CERTAIN, IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FIDDING AND UNFIDDING MASTS, AND IN MASTING AND RIGGING OF VESSELS
Year: 1830

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PHILIP
CHILWELL DE LA GARDE, of the City of Exeter, Gentleman, send greeting.
.
WHEREAS His late most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth
did,, by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
date at Westminster, the Twenty-seventh day of February, One thousand.
eight hundred and thirty, in the eleventh year of His reign, give and grant
unto me, the said Philip Chilwell de la Garde, His special licence that
I, the said Philip Chilwell de la Garde, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, and such, others as I, the said Philip Chilwell de la Garde, my.
executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein
mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of
"CERTAIN, IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FIDDING AND UNFIDDING MASTS, AND
IN MASTING AND RIGGING OF VESSELS;" in which said Letters Patent is con-.
tained a proviso, that I, the said Philip Chilwell de la Garde, shall cause a
particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of:
Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference,
being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Philip Chilwell de la Garde, do hereby declare that the nature of my
Invention, and the manner of carrying the same into effect, are particularly
described and ascertained in manner following, reference being had to the
Two Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed (that is to say):-
My improvements in apparatus for fidding and unfidding masts consist in
a compound fid, to be inserted through the fid hole in the lower end of a top
mast or top gallant mast, consisting of two separate wedges disposed one
above the other, with the thick end of one wedge over the thin end of the
other, so that the two when put together will form a parallel or prismatic fid
equally thick at both ends. The two pieces or wedges are inserted into the
fid hole separately one above the other, each one with its taper end foremost,
the inclined under surface of the upper wedge applying upon the inclined
upper surface of the lower wedge, while the top or horizontal surface of the
upper wedge will apply against the top of the fid hole, and the end of the
under wedge will be born by the tressel-trees at each side of the mast. The
two wedges are made of such form and proportions that when they have both
been driven forwards into the fid hole (by striking with a mall upon their larger
ends) until their opposite ends coincide (that is until the large end of one
wedge coincides with the small end of the other wedge), the two will
occupy the rectangular fid hole like a solid prismatic or parallel solid fid, and
support the top mast. The two wedges are retained in the fid hole by catches
formed on the ends of levers (which are adapted to be acted upon by suitable
tackle of ropes and pulley blocks), so that the said catches can be caused to
unite the wedges together, and prevent either of them being drawn, but
separately from the fid hole, or else the said catches can be caused to release
the wedges at pleasure, as will be herein-after fully explained, with reference
to the Drawings.
And my improvements in apparatus for fidding and unfidding masts consist,
further, in the application of rollers between the two wedges to facilitate their
sliding one upon the other when they are to be withdrawn from the fid hole,
the said rollers being disposed within a hollow cut out in the lower one of the
tivo wedges to receive the rollers, their circumferences being a little prominent
above the inclined surface to which the inclined surface of the upper wedgo
applies when they are inserted into the fid hole, whereby the upper edge bears
upon the rollers of the lower wedge; and also in the application. of rollers
within the fid hole, in the manner herein-after particularly described, to bear
upon the top of the upper wedge, and other rollers upon the tressel-trees at
each side of the heel of the top mast for the ends of the lower wedge to bear

