IMPROVE- THADDOOK GING AND AMMUNITION
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Tindall, junior, of Fraserburgh, in the County
of Aberdeen, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
THADDOOK GING AND AMMUNITION
"
Sealed the 9th February 1858, and dated the 28th November 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Tindall at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th November
1857.
I, ROBERT TINDALL, junior, of Fraserburgh, in the County of Aberdeen,
North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARPOON GUNS AND AMMUNITION," to be as follows, that
is to say:
This Invention relates to various improvements in harpoon guns, such as
are used in whale fishery, and in the ammunition or apparatus to be employed
therewith; the objects of the Invention being the obtainment of precision in
firing, holding the fish in whatever position the (expanding) harpoon is lodged,
increased efficiency, by the combination of a bomb with the harpoon, and
great accuracy of aim. The muzzle of the improved gun is of somewhat
smaller diameter than the rest of the barrel. This reduced part is for the
fitting on of a ferrule or collar, contained in the centre of the harpoon spade
or head when the harpoon is to be discharged. This ferrule has attached on
each side a short barbed harpoon piece, projecting in front of the ring or collar.
The line is attached to these harpoon pieces by means of a thimble, connecting
it with a shackle jointed to the harpoon pieces. The gun is loaded with a
long cylindro-conoidal ball or missile, a short piece of the after end of which

page_text: is made to fit exactly to the bore of the gun, whilst the rest is of a reduced
diameter, terminating in a cone or point. The mouth of the harpoon ferrule
fits exactly to the smaller forward portion of the cylindrical ball, and it is
turned out internally to fit to the angle forming the connection between tho
larger and smaller diameters of the ball. When the gun is loaded, the ball is
entered into the barrel, close up to the powder of the charge, and the ferrule
with its duplex harpoon being placed upon the muzzle, it follows that when
the weapon is discharged, the ball on emerging enters the ferrule, but being
caught therein by its shoulder, it carries away the duplex harpoon and the line
along with it. This cylindrical ball contains an expanding harpoon, which
when closed presents the appearance of a plain cylinder, the two harpoon
pieces or arms which it carries being folded down and retained by the barrel
of the gun. A spring is placed within this harpoon, contrived to act upon the
two harpoon arms, so that when the harpoon leaves the muzzle they are thrown
out to a certain distance by this spring action. When the harpoon lodges in
the fish, the pull upon the line expands the harpoon arms to their full extent.
The arms of this expanding harpoon or shot are disposed at right angles to
those of the main duplex harpoon, so that when the expanding harpoon or
shot carries away the other harpoon from the muzzle of the gun, so that in
any position at least one of the pairs of harpoon arms will gain a secure hold
in the fish when the latter is hit. In carrying out this arrangement, two
small studs are fixed in the forward end of the expanding harpoon shot, ono
on each side, and fitted to work as rifle pieces in rifle grooves formed in the
gun's barrel. Theso internal grooves may either be parallel with the axis of
the gun's bore, or twisted or rifled, and their action is to answer as a guide to
secure the right set of the relative positions of the two sets of harpoon arms.
The studs serve also to guide the cylinder in the centro of the gun. This
expanding harpoon shot may either have a conical or pointed front end, or it
may have a conical cap fitted to it.
Another portion of the Invention relates to the combination of a bomb or
shell with the harpoon. This bomb is cylindro-conoidal, and it is charged
with combustible and detonating or explosive matter. When it is to be used
with the expanding harpoon shot, the front end of the latter is square and
slightly reduced for a short distance, to fit the after end of the bomb. Tho
bonib has a conical or pointed front end, on which is fitted a percussion cap
communicating by a fusee with the charge, and which is exploded at the
instant of leaving the gun.
In using the common harpoon the fish is often lost from the breaking of the
shank, but with the improved apparatus this difficulty is entirely removed,

