IMPROVEMENTS IN REELS FOR SHIPS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Pearce, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REELS FOR SHIPS'
Lace
A
,,
Sealed the 4th February 1876, and dated the 6th August 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Pearce at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th August 1875.
I, WILLIAM PEARCE, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REELS FOR SHIPS' LOGS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as
follows:-
In heaving the log to ascertain the speed, especially in large ocean-
going steamers, it is usually necessary to send aft half dozen men or
even more to draw it in again. All the passengers on that side the
quarter deck, many perhaps lying down badly seasick, have to shift to the
other side to make room for the gang of men. It is to avoid all these
expenses & nuisances, & to enable the labour to be performed by the
quartermaster and one assistant at most that this my Invention is
designed. It consists,-
First. In fixing the reel in a light iron or other framework capable of

page_text: being rapidly and easily bolted or otherwise fastened to the rail or
bulwarks of the vessel.
2nd. In continuing the axle of the reel through the framework, and
fixing a break arrangement thereto, so as to check and stop the log line
from running out further than desirable. A plan I at present prefer for
this purpose being a wooden cylinder about the same diameter as the
reel, and a rope with one end loose and the other fast to the framework
in such manner that by taking a turn of the rope round the cylinder,
and bringing a gentle force to bear on the rope its friction on the
cylinder stops the reel.
3rd. I place an ordinary winch handle on the end of the axle in such
manner that it can be instantly put on or taken off, or else can be thrown
in and out of gear, so that by its means one man can wind up the line
and draw in the log.
Any other arrangement for increasing the power at the expence of
speed could be used, but I like the winch handle-best.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said William Pearce in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 4th February 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
PEARCE, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Pearce, Her special licence
that I, the said William Pearce, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such. others as I, the said William Pierce, 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, usc, exercise, and vend
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REELS FOR
SHIPS' LOGS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the condition

page_text: Tamongst others) that 1, the said William Pearce, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and scals, 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 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 Pearce, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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 accompanying
Drawings, and to the figures and letters of reference marked
thereon :-
In heaving the log to ascertain the speed, especially in large occan-
going steamers, it is usually necessary to send aft half a dozen men or
even more to draw it in again. All the passengers on that side the
quarter deck, many perhaps lying down badly seasick, have to shift to
the other side to make room for the gang of men. It is to avoid all
these expenses and nuisances, and to enable the labour to be performed
by the quartermaster and one assistant at most that this my Invention
is designed. It consists,―
First. In fixing the reel A in a light iron or other framework B
capable of being rapidly and easily bolted or otherwise fastened to the
rail, bulwark, or stanchion C of the vessel.
2nd. In continuing the axle D of the reel A through the framework,
and fixing a break arrangement tliereto, so as to check and stop the log
linc from running out further than desirable. A plan I at present
prefer for this purposes being a wooden cylinder E, about the same
diameter as the recl, or perhaps a little smaller, and a rope F with one
end loose and the other fast to the framework B in such manner that by
taking a turn of the rope round the cylinder E, and bringing a gentle
force to bear on the rope, its friction on the cylinder E stops the
reel.
3d. I place an ordinary winch handle G on the end of the axle D in
such manner that it can be instantly put on or taken off, or else can be
thrown in and out of gear, so that by its means one man can wind up
the line and draw in the log.

page_text: Figures 1 and 2 show my apparatus fastened to a stanchion formed on
purpose therefor on a new ship; Figures 3 and 4, the form I usually
adopt where the apparatus is bolted on to the rails. The advantage of
this plan is that the two pieces of wood J clasp the rails K tightly, and
the two parts of the framework B, being bolted tightly together, arc
prevented from being so drawn out of. truth by the bolts so as to clasp
the reel as in a vice.
Now I am well aware that apparatus similar to this has been used
before on board ship as a windlass, or as a hoist for ashes from below,
but what I claim as my Invention is,―
1st. The arrangement of log reel, in which the reel is keyed or firmly
fixed to the axle, so that it can only revolve with the axle, substantially
as described.
2nd. Arranging a log reel in a stationary fixed frame or framework
that can be speedily adjusted to the ship's bulwarks or other convenient a
position in such way that it can be suddenly checked, and can be wound
in by a winch handle or other convenient mechanism instead of being
pulled on board in the ordinary method by half a dozen men.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Pearce, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of January, in the 2
year of our Lord 1876.
Witness,
W. P. THOMPSON,
Patent Agent,
6, Lord Street,
Liverpool.
WILLIAM PEARCE. (L.S.)