IMPROVEMENTS IN TEMPORARY RUDDERS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Johnson, of Bow, in the County of Middlesex,.
Drysalter, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TEMPORARY RUDDERS."
Sealed the 31st August 1855, and dated the 2nd March 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Johnson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd March
1855.
I, JOHN JOHNSON, of Bow, in the County of Middlesex, Drysalter, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TEMPORARY RUDDERS
to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to construct convenient mechanical instru-
ments or apparatus for facilitating the formation of temporary rudders on board
ships or vessels. For this purpose, according to the size of a ship or vessel, and
consequently of the dimensions of rudder required, I construct two or more
straps of wrought iron. Each of these iron straps is composed of two side bars
connected by a transverse bar, whilst the outer ends of each of the side bars is
made with a screw thereon, to receive a screw nut or nuts, or holes for keys
or cotters. The ends of these side bars pass through holes at the end of

page_text: another bar or plate, by which means a quadrangular frame or strap is
produced, suitable for receