JFKs coconut paper weight

[LtPinkerton]

After JFKs boat was rammed and destroyed by a Japanese ship during WW2, JFK was shipwrecked.

Eventually he carved a message on to a coconut shell, and gave it to two natives so that they could relay it to a nearby base.

This coconut saved JFKs life, and he used the same coconut as a paper weight on his desk in the Oval Office.

I am trying to find any information on a replica. I would love to display it, as it’s such a fascinating item. However, any information on a replica is all outdated. The ones for sale are no longer available anywhere online.

Would anybody out there somehow know someone who makes these? Any help is appreciated

 

[Riceball]

If all it was was just a coconut shell with a the message carved in it, it should be easy enough to find a coconut, clean out the meat, and then carve the message on the outside. That's assuming pictures of it exist. For something longer lasting with no worries about it going bad, you could probably pull a mold off of a real coconut with the message carved in it and then paint up the casting.

 

[LtPinkerton]

If all it was was just a coconut shell with a the message carved in it, it should be easy enough to find a coconut, clean out the meat, and then carve the message on the outside. That's assuming pictures of it exist. For something longer lasting with no worries about it going bad, you could probably pull a mold off of a real coconut with the message carved in it and then paint up the casting.

Here’s a picture of the actual paper weight. I really don’t think I could replicate that aged look and that writing. Waaaay beyond my skill level.

 

[nick daring]

That'd be a cool project-

INteresting related project here -

Items in my little Oval Office

Resolute Desk : I acquired the Resolute Desk from the online store on the website of John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum at the following site : . But, the Resolte Des…

jfkdeskcanada.com

 

[Apollo]

Cool item to have!

For me, I have geeked out and fawned over the Resolute desk on my many trips to the Oval Office

Always wanted a replica of the Resolute desk, Pics do not do it justice

My neighbor has the Leather high back chair Kennedy used

 

[LtPinkerton]

Cool item to have!

For me, I have geeked out and fawned over the Resolute desk on my many trips to the Oval Office

Always wanted a replica of the Resolute desk, Pics do not do it justice

My neighbor has the Leather high back chair Kennedy used

It looks amazing in pictures, I can not imagine how incredible it looks in person

 

[alensatemybuick]

Boy, he sure had a lot of sh..stuff on that desk!

 

[Wolfsburg]

No coconut but here's the desk to put it on!

MuzeMerch - JFK Presidential Library and Museum Gift Shop

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum Online Store offers a distinctive selection of gift items including prints, posters, clothing and accessories, books, jewelry and more at our giftshop.

store.jfklibrary.org

 

[Apollo]

No coconut but here's the desk to put it on!

MuzeMerch - JFK Presidential Library and Museum Gift Shop

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum Online Store offers a distinctive selection of gift items including prints, posters, clothing and accessories, books, jewelry and more at our giftshop.

store.jfklibrary.org

Yeah that is in the above links already posted.

Actually 3 Companys make the desk, retailing anywhere from 7 to 12 thou...

 

[Riceball]

I think that the simplest way to reproduce it would be to get a real coconut husk, which might be difficult depending on where you live, cast and paint it, then cover it in some resin. While the writing would be tricky, I don't think that it would be something that's impossible to do, just practice copying the writing on a flat surface, then move on top something rounded. Once you're confident that you can reproduce it, you can then move on to an actual coconut husk. Since JFK didn't use the entire husk, you can cut the husk into slivers and practice on them, using which ever one comes out the best.

 

[LtPinkerton]

I think that the simplest way to reproduce it would be to get a real coconut husk, which might be difficult depending on where you live, cast and paint it, then cover it in some resin. While the writing would be tricky, I don't think that it would be something that's impossible to do, just practice copying the writing on a flat surface, then move on top something rounded. Once you're confident that you can reproduce it, you can then move on to an actual coconut husk. Since JFK didn't use the entire husk, you can cut the husk into slivers and practice on them, using which ever one comes out the best.

I think I’ll give it a try. What would you recommend to get that white look on the coconut? I know the actual thing had resin poured over it, but I can’t tell if that’s aging from the coconut or resin.

 

[JPH]

You could always stain the wood if not the color you want.

Also, I would make a template for the writing. Even if you copy a flat image, cut it out if a semi rigid material thrn place it over the coconut. If the 2d to 3d needs fine tuning, atleast you started close to target.

Lots of places sell coconuts as tourist trap keepsakes, I dont remember seeing the color change on coconuts people have owned for years. The resin on the lower half looks scratched up, of maybe milked up from humidity.

Amaz9n Whole Foods sells cocnuts

 

[chibobber]

Looking at the pictures, I am not seeing a whole coconut half. To me it looks like just a section of it with the writing on it. The rest looks like scored up resin. I may be wrong, but that's what I see in the photos. A fragment of the whole. like it is laying in the surf on a beach.

 

[Burchpastor]

The JFK Library now sells replicas...

MuzeMerch - JFK Presidential Library and Museum Gift Shop

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum Online Store offers a distinctive selection of gift items including prints, posters, clothing and accessories, books, jewelry and more at our giftshop.

store.jfklibrary.org

 

[Doh2]

That's a cool collectible! Years ago, I picked up the GI Joe version:

John F. Kennedy (GI joe)

The John F. Kennedy celebrity doll is a GI Joe portraying him as PT 109 Commander in the Navy. Hasbro made the doll in 2000 and even included a replica of his rescue message on a coconut husk.

www.celebritydollmuseum.com