Improvements in the Attachments or Parts of Oars, Sculls, or Sweeps.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 30th Aug., 1887
Complete Accepted, 30th Sept., 1887
Improvements in the Attachments or Parts of Oars, Sculls,
or Sweeps.
I GEORGE WILLIAM GREEN of 26 Hunters Lane, Aston in the county of Stafford
Mechanic do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
This invention relates to the parts of oars known as the rowlock bands or " leathers"
and to the manner and material in and of which they are made and to the mode of
attaching such parts to the oar &c. handle or loom.
The present method adopted is to make these bands of ordinary tanned leather, and
nail them on to the handle or loom of the oar, and then to secure the rowlock button
by means of driving two or more large nails through it into the said handle, this
however is very objectionable as it weakens the handle and is clumsy.
In my invention however I form the button of the rowlock band of a suitable
number of thicknesses of leather or hide, or in some instances of wood, but instead of
nailing it on to the band and the handle, I firmly sew or rivet it to the said leather
band, before the band is fixed upon the handle.
This method of fixing the button to the band by sewing or rivetting independent
of the handle, may be applied to the leathers which are fixed upon the handle in the
present manner.
My improvements consist further in fixing the leather band to which the button is
sewn, upon the handle.
The leather band is provided with a number of lacing holes, which are preferably
eyeleted, along the two edges which come together forming the joint, and by which
with a strong lace they may be secured upon the handle at any desired point. When
about to fix these leather bands in their places, the said bands would be well soaked in
water, so that they may stretch considerably, then they are laced upon the handle, and
as they become more or less dry, they shrink and become firmly attached to the said
handle.
Another modification of fixing the leather band to which the button is sewn or
rivetted is :-The leather would be sewn into a band form, and of such a size that by
soaking it well, it may be passed down the handle into position, and then as it becomes
dry, it would shrink, and become firmly fixed in position.

page_text: Again, in some instances I should provide two or more buckles and straps,
(generally three) upon these bands whereby, preferably when soaked they may be
firmly buckled to the handle, when as the leather becomes dry, they would bind the
handle still more tightly.
In some instances to prevent any possibility of slipping I may drive a small
noncorrosive tack (about inch long) through the leather into the handle, as such
tack or nail would not at all weaken the handle.
Again, I find that by making these rowlock bands, whether of the ordinary kind, or
of the improved kinds already mentioned, out of raw hide, or untanned leather, a
decided improvement is obtained, over those made of tanned leather, as it wears much
longer, and is produced much cheaper, also having a greater capacity for stretching
when being soaked, and shrinking when drying.
These my improved rowlock bands and buttons, and the improved method of fixing
them afford means of readily changing their position upon the handle or loom of the
oar,
to suit different widths of boats.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Attachments or Parts of Oars, Sculls,
or Sweeps.
1 GEORGE WILLIAM GREEN of 26 Hunters Lane, Aston, in the county of Stafford,
Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
39
This invention relates to the parts of oars known as the rowlock bands or "leathers,'
and to the manner and material, in and of which they are made, and to the mode of
attaching such parts to the oar &c. handle or loom.
The present method adopted is to make these bands of ordinary tanned leather, and
nail them on to the handle or loom of the oar, and then to secure the rowlock button,
by means of two or more nails being driven through it into the said handle; this
however is very objectionable as it weakens the handle and is clumsy.
In my invention however I form the button of the rowlock band of a suitable
number of thicknesses of leather or hide, or, in some instances of wood, but instead of