page_text: inasmuch as the twisting and strain after the harpoon is lodged in the fish aro
entirely borne by the line. The duplex arrangement of the harpoon arms
crossing each other in their action also insures a firm hold in the fish.
In another modification of harpoon comprehended under these improve-
ments, the actual head or holding portion of the weapon is of the common
form, and is fitted with a solid cylindrical shaft, which is passed through a
central hole in a short cross piece or ferrule, which fits upon the muzzle of
the gun. To this cross piece is attached the shackle for connection with the
line, as well as a pair of wings or feather pieces of thin sheet iron or other
substance, one on each side, for directing the harpoon's flight. The after end
of the harpoon shank has a stud or collar piece upon it, fitted to the bore of
the gun, and when the gun is fired, this collar piece strikes against the arm
through which the shank is passed, and thus carries the line along with it.
To render the harpoon gun accurate in aiming, it is fitted with a self-adjusting
sight or elevation rod. The gun is supported in the usual manner upon a
swivel fork, the arms or sides of which are prolonged upwards to a short
distance above the upper surface of the gun barrel. These prolongations are
for partially supporting a moveable sight bar upon a pin passing through tho
top of them. The front end of the sight bar is steadied by passing through a
guide attached to the barrel of the gun. To the under side of the elevation
bar, and near its front end, is attached a metal plate, the under edge of which
is curved, and rests or moves upon a pin passed through the lower part of the
guide shears. One end of this plate moves upon a centre pin, and the other
rises or falls by means of an adjusting screw. For elevating or depressing tho
gun, a corresponding and proportionate rise and fall takes place in the elevation
rod, so that when aim is taken at any object within range by the sight rod, the
gun acquires at the same instant the exact amount of elevation or depression
necessary. This elevation bar also admits of an adjustment in a lateral or
horizontal direction, to counteract the tendency of the line to take the harpoon
to one side of the point aimed at.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Tindall in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th May 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
TINDALL, junior, of Fraserburgh, in the County of Aberdeen, North
Britain, Engineer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Robert Tindall, junior, Her special license that 1, the
said Robert Tindall, junior, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, tho said Robert Tindall, junior, my executors, administrators,
or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term theroin expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,
an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARPOON GUNS AND AMMUNITION," upon
tho condition (amongst others). that I, tho said Robert Tindall, junior,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and scal, should particularly
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 tho
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 Robert Tindall, junior, do hereby declare
the nature of my said. Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to tho
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:
My said Invention relates to various improvements in harpoon guns, such
as are used in the whale fishery, and in the ammunition or apparatus to be
employed therewith; the objects of the Invention being the obtainment of
precision in firing, holding the fish in whatever position the (expanding)
harpoon is lodged, increased efficiency, by the combination of a bomb with
the harpoon, and great accuracy of aim. The muzzle of the improved gun is
of somewhat smaller diameter that the rest of the barrel; this reduced part is a
for the fitting on of a ferrule or collar contained in the centre of the harpoon
spade or head when the harpoon is to be discharged. This ferrule has attached
on each side a short barbed barpoon piece projecting in front of the ring or
collar. The line is attached to these harpoon pieces by means of a thimble
connecting it with a shackle jointed to the harpoon pieces. The gun is loaded:
with a long cylindro-conoidal ball or missile, a short piece of the after end of
which is made to fit exactly to the bore of the gun, whilst the rest is of a
reduced diameter terminating in a cone or point. The mouth of the harpoon
ferrule fits exactly to the smaller forward portion of the cylindrical ball, and it

page_text: is turned out internally to fit to the angle forming the connection between the
larger and smaller diameters of the ball. When the gun is loaded, the ball is
entered into tho barrel, close up to the powder of the charge, and the ferrule
with its duplex harpoon being placed upon the muzzle, it follows that when the
weapon is discharged the ball on emerging enters the ferrule, but being caught
therein by its shoulder, it carries away the duplux harpoon and the line along
with it. This cylindrical ball contains an expauding harpoon, which when closed
presents the appearance of a plain cylinder, the two harpoon pieces or arms
which it carries being folded down and retained by the barrel of the gun. Α
spring is placed within this harpoon contrived to act upon the two harpoon
arms, so that when the harpoon leaves the muzzle they are thrown out to a
certain distance by this spring action. When the harpoon lodges in the fish,
the pull upon the line expands the harpoon arms to their full extent. The
arms of this expanding harpoon or shot are disposed at right angles to those of
the main duplex harpoon, so that when the expanding harpoon or shot carries
away the other harpoon from the muzzle of the gun, so that in any position
at least one of the pairs of harpoon arms will gain a secure hold in the fish
when the latter is hit. In carrying out this arrangement, two small studs are
fixed in the forward end of the expanding harpoon shot, one on each side, and
fitted to work as rifle pieces in rifle grooves formed in the gun's barrel. These
internal grooves may either be parallel with the axis of the gun's bore or
twisted or rifled, and their action is to answer as a guide to secure the right
set of the relative positions of the two sets of harpoon arms.
also to guide the cylinder in the centre of the gun. This expanding harpoon
shot may either have a conical or pointed front end, or it may have a conical
cap fitted to it.
The studs serve
Another portion of the Invention relates to the combination of a bomb
or shell with the harpoon. This bomb is cylindro-conoidal, and it is
charged with combustible and detonating or explosive matter. When it is
to be used with the expanding barpoon shot, the front end of the latter is
squared and slightly reduced for a short distance to fit the after end of the
bomb. The bomb has a conical or pointed front end, on which is fitted a
percussion cap communicating by a fuse with the charge, and which is
exploded at the instant of leaving the gun.
In using the common harpoon, the fish is often lost from the breaking of the
shank, but with the improved apparatus this difficulty is entirely removed,
inasmuch as the twisting and strain after the harpoon is lodged in the fish
are entirely borne by the line. The duplex arrangement of the harpoon arms
crossing each other in their action also insures a firm hold in the fish.

