IMPROVEMENTS IN ROWLOCKS FOR BOATS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROWLOCKS FOR BOATS."-A com-
munication from abroad by Thomas Thomson, of Bluff Harbour,
New Zealand, Harbour Master.
Sealed the 26th November 1875, and dated the 28th June 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 28th June 1875.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROWLOCKS FOR BOATS,"
a communication, to be as follows:-
The said Invention relates to rowlocks for boats, and is carried into
effect by attaching the rowlock to the gunwale of the boat or rowlock
plate by a joint or hinge, in such a manner that it can be readily turned
inboard when not required for rowing, and by preference I attach the

page_text: rowlock to one part of a hinge having a hole in it through which the
shank or stem of the rowlock passes, and it is secured thereto by a
washer and clinch, and may be either fitted to revolve freely or may be
rigid. The other part of the hinge is secured to the boat's gunwale or
rowlock plate, and has a hole to admit the stem of the rowlock which
projects through the other part.
I do not confine myself precisely to the details of construction above
described, as the said improvements may be somewhat modified, but in
all cases the said Invention comprises the combination of the rowlock
and hinge, and the attachment of the rowlock to the boat by a hinge or
joint, so that it may be turned inboard when not required for use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 11th December 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patents Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
C
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of June, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert
Lake, 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 "Iм.
PROVEMENTS IN ROWLOCKS FOR BOATS," a communication to me from abroad
by Thomas Thomson, of Bluff Harbour, New Zealand, Harbour Master,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Robert
Lake, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly

page_text: describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause 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 William Robert Lake, 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, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawing forming a part of this Specification :-
This Invention of improvements in rowlocks for boats has been
designed for the purpose of ensuring the presence of these essentials on
all occasions, and at the same time prevent those injuries which boats
frequently receive from the rowlocks coming into contact with the
ship's side. To accomplish these objects I attach my rowlocks to a hinge
to turn inboard and under the gunwale when not required to be used.
By this means they are always at hand when wanted, and out of the
way when not required for present usc.
According to the said Invention one plate of a hinge is screwed or
otherwise affixed to the gunwale of the boat or to the rowlock plate, whilst
the other and upper one is free and receives the stem or shank of the
rowlock through a hole in its centre. The hinge should be on that edge
of the lower plate which points inside the boat, so that the upper one
with the rowlocks attached may be turned inboard and underneath tho
gunwale. For the sake of gaining strength I have ridges on each end
of the lower plate between which the upper plate closely fits. To allow
the upper plate to fit down closely upon the lower one an oblong hole is
made in the centre of the latter to permit of the passage of the lower
end of the stem or shank of the rowlock. This stem may be rigidly
affixed to the upper plate, or may be connected thereto by a clinch and
washer so as to enable it to revolve freely in its bearings (which is the
arrangement I prefer), or it may fit into a socket in the upper plate
instead of in the hole first described. Furthermore, there may be a
hole made in the gunwale or in the rowlock plate to receive the lower
end of the stem or shank of the rowlock if it should be long enough,
and again, this hole may be made quite through the gunwale to allow of
the use of a common rowlock or thole pin if desired.

page_text: Figure 2 represents a plan of the top plate.
Figure 3 is a plan of the bottom plate.
Figure 4 is an end elevation when the rowlock is in position for
rowing.
Figure 5 is a similar elevation when the rowlock is turned inboard out
of the way.
Figure 6, a cross section on line a, b, Figure 2; and Figure 7 is a
perspective view of the whole in the act of turning on its hinge.
A is the rowlock; A', its stem or shank; and Aº the washer thereon;
B is the lower plate of the hinge, and C the upper; B¹, B¹, are the
ridges at each end of the lower plate B; D is the gunwale of the
boat.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated
to me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
details above specified as long as the nature of my said Invention is
retained, but I claim the use of a hinge in combination with a rowlock
for boats for the purpose of insuring the presence of rowlocks on all
occasions, and at the same time enabling them to be turned inboard and
out of the way when not required for present use, as herein described
and as illustrated by the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
fire
Witness,
R. G. BRowN,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)