circa 1980

The Dragline at Athabasca — Oil Sands, Alberta

Fort McMurray, Alberta

Walking dragline excavator pontoon shoes base plate Athabasca oil sands Alberta 1980

Heavy Equipment Circa 1980

How a Dragline Walks

Fort McMurray, Alberta

Ocean Ranger semi-submersible drilling rig at Bay Bulls Newfoundland before assembly 1980

Offshore Oil Circa 1980

Ocean Ranger — Bay Bulls, Newfoundland

Bay Bulls, Newfoundland

W.J. Keating naval ship-to-ship transfer block swivel hook trunnion ears brass plate 1960s

Marine Hardware Circa 1960s

W.J. Keating Ship-to-Ship Transfer Blocks

W.J. Keating Tufnol block tackle naval marine supply Canada 1960s

Marine Hardware Circa 1960s

W.J. Keating Blocks — Still in the Catalog

Coming Soon April 2026

Heavy Equipment

The Pit Wall — Reading the Geology

Fort McMurray, Alberta

Coming Soon July 2026

Heavy Equipment

Overburden — What Gets Moved to Get at the Oil

Fort McMurray, Alberta