page_text: In another modification of harpoon comprehended under these improve-
ments, the actual head or holding portion of the weapon is of the common
form, and is fitted with a solid cylindrical shaft, which is passed through
a central hole in a short cross pieco or ferrule, which fits upon the
muzzle of the gun. To this cross piece is attached the shackle for con-
nection with the line, as well as a pair of wings or feather pieces of thin
sheet iron or other substance, one on each side, for directing the harpoon's
flight. The after end of the harpoon shank has a stud or collar piece upon it
fitted to the bore of the gun, and when the gun is fired this collar piece strikes
against the arm through which the shank is passed, and thus carries the line
along with it. To render the harpoon gun accurate in aiming, it is fitted with
a self-adjusting sight or elevation rod. The gun is supported in the usual
manner upon a swivel fork, the arms or sides of which are prolonged upwards
to a short distance above the upper surface of the gun's barrel. These pro-
longations are for partially supporting a moveable sight bar upon a pin passing
through the top of them. The front end of the sight bar is steadied by passing
through a guide attached to the barrel of the gun. To the under side of the
elevation bar, and near its front end, is attached a metal plate, the under edge
of which is curved, and rests or moves upon a pin passed through the lower
part of the guide shears. One end of this plato moves upon a centro pin, and
the other rises or falls by means of an adjusting screw. For elevating or
depressing the gun, a corresponding and proportionate rise and fall takes place
in the elevation rod, so that when aim is taken at any object within range by
the sight rod, the gun acquires at the same instant the exact amount of eleva-
tion or depression necessary. This elevation bar also admits of an adjustment
in a lateral or horizontal direction to counteract the tendency of the line to
take the harpoon to one side of the point aimed at.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the several illustrative Figures upon the explanatory
Sheet of Drawings which I have hereunto appended for the purpose.
Figure 1 is a partially sectional plan showing an expanding harpoon "spade"
or head fitted to the muzzle of a harpoon gun. Figure 2 an elevation of an
expanding harpoon in conjunction with a harpoon spade. Figure 3 is a side
view or longitudiual elevation of a harpoon gun fitted with a self-acting
elevation bar. Figure 4 is an elevation of another arrangement of the sight
bar, with a modification for preventing injury to the elevation bar from the
recoil of the gun. Figure 5 is another arrangement of the elevation bar
support, with a modification for counteracting the motion of the boat or vessel
when rolling in the water.

page_text: In the Specification of certain British Letters Patent granted to me,
and bearing date on or about the Twentieth day of April, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-seven, are described various improvements in
harpoon guns and ammunition. Now a portion of this present Invention
relates to modifications of the arrangements described in the said Specification,
and shown in the accompanying Drawings. In the Drawings referred to there
is shown a "harpoon spade" or barbed projectile, which fits on to the outside
of the muzzle of the gun, and is carried through the air by a cylindro-conoidal
shot or bomb, which is fired from the gun and passes through the "harpoon
spade," carrying the harpoon spade with it.
The present improvements, shown in Figure 1, consist in making the
cylindrical part A of the harpoon spade to fit inside the end of the barrel B
of the gun, instead of outside as heretofore; this cylindrical part A is made
somewhat larger than the bore of the barrel, and the inner end is reduced in
diameter to fit the bore of the gun; the shoulder thus formed upon the cylin-
drical part at C abuts against the extremity of the barrel. The twisted wire
shackle D is in this arrangement passed through holes E made in the rear
ends of the barbs F of the harpoon spade, instead of being attached thereto
by screws or bolts. An additional check to the shock or blow of the projectile
when it strikes against the harpoon spade is furnished by binding or lashing
the prongs F of the spade with one or two layers of stout spun yarn G, which
is put on behind the barbs. When the gun is fired, the cylindro-conoidal
shot or shell is partially checked by coming in contact with the lashing G, so
that it receives the principal force of the charge; the spun yarn is cut through
by the shot or shell, and the harpoon spade is carried forward by the enlarged
end of the shot coming in contact with the socket A of the spade, through
which it cannot pass. When a cylindro-conoidal percussion shell is used, the
cap of the missile is exploded by striking against a thin plate of metal H, fitted
between the prongs of the barbs, and immediately behind the spun yarn lashing.
For the modification of harpoon, in which its flight is improved by the addi-
tion of a pair of vanes or blades, I make the ring, to which the lateral vanes are
attached, to fit the inside of the muzzle instead of the exterior of the barrel
as heretofore. Under another form the harpoon shank is made conical at its
inner end; the base of this conical part fits the bore of the gun, the rest of
the shank, until it nearly reaches the "spade," is cylindrical. A conically-
shaped copper ferrule is fitted on to the shank, upon which it slides freely, but
is too small to pass over the conical end of the shank. The ferrule is covered
over externally or "served" with spun or rope yarn, the whaling line is spliced
round the smaller end of the ferrule, and is secured to its larger end by a