page_text: upon, so that every sliding surface of the said wedges may move upon rollers
in order to diminish the friction there would otherwise be occasioned by the
weight and strain with which the top mast (when it is fidded) pressed together
the two wedges whereof the fid is composed, and by the pressure of the top of
the fid hole upon the upper wedge, and the pressure of the ends of the lower
wedge upon its supports. Therefore when the catches which fasten the two
wedges together are caused by their tackle to release them (the weight and
strain of the mast being previously eased by swaying upon the top rope) each
of the wedges separately can be drawn out of the fid hole by tackle attached
to it of ropes passing over pulley blocks in the top, and worked from the deck,
whereby the operation of fidding and unfidding to strike the top mast or top
gallant masts of vessels, will be more easily and expeditiously performed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS WHICH REPRESENT THE APPARATUS FOR
FIDDING AND UNFIDDING MASTS.
Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6, Sheet I., show the lower wedge, Figure 3 being a
side view, Figure 4 a vertical section, Figure 5 a horizontal plan, and
Figure 6 a transverse section. Figure 7 is a side view of the upper wedge.
Figures 8, 9, and 10 and 11, are the apparatus of catches and levers for
uniting the two wedges together when they driven into their places in the fil
hole. Figure 8, a side view of the said apparatus; Figure 9, a horizontal
plan; Figure 10, a section; and Figure 11, a lever and catch detached.
Figures 12 and 13 are the rollers to be lodged within the upper side of the fill
hole through the mast. Figures 18 and 19 are the rollers supported by tlio
trossel-trees for the ends of the lower wedge to bear upon in Figure 22.
Sheet II. The fid is shewn in its place supporting the top mast. The
lower wedge is formed of a block of hard wood A, A, Figure 4, bound by two
iron side plates B, B, and a middle plate II is let into the lower part of it, see
Figure 3, 4, 5, and 6, the iron being firmly united to the wood by screws or
rivets. A recess is excavated in the upper side of the wood A, A, to receive a
brass frame C, C, in the sides of which the pivots of rollers D, D, are fitted.
"The ends of the wedges are cut away tapering, as shown in Figures 3 and 4,
and more particularly in Figure 7, so that when they are put together a vacant
wedge-shaped space is left between them at each end. That vacant space is
fitted up by a chock or wedge-shaped piece of wood W, Figure 9 and 10,
which is strengthened by two side plates A, Figures 8 and 9, having hori-
zontal brackets or ears B, B, formed on them, and projecting out side-
ways (see the plan, Figure 9), in order to receive and support the centre
pins of a pair of horizontal levers, C, C, the long ends of which are united by

page_text: levers C, it will
springs J, until
When the fid
an endless chain G, passing round small pulley rollers E, sustained in forks at
the ends of the levers, see Figure 8. The short ends I,. I, of the levers
C, C, are catches or tenons attached to those levers by joints, see Figure 11,
and those tenonts I, I, are adapted to pass. through the slide plates A of the
block W, and to enter into corresponding holes G, Figures 3 and 7, in the
metal sides B, B, of the wedges of which the fid is composed. Those holes
being at the thin end of each wedge respectively, springs J are fastened to the
levers C, Figures 9 and 11, to press the long ends of the levers C outwards
from each other, and cause the short ends I, I, of the levers to catch into
their holes G in the wedges. But if the chain G be pulled by the middle (see
Figure 9), so as to draw it away from the centres of the
approach the outer ends in opposition to the.elasticity of the
the catches I will be drawn out of the holes G in the wedges.
is in its place in the fid hole the two wedges, Figures 3 and 7, being driven
forwards therein until.the opposite ends of those wedges coincide, or nearly so,
as in Figure 7, then one of the chocks, Figures 8, 9, and 10, is inserted into
each of the wedge-shaped cavities between the ends of the two wedges that
form.the fid. The wood of the chocks, Figure 10, is the same breadth across
as the wedges, Figures 3 and 7, and their metal sides A project beyond the
chocks, to embrace the ends of the wedges and guide the chocks (Figures 8,
9, and 10); when they are pushed into their places until the catching ends I, I,
of the levers C come opposite to the holes G in the wedges (Figures 3 and 7),
and then the chain G, Figure 9, being let go, the outer ends of the levers C
will be separated by the springs J, so as to throw the catches I into the
holes G, as in Figure 9, and thereby the two wedges will be held together at
each end, as in Figure 7, whilst they are continued in the fid hole, so that they
cannot be withdrawn therefrom until the catches I are released. For security,
C, C, are retained by small pins D, D, inserted through holes in the brackets B,
to keep the outer ends of the levers C apart, see Figure 9. The ends of
the lower wedge, Figure 3 and 5, rest upon two steel rollers, Figures 18
and 19, the center pins of which are supported in brackets screwed fast to the
tressel-trees, see also Figure 22, one such roller being applied on each side
of the lower part of the mast, and the tops of the rollers being a little above
the level of the bottom of the fid hole; also the upper side of the upper wedge,
Figure 7, applies beneath the rollers D, D, within the fid hole (see Figures 12
and 13). The pivots d of those rollers are fitted into sockets formed in a
brass frame A, and are retained by caps C screwed to that frame (see
Figures 12 and 18). The frame A is lodged in the upper part of the fid hole,
.and the ends B, B, of the frame A stand up, and are let into the wood (see

