IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LOWER MASTS OF SHIPS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Brown, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Mast Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE LOWER MASTS OF SHIPS."
Sealed the 28th April 1857, and dated the 29th November 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Brown at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th November 1856.
J, JOHN BROWN, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Mast Maker,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE LOWER MASTS OF SHIPS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in combining wood and metal together in the
construction of the lower masts of ships, and is designed for obviating the
objections attending masts, made either of wood or metal separately. It is well
known to nautical men that wooden masts are subject to decay about the
"head" thereof down to the "hounds," and the "truss hoop" in consequence
of lodgements of moisture at such parts, induced by the "cap," the ":
" rigging,"
and the "round top."
It is also well known that iron masts are practically objectionable on account
of their rigidity, and the impossibility of cutting them away to save a ship on
a lee shore.
The means by which these improvements may be effected so as to obviato

page_text: the above objections are as follows:-I make the top of the mast from the
" cap "to the "truss hoop" in the form of a tube of wrought iron, similar to
an ordinary iron mast, from thence the metal is continued, proceeds downwards
in the form of four taper arms or strips of metal of equal width, each of such
said strips being one-fourth of the circumference of the tube from whence such
said strips of metal commence, and form part of such said tube; said strips
being of equal length to the tube, and terminating each in a point at the
bottom. The other and lower part of the mast is entirely of wood, and the
upper part thereof is fitted into the aforesaid tube as far as the "hounds,"
where it abuts against a strong iron cross plate formed in such said tube. The
above-mentioned taper arms fit closely to the wooden portion of the mast, to
which it is securely fixed by strong iron hoops or other convenient means. By
thus constructing the lower masts of ships I obviate the objections attending
masts as heretofore constructed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th May 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOON
BROWN, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Mast Maker, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Brown, Her special licence that I, the said John Brown,
my exccutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
John Brown, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LOWER MASTS OP SHIPS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Brown, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause

page_text: the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Brown, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists in combining wood and metal together in the
construction of the lower masts of ships, and is designed for obviating the.
objections attending masts made either of wood or metal separately. It is well
known to nautical men that wooden masts, as heretofore constructed, are
subject to decay about the "head" thereof down to the "hounds," and the
"truss hoop," in consequence of lodgements of moisture at such parts, induced
by the "cap," the "rigging," and the "round top." It is also well known that
iron masts aro practically objectionable on account of their rigidity, and the.
difficulty of cutting them away to save a ship when on a lee shore. The
means by which I propose to effect these improvements so as to obviate the
above objections are as follows:-I make the top of the mast from the "cap
to the "truss hoop" in the form of a tube, of wrought iron, similar to an
ordinary iron mast; from thence the metal is continued downwards in the form
of four taper arms or strips of metal of equal width; each of such said strips
being one-fourth of the circumference of the tube from whence such said strips
of metal commence, and form part of such said tube; said strips are formed of
equal length to the tube, and terminate each in a point at the bottom. The
other and lower part of the mast is entirely of wood, and the upper part thereof
is fitted into the aforesaid tube as far as the hounds, where it abuts against a
strong iron cross plate formed in such said tube. The above-mentioned taper
arms fit closely to the wooden portion of the mast, to which they are securely
fixed by strong iron hoops, or other convenient means.
In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now.
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same
into practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative Drawing hereunto
annexed, and to the numeral figures and letters of reference marked thereon

page_text: before the metal head at Figure 1 is attached thereto; Figure 5 is a transverse
and vertical section of the lower part or arms of the aforesaid metal head with
cross plates and shackles for rigging attached thereto, and the wooden mast
inserted thereinto; Figure 6 is an enlarged drawing of cross plates and
shackles, the centre cross plate passing through the tube or upper portion of
the metal head; Figure 7 exhibits the mast as completed with top and topmast.
At each of the foregoing Figures I employ similar letters of reference to denote
corresponding parts in so far as such parts appear or can be seen at each of
such said Figures respectively.
At. Figures 4, 5, 7, A is the upper portion of a wooden mast, shaped
so as to fit into the metal casting or head B of the mast, shown at Figures 1,
2, 5, and 7. The upper part B' of this casting is formed hollow, and of a
rectangular or cylindrical or any other shape, and the upper part C receives
the topmast, which is of the ordinary kind. It will be perceived upon
referring to Figure 2, that the lower part of the metal head B is formed
with arms b, b, over which the wrought-iron hoops D, D, pass, and when driven
tight thereon serve to connect the metal head securely to the wooden part of
tho mast, as exhibited; E, E' are the cross plates for the lower rigging. The
centre cross plate E¹ passes through a hole in the upper part B' of the metal
head B. I do not however restrict myself to the use of these particular forms
of shackles and cross plates, as the same may be varied, or the old modes of
fastening rigging be used.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of my said
Invention of "Improvements in the construction of the lower masts of ships,
together with the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into
practical effect, I would remark, in conclusion, that I hereby declare my
Invention to consist in and I claim the combining of wood and metal together
in the construction of the lower masts of ships, as above particularly described,
and represented by the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Brown, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
JOHN SMITH,
Agent for Patents,
83, Dale St., Liverpool.
JOHN BROWN. (L.S.)