page_text: lashing of the spun or rope yarn. To prevent injury to the ferrule, a slip cord,
consisting of a few turns of rope yarn is tied firmly round the middle of the
harpoon shank, and which in the net of firing is carried to the butt end' inside
the ferrulo. The means used for keeping the shank of the harpoon centrally
in the barrel of the gun will be described when referring to the improvements
in the same.
Another mode of constructing harpoons consists in making them with a
conical swell or projecting part at or about the centre of the shank; this part
is made of the same diameter as the butt end, and the shank has fitted thereto
a conical ferrule, which is made too small to pass the central projection. The
ferrule is "served" with spun yarn, and the whaling lino is spliced and lashed
thereto; the line is also fastened to a ring about half an inch larger than the
butt end of the shank, and it slides freely up and down the lower half of this
part of the harpoon. When the harpoon is put down the barrel, the conical
ferrule and tho ring are drawn up the shank immediately behind the "spade;"
upon firing the gun, the ferrulo slips down upon the central conical part, and
the ring near to the butt end of the shank. This arrangement serves to keep
the line parallel with the shank during the flight of the harpoon; when lodged
in the whale, the strain upon the lino breaks the fastening to the ring, and the
drag upon the harpoon is then upon the centre of the shank in place of the
end of it. Both of these modifications of harpoons may be fitted with sup-
plementary vanes or blades to improve the accuracy of their flight. A groove
is made round the butt end of the shank, which is filled with tow, or other soft
material, to make the shank fit closely to the barrel; and if the barrel is rifled
the butt end of the shank has pins projecting laterally therefrom, which follow
the course of the rifle grooves.
In Figure on tho illustrative Drawing accompanying this Specification,
the harpoon spado or head delineated in Figure 1 is shown in connection
with an expanding harpoon I, to the fore end of which a percussion shell or
bomb may be fitted; the arrangement of these expanding harpoons and per-
cussion shells or bombs is fully described in the Specification of the Letters
Patent horein-before referred to.
Figuro 3 on my Drawings is a side elevation of a harpoon gun having one
modification of my improved self-adjusting sight or clovation rod for obtaining
accuracy of aim in firing applied thereto. The harpoon gun A is mounted
upon a swivel fork B, the bolt C of which passes through the duplex extremi-
ties of the swivel fork and is secured thereto by nuts. The upper ends D of
the swivel fork are carried upwards to a short distance above the gun barrel;
through tho extremities of the ends D is passed a pin, which serves to partially