page_text: Figure 22), to confine the frame A, A, B, B, from working endways out of its
place. H, H, Figure 22, are two ropes coming up from the deck. They are
reeved through the after-sheave holes of two double blocks 1, J, which are
lashed to the stay collar W, W; thence they pass to the after-sheave
hole of a treble block J, and have hooks at their ends to take hold of
the chains G of the levers C, C. Other ropes k, k, also leading up from
the deck, are each reeved through the fore-sheave holes of the double
blocks I, and through the middle-sheave hole of the treble block J, next over
the sheave of a single block F, thence through the fore-sheave hole of the
treble block J, and the end is fastened to the block F, which has a hook to
take hold of an iron shackle at the large end of the fid wedge. Note, only
one rope
Hand K is shewn in the Figure 22, in order to avoid confusion, but
there are in reality two ropes at each side, one H passing over sheaves to
disengage the catching levers, and the other K is the fall of the purchase
which is applied to the large end of the wedge, in order to withdraw it from
the fid hole..
Directions for Unfidding a Top mast.-Take out the pins D (Figure 9)
which retain the levers C, C, from being moved; hook on the ends of the
ropes H to the endless chain G, and the blocks of the purchase tackles to the
shackles of the wedges at their large ends. Sway on the top rope 'till it
relieves the pressure of the top mast on the fid as much as can be done,-
whilst the operation of unfidding is going on; then haul the ropes H till the
catching ends I of the lever C, C, are released from their holes, and keep
those ropes tight whilst the tackle falls K are hauled, and the two wedges are
drawn out of the fid hole by the purchase of the tackles. The mast may then
be lowered.
Directions for Fidding.-Hoist the mast by the top rope as high as it
can be raised, then apply a short chain, which has a hook at each end and
another hook in the middle to the fid hole by the end hooks, the middle
hook coming in front of the top mast; apply a jack to that hook to aid the
top rope
in hoisting the mast, until its fid hole is sufficiently above the tressel-
trees; then insert the lower wedge and afterwards the upper one over it;
hook the purchase tackles to the small ends of each of the wedges, instead of
the large ones, as described for drawing them out, and draw the wedges toge-
ther by hauling on the tackle falls K; at the same time drive them forwards by
striking with malls on their large ends, until they are brought together into
their proper places, then apply the chocks as before directed, so that the
catching ends 1 of the levers C will catch into their holes in the small ends of
the wedges and put in the pins D to retain them so. Note, the wedges

page_text: when thus secured together cannot be drawn out of the fid hole separately;
and, the two forming a prismatic fid of parallel thickness, or equally thick at
cach end, the weight and stress of the mast can have no tendency to work
them out either way together; but to prevent any possibility of their working
out, the edges, of the side plates A of the two chocks, Figures 8 and 10, 5
being wider than the fiḍ hole, form shoulders to the compound fid at each end
thereof, bearing against the wood of the mast at cach side of the fid hole.
Figures 14 and 15 represent à fid a little different from that above described.
The lower wedge A is similar to that already described, but the upper wedge
has, side plates 3 bolted to it at its thickest end, which descend from it so as
to embrace and slide over the thinnest end of lower wedge in the same manner
as the side plates of the chocks, Figure 10, embrace the ends of the wedges
Figures 3 and 7. The catching levers C, instead of being supported by
separate chock pieces, as in Figure 10, are fitted into ears 4, projecting out of
the side plates 8. The purchase tackle by which the upper wedge B is
drawn out of the fid hole also first releases the catches 1 from their holcs
in the side plates of the lower wedge A, Figure 14.
Figures 16 and 17 are a plate of iron which may be let into the upper.
part of the fid hole to bear upon the upper side of the wedge B, Figure 14,
instead of the frame of rollers Figure 12. A, Figure 17, is a groove to admit
the chain that is hooked to the small end of the wedge B, when the wedge is
to be drawn into the fid hole, by applying the fid tackle to its small end.
The operation of fidding and unfidding with the fid, Figures 14 and 15, need
not be described, for it will be sufficiently obvious, by comparing the con-
struction of that fid with that of the fid herein-before described with reference
to Figures 3 to 13. Note, the compound wedge fid may be occasionally
constructed, if desirable, without the rollers D, D, and brass frame C, C, that
are bedded in the lower wedge, Figures 3 and 4. In that case the inclined
surface of ono wedge should be covered with a smooth brass plate, and the
inclined surface of the other wedge with an iron or steel plate.
My improvement in masting and rigging of vessels consists in a new
arrangement of part of the shrouds which support the masts; that is, in
bringing one or more pairs of the foremast shroud from the chains up to the
hounds, and fastening their ends to framework applied round the hounds
under the tressel-trees, instead of applying those shrouds around the mast above
tlie tressel-trees in the usual manner. By thus altering the direction and manner
of fastening some of the foremost shrouds room is allowed for the yard to
be braced up sharper (or nearer to the wind), without pressing forcibly
against the stays or rigging than can be done by the usual mode of rigging.

