Owen J. Carney is a retired state worker from New Jersey who has a unique history with the Salt Hay Rope Making machine, a piece of equipment that is now in the possession of the Bayshore Center at Bivalve. Carney's family history is deeply intertwined with the machine. His father worked for a cast iron pipe company in Camden, NJ, where salt hay rope was used in the making of cast iron pipes. After leaving the company, his father obtained one of the machines and brought it to his property in Port Norris. Owen learned how to operate the machine from his father and made rope part-time after he retired from his job with the State of New Jersey. He also had the opportunity to demonstrate the salt hay rope making process at the Smithsonian Institute Folklife Festival held in Washington DC in the mid-1980s. Carney's knowledge of the machine and its operation is extensive. He describes the machine's workings in detail, explaining how every moving piece worked to make rope. He also shares how the machine's speed and the speed of the spool were not the same, which was a crucial aspect of the rope-making process. In addition to his work with the Salt Hay Rope Making machine, Carney has a rich personal history. He graduated from high school in 1938 and began learning to make rope with his father. Despite the challenges of learning to operate the machine, Carney persevered and eventually mastered the craft. His dedication to preserving this unique piece of history is evident in his donation of the machine to the Bayshore Center at Bivalve. 

Scope and Content Note
Owen Carney began telling his family story of how they became involved with the Salt Hay Rope Making machine now currently in the possession of the Bayshore Center at Bivalve.  Most of his story is describing how the machine looked and how every moving piece worked to make rope.  He describes how his father worked for a cast iron pipe company in Camden, New Jersey, and how salt hay rope was used in the making of cast iron pipes.  Owen explains how, after his father left the company, he obtained one of those machines and brought it down to his property in Port Norris.  Owen also learned from his dad how to operate the equipment and made rope part-time after he retired from his job with the State of New Jersey.  Mr. Carney also shares his story of going to Washington DC in the mid 80’s to demonstrate the salt hay rope-making process at the Smithsonian Institute Folklife Festival held on the mall, where he demonstrated making rope on his machine.  He was very proud to be a participant in the festival.