AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SAVING PROPERTY AND TRANSMITTING MESSAGES IN CASES OF DISASTER AT SEA
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Julius Arnoldus Ryke Van Den Bergh, of
Southsea, in the County of Hants, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SAVING PROPERTY AND TRANSMITTING MESSAGES
IN CASES OF DISASTER AT SEA."
Scaled the 18th November 1870, and dated the 21st May 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Julius Arnoldus Ryke
Van Den Bergh at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 21st May 1870.
I, JULIUS ARNOLDUS RYKE VAN DEN BERGH, of Southsea, in the
County of Hants, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
AND TRANSMITTING
for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SAVING PROPERTY
MESSAGES IN CASES OF DISASTER AT SEA," to be as follows:-
This Invention is intended to serve as a means by which communi-
cations may be made between vessels at sea and the shore by depositing
papers and in some cases bullion and valuables in a floating receptacle
properly fitted to receive them, and consists in so constructing such
receptacle that it may float safely for an indefinite period, be marked

page_text: as to be easily seen, be strengthened and furnished with compartments,
that when driven on rocks or otherwise the contents may be protected
and the receptacle with float; and further, furnishing such receptacle
with an inelined mast bearing a flag, so that the head or front of the
receptacle may be kept to the wind.
The Invention may conveniently be carried into effect by making the
receptacle of metal double, with an inner and outer case, somewhat in
the shape of a life boat, with a keel, and having the top covered in,
but furnished with a screwed hole and cover through which and into
a middle and the inner compartment papers, bullion, and so forth, may
be put. A lining of cork bearing a dubbing or waterproof composition
placed immediately in contact with the inner side of the outer case, may
be used, so that in the event of abraision of the outside surface of the
messenger the water could not penetrate. There may conveniently be
three compartments, a middle and two end. The receptacle may be
painted in colors, say, red, white, and blue, and bave on it the name
of the ship to which it belongs, and by which it is intended one or more
of these improved messengers should be carried, so that in the event
of disasters, or for the purpose of determining currents and so forth,
the receptacle may be cast into the sea and some day or other find its
way to land, and thus knowledge be obtained.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Julius Arnoldus Ryke Van Den Bergh in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st November 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JULIUS
ARNOLDUS RYKE VAN DEN BERGH, of Southsea, in the County of
Hants, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Julius Arnoldus Ryke Van Den Bergh, Her
special licence that I, the said Julius Arnoldus Ryke Van Den Bergh,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Julius Arnoldus Ryke Van Den Bergh, my executors, administrators,

page_text: 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 "AN IMPROVED SEA MESSENGER OR RECEPTACLE
TO BE USED FOR RECEIVING PAPERS, PARCELS, AND SUCH LIKE," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Julius Arnoldus Ryke Van
Den Bergh, my executors or administrators, 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 the same to be filed
in the Great Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Julius Arnoldus Ryke Van Den
Bergh, 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, that is to say :—
This Invention is intended to serve as a means by which communi-
cations may be made between vessels at sea and the shore by depositing
papers, and in some cases bullion and valuables, in a floating receptacle
properly fitted to receive them, and consists in so constructing such
receptacle that it may float safely for an indefinite period, be marked as
to be casily seen, be strengthened and furnished with compartments,
that when driven on rocks or otherwise the contents may be protected
and the receptacle will float; and further, furnishing such receptacle
with an inclined mast bearing a flag so that the head or front of the
receptacle may be kept to the wind.
The Invention may conveniently be carried into effect by making the
receptacle of metal double, with an inner and outer case somewhat in
the shape of a life boat with a keel, and having the top covered in, but
furnished with a screwed hole and cover through which and into a
middle and the inner compartment, papers, bullion, and so forth may
be put. A lining of cork bearing a dubbing or waterproof composition
placed immediately in contact with the inner side of the outer case may
be used, so that in the event of abraision of the outside surface of the
messenger the water could not penetrate. There may conveniently be
three compartments, a middle and two end. The receptacle may be
painted in colors, say, red, white, and blue, and have on it the name of

page_text: the ship to which it belongs, and by which it is intended one or more
of these improved messengers should be carried, so that in the event of
disasters or for the purpose of determining currents and so forth, the
receptacle may be cast into the sea and some day or other find its way
to land, and thus knowledge be obtained.
The accompanying Drawing will serve to show a convenient mode
of carrying the Invention into effect, but it is obvious that the arrange-
ment and details there shown may be considerably altered without
departing from the nature of the Invention.
Figure 1 shows a side elevation; Figure 2, plan; Figure 3, longi-
tudinal section, and Figure 4, cross section of the improved sca
messenger or receptacle. a is the outer case, and 6 the inner receptacle;
c, cork filling or lining; d, the screwed top or lid; e, keel; f, bulk-
head; g, inclined mast bearing a flag.
In witness whereof, I, the said Julius Arnoldus Ryke Van Den
Bergh, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day
of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy.
JULIUS VAN DEN BERGH. (L.S.)