page_text: support the sight bar or elevation rod E. This sight bar or elevation rod is
a flat bar of metal, the upper surface of which is grooved or hollowed out; the
front end of this bar passes through the guide shears F, which are attached to
the barrel of the gun. To the front extremity of the bar E, and upon its
under side, is jointed a metal plate G, the curved part of which rests upon a
pin or roller fitted in the guide shears F. The backward extremity of the bar
G has fitted to it a bolt and adjustable nuts II, by means of which the bar may
be raised or lowered, and by this means be primarily adjusted, so that when
the sight I is brought to bear upon the object, the barrel is then in a correct
position to carry the projectile to the point aimed at.
In Figure 4 on my Drawings is shown a modification for preventing injury
to the elevation bar from the recoil of the gun on firing, by making the
support moveable. The gun A is mounted, as in Figure 3, upon a swivel
fork B, being carried upon a bolt C, which passes through the duplex
extremities of the swivel fork, and is secured thereto by nuts. Upon one
extremity of the bolt C is fitted a vertical support D, the lower end of which
abuts upon an angle bracket E that is bolted to the swivel fork. The support
D is retained in a vertical position partly by the projecting segmental piece F
and bracket E, which forms a part of the swivel fork, and partly by the
spring II, which is screwed to the bracket E. The support D has liberty to move
forward as far as the stud G, but instantly regains the perpendicular position
when left to itself. The elevation rod or bar I is secur to the support D by
a bolt and nut, which works in a slot cut in the support D, which admits of
the primary adjustment of the bar I. The front extremity of the elevation
bar I passes between the guide shears J, which are fixed to the side of the
barrel; the under side of the elevation bar at this part is curved downwards,
and rests upon a small roller K fitted between the vertical parts of the guide
shears J. The elevation bar is primarily adjusted, so that when the marksman
brings the sight L to bear upon the object, the barrel is in the proper position
to carry the projectile to that point. In this improved harpoon gun, the
hammer of the lock is actuated by an external trigger M, which is operated
by the pressure of the marksman's finger in lieu of a lanyard as heretofore,
the drawing or pulling of which is very liable to alter the position of the gun
after the aim has been taken. According to this arrangement, as the
marksman directs his eye along the elevation bar, at the same time holding
the stock of the gun in both his hands, and with the forefinger upon the
trigger M, the sight L bears upon the object, the trigger is pressed upwards,
and the gun is fired with as much ease and rapidity as an ordinary pistol.
Near the muzzle of the gun is fixed a vertical stud N, which is carried by the

page_text: projecting piece O on the under side of the barrel; this stud serves to indicato
when the object is beyond the range of the gun, for when the point of this
stud is visible to the marksman as he looks along the elovation rod, the object
is then beyond range. To the projecting piece O is hinged a metal plate P,
the lower end of which is squared, and rests upon the spring Q; the pressure
of this spring serves to keep the plate P either in a vertical or horizontal
position as it may be placed. The upper part of the plate P is curved to a
semicircular figure, and the object of the plate is to support the shank of the
harpoon centrally when placed in the barrel of the gun. When the harpoon
is placed in the gun, the plate P is turned up vertically by hand, and as tho
harpoon leaves the gun, it turns the plate upon its axis, so that it does not
impede the flight of the projectile.
In Figure 5 of my Drawing a modified arrangement of the elevation bar is
shown, but detached from the gun; the elevation bar is secured to the support
S, in the manner herein-before described. In this modification the side
support S is continued downwards, and terminates in a heavy iron ring T.
This ring encircles the "billet head" in which the shank of the swivel fork is
fixed; the ring is made four or five inches larger than the "billet head," so that
it oscillates freely to that extent. The sido support S turns freely upon the
centre pin, and it is retained in a vertical position by the weight of the
ring T, so that the elevation rod is always preserved in its proper position
notwithstanding the rolling motion of the boat, which may incline the swivel
fork more or less to one sido By this means the marksman is enabled to
tako aim with less inconvenienco from the motion of the boat.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion
to describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the principles or main features of the Invention; but what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to mo by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, tho general arrangement and construction of harpoon guns, and the
projectiles to be used therewith, as herein-before described.
"
Second, the system or mode of fitting the sockets of "harpoon spades'
inside the muzzle of the gun, also the attaching of the shackle to the back of
the prongs or barbs of the "spade," as herein-before described.
Third, the system or mode of binding a lashing of rope or spun yarn upon
the prongs
of the spade, together with the mode of exploding percussion shells

page_text: by placing a piece of thin metal between the prongs and against the lashing
of spun yarn, as herein-before described.
Fourth, the system or mode of fitting the sockets of harpoon vanes or
blades inside tho muzzle of the gun, together with the modes of constructing
the shanks of harpoons, and attaching the line thereto, as herein-before
described.
Fifth, the system or mode of arranging and constructing the elevation bar
or rod of harpoon guns, and the means for obtaining an accurate adjustment
of the same, as herein-before described.
Sixth, the system or mode of attaching the support of the elevation bar to
an oscillating ring, or other analagous contrivance, for the purpose of counter-
acting the motion of the boat, as herein-before described.
Seventh, the system or mode of arranging the locks of harpoon guns in
which the trigger projects externally, and the hammer is caused to descend
by the direct pressure of the marksman's finger, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Tindall, junior, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of May, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-eight.
ROBERT TINDALL, JU. (L.S.)