page_text: nailing it on to the band and the handle, I firmly sew or rivet it to the said leather
band before the band is fixed upon or attached to the handle.
This method of fixing the button to the band by sewing or rivetting, or both
combined, independent of the handle, may be applied to the leathers which are fixed
upon the handle in the present method.
My improvements consists further in fixing the leather band to which the button is
sewn upon the handle.
In some instances the leather band is provided with a number of lacing holes, which
are preferably eyeletted along the two edges which come together forming the joint,
and by which with a strong lace they may be secured to the handle at any desired
point. When about to fix these leather bands in their places, they would be well
soaked in water, so that they may stretch considerably, then laced upon the handle,
and as they afterwards became more or less dry, they shrink, and become firmly
attached to the said handle.
Another modification of fixing the leather to which the button is first sewn or
rivetted is the leather would be sewn into a band form, and of such a size, that by
soaking it well, it may be passed down the handle into position, and then as it becomes
dry, it would shrink and become firmly fixed in position.
Again, in some instances I should provide two or more buckles and straps (generally
three upon these bands, whereby (preferably when soaked) they may be firmly
buckled to the handle, when again as the leather becomes dry, they would shrink and
bind the handle still more tightly.
In some instances to prevent any possibility of slipping I may drive a small
noncorrosive tack (say about one quarter of an inch long) through the leather into
the handle. Such a tack or nail would not weaken the handle. Again, I find that by
making these rowlock bands, whether of the ordinary kind, or of the improved kinds
already mentioned, of raw hide, or untanned leather, a decided improvement is obtained
over those made of tanned leather as it wears much longer, and is produced much
cheaper, and also having a greater capacity for stretching when soaked, and shrinking
when again drying, a quality peculiarly useful for such purposes.
These my improved rowlock bands, and buttons, and the improved method or methods
of fixing them, afford means of readily changing them, or of changing their position
upon the handle or loom of the oar to suit different width of boats &c.
In order to describe the manner in which this my invention is carried out, more
clear, I have appended hereunto an illustrative sheet of drawings upon which are
figures and letters of reference, like letters referring throughout the several views to
the same thing or part.
Figs. 1, 2 & 3, are respectively, elevation, side elevation, and plan of rowlock band
and button constructed according to this my invention, wherein a is the band shewn as
laced upon the handle b (in section). is the button, which as will be seen is made up
of layers of leather and sewn to the band similarly as shewn at d. Instead of, or in
addition to the sewing at d, I may provide a rivet or rivets which
e,
pass through the
button and the band and at each end are rivetted thus further binding the button to
the band. At ; &c, I provide eyeletted holes by which with a leather or other
suitable lace 9: T may lace the said band to the handle d.
Figs. 45, are respectively elevation and plan shewing modified form of button h,
consisting of parallel strips or layers of leather, and sewn to the band a but having
no rivets.
In either of these cases, that is, in Figs. 1, 2 & 3, or of Figs. 4 & 5, I may substitute
for the leather &c. lace, a wire threading copper wire being the most suitable on
account of its ductility.
Figs. 6, 7, & S shew respectively an elevation, side elevation, and plan of a further
modification of band i. Instead of lacing it on to the handle b, I may sew the edges
of the said band together as seen at j, Figs. 7 & 8, and of such a size, that when soaked
and expanded it shall be easily passed into its position upon the handle, but shall then
dry and shrink firmly thereto. The button c, is shewn as similar to that in Fig. 1.
Figs. 9 & 10, shew an elevation and plan of a further modification of this my

page_text: invention. In this case I may sew the band together similarly to that of Figs. 6, 7 & 8,
or as sewn in lacing fashion as shewn, but the modification consists chiefly in the
forming of the button k. After having sewn the band I provide a long strip of leather
and sew one end say at 1, to the said band for some little distance around, and then
continue to wind the said strip around as shewn until it has assumed the desired size.
At intervals in such winding I should prefer to stitch it to the proceeding winding or
I may drive a small tack through into such previous winding. When the winding is
complete, I should firmly sew the end m, to the last wind which would complete
the button.
Again, in Figs. 11 & 12, a modification of the fastening of the band n, is shown in
which I use straps and buckles o & o. The button e, being similar to those already
described, I provide upon one edge of the band a buckle and upon the other edge
a strap.
Such buckles may have a prong p, engaging with holes in the strap, or I may use
buckles now in common use which have a gripping action without such prong or holes
and which consequently will engage or bind at any point of the strap such buckles and
straps being shewn at o.
In cases where I use rivets instead of or in addition to sewing, to secure the buttons
to the bands I should in most cases prefer to provide a double washer on one or both
sides, that is a washer of metal having in two holes at a suitable distance through
which the rivets may pass before being rivetted up. Such rivets would afford a much
better support to the said button.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1st. The improvements in the attachments or parts of oars, sculls or sweeps,
substantially as herein described and illustrated upon the drawings in Figs. 1 to 12
inclusive, that is to say,The securing of the button to the rowlock band by sewing,
or by rivetting, or by both combined.
2nd. The attachment of the combined rowlock band and button to the handles of
oars &c., by means of lacing, see Figs. 2, or by sewing, see Figs. 7 & 9, or by buckles
& straps, see Figs. 11 & 12. substantially as set forth.
3rd. The construction of rowlock bands for oars &c., of raw hide, or untanned
leather, as herein set forth.
Dated this 26th day of August 1887.
GEORGE WILLIAM GREEN.