STEERAGE BERTHS
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Nickels at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th June 1882.
ALFRED NICKELS, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster
IN SHIPS STEERAGE BERTHS"
"IMPROVEMENTS
My Invention relates to an arrangement of portable steerage berths, particularly
applicable for use on emigrant ships and transports.
According to my Invention I construct a group, or nest of berths thus: I erect
between the ships decks at a suitable distance from the ships side a series of
staunchions, preferably in groups of three, each staunchion being about six feet
apart and each group about two feet from the next group. Between these
staunchions and the ships side, I provide runners, which answer as head and foot
boards to the berths. These runners are supported by sockets on the staunchions
and on the ships side into which the runners slide. The upper and lower tiers of
berths being positioned at suitable heights between the decks and contained by
the framework formed by the runners being the foot and head boards and by lee
or side boards extending from staunchion to staunchion. The bottom of the berths
is composed of a continuous canvas cloth, which extends from the staunchions to
the side of the ship and is supported by bearers which pass through pockets in
the under side of the canvas and take into sockets on the staunchions and on the
bearers being the foot and head boards, by which the bearers are supported. The
divisions which separate the berths are formed of loose boards which ship into the
same sockets which carry the bearers. The outside bearers are preferably of
larger section to the intermediate bearers, so as to stand the increased strain which
they have to bear.
A convenient arrangement of my Invention consists of a double group of berths
end to end supported by three staunchions, the central runner, or foot, or head
board being common to both berths. The group may be a double group of five
upper and five lower berths of about six feet six by two feet each berth separated
by the division boards, or single groups with entry at either end may be used.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alfred Nickels in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th December 1882.
ALFRED NICKELS, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster
IN SHIPS STEERAGE' BERTHS"
"
IMPROVEMENTS
My Invention relates to an arrangement of portable, or stowable steerage berths,
particularly applicable for use on board emigrant ships and transport, or troop
ships and the following is a description of my Invention in sufficient full, clear
and distinct language as to enable any skilled person to put the same into practice
reference being had to the annexed two sheets of Drawings and to the letters and
figures of reference marked thereon, like letters being used to denote the same, or
corresponding parts throughout the various figures

page_text: The
one berth, one selvage passing round one bearer, between the staunchions, or on
the ships side. The width of the canvas passing over and round the next division
bearer, the other selvage being then stitched to the underside of the canvas.
selvage of the canvas P of the next berth is stitched to the canvas of the first
berth so that the double canvas comes over the bearer and between the bearer and
the division board. The other selvage passing round the next bearer and being
stitched to the underside of the canvas P as before and in like manner throughout
the group, the bearers passing through the pockets thus formed in the underside of
the canvas. The ends of the bearers N are tapered off so as to ship easily into the
sockets H. The side, or lee boards L shipping easily into the same sockets above
the bearers. The outside bearers are preferably of larger section to the inter-
mediate bearer so as to stand the extreme tension they have to bear, When the
berths M are not required to be divided it is only necessary to remove the inner
side, or division boards L. The canvas bottom P can be reversed so that it is
suspended from the bearers N as shown at Figure 3ª instead of resting on the
bearers. The bearers then form lee boards and if wished the division boards L
can be shipped over the bearers and form a deeper berth. The side, or lee boards
between the staunchions are preferably deeper than the intermediate side, or
division boards.
The berths may be fixed clear and independent of the vessels side where required
by doubling the number of staunchions D and side boards L
The Drawings show a convenient arrangement of grouping the berths.
The advantages arising from the before described description of berths may be
thus summarized. Dispatch in fixing and removing, durability the canvas being
in few pieces, When resting on the bearers as shown at Figure 3ª married couples
and family berths can be formed by removing the lee boards. Either wood, or
metal can be used with the canvas in the construction of the berths: All the parts
are capable of being readily stowed over head between the beams of the ship.
In conclusion, I would state that I am aware that berths having canvas bottoms
and grouped in similar manner to the berths described in this Specification and
shown in the Drawings have been largely in use for some years prior to the date
of my Patent and I lay no claim to this general construction, but what I claim as
my Invention and secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent is:
The particular arrangement and construction of berths herein described consisting
of the attachment, or means of connecting and supporting the staunchions foot and
head boards, the side, or connecting boards and the canvas bottom substantially as
herein set forth and shown in the Drawings hereto annexed.
In Witness whereof, I the said Alfred Nickels have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twenty fourth day of November in the year of our Lord,
one thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
ALFRED (L.S.) NICKELS