page_text: anow the end chains or another pair of crossing shrouds to pass up through
them, and be hooked on to the upper corners of the cross frame B, B. This
third pair of crossing shrouds may be sometimes desirable in large ships, bu
I have not shewn it in the Drawing, Figure 22, and the manner of attaching
it is sufficiently obvious without further explanation. The shrouds of a-masi
being.disposed, as above described, so as to leave more room for the yard, it
may be braced up very sharp.
;
Figure 20 and 21,.Sheet I., shew the method of mounting and working the
traversing block. for the main tack.. F is the traversing block. An iron eye
or ring is formed on its under side to travel along a horse or iron spindle
bar C. That horse spreads out at one end into a fork (see Figure 21), and
embraces an arm chest tree A, bolted to the ship's side, a pin being put
through the fork and through the tree A. The other end of the spindle Cis
borne by a stanchion D bolted to the deck, and is kept down therein by a
cross pin E. Gis a rope fastened to an eye g on the block E, and reeved
through the sheave hole of a block B contained in the chest-tree A, and fitted
on the same pin that passes through the fork at the end of the horse. C and
H is a rope fastened to an eye h on the block F. I, I, is the bulwark, cut away
at J, to allow the rope G to pass and to take out the block F. The main
tack is reeved through the block F. It will be seen by the Figure 21 that the
spindle C is not square across the ship, but is placed obliquely to the keel.
That end which is supported by a center pin in the chest-tree A is placed over
the side of the ship, and more aft than the other end of the horse or spindle
bar C. Hence, by hauling the traversing block F (by the rope H) in towards
the stanchion D, the main tack that is reeved through the block F will be
brought in board nearer to the keel. The contrary effect will be produced
by hauling the block F outwards towards the chest-tree A by its rope G.
The sheet is reeved through a block lashed to the end of a boom which is
attached to the side of the ship aft of the mast, and that boom projects.out
from the side of the ship; the said boom is lashed or hooked to a ring on the
side of the ship, and a rope or chain is made fast to the outer end of the
boom, and thence reeved through a sheave hole in the bulwark, as that by
hauling in that chain the end of the boom will be drawn aft and in towards
the ship's side, or the boom will be set more nearly parellel to the keel,
whereby the lower after corner of the said sail can be brought nearer to the
line of the keel, while the lower fore corner of the sail is drawn by the tack
nearer to the keel. Therefore by my improvements (herein-before described
with reference to Figures 20 and 21) the lower part of the sail can be set
parallel to its. yard, or more or loss obliquely to the kcel, the entire surface
of the sail
flat as possible. The boom above described for the sheet can be
as

page_text: raised
up by a rope fastened to the outer end of the said boom, and thence
reeved through a block lashed to a shroud or any other convenient place aloft.
But the boom is prevented from being drawn up too high by a tye chain
fastened to its outer end and carried back beneath the boom to a ring on the
ship's side. That tye chain is connected to the outer end of the boom by a.
tackle (the fall of which comes into the ship), by which the tye chain may be
cased or tightened as may be required. Note, the aforesaid boom to the end
of which the end of the sheet is led, as above described, forms no part of my
improvement. The oblique spindle bar C, Figures 20 and 21, can be lifted
up out of its stanchion D (the cross pin E being removed) by a rope K reeved
through a block lashed to a shroud, and moved upwards about the pin that
confines the fork of the said spindle bar to the chest-tree A. Note, I have
described that part of my improvements represented in Figures 20 and 21,
only in reference to the main tack; but a horse or spindle bar C may be
extended from the cathead or boomkin to the figure block or other convenient
part, to carry a traversing block F for the fore tack, suitable blocks being
fixed near each end of that horse for ropes H and G to draw the fore tack in
or out obliquely to the keel; and spindle bars or horses C, and traversing
blocks F, may be applied also to the tacks of cross-jack sails. The materials
whereof the parts herein-before described are constructed may be varied at
the discretion of the workman.
In witness whereof, I, the said Philip Chilwell De la Garde, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty.
PHILIP CHILWELL (L.S.) DE LA GARDE:
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-fifth day of August, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty, the aforesaid
Philip Chilwell de la Garde came before our said Lord the King in His
Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification aforesaid, and all and every-
thing therein contained and specified, in form above written. And also the
Indenture aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute
made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Twenty-seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord One.
thousand eight hundred and thirty.