Substitute materials. Timber connectors. Constructed of wood reinforced with timber connectors, this 166 foot wide clear span mold loft building has been duplicated many times in shipyards on the Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. The unobstructed floor of a mold loft is a giant drawing board. The many parts of merchant ships, such as plates, ribs, and bulk-heads are drawn on the floor in full size. From these drawings templates are made and from the templates the actual parts are fabricated. Sourced from the Library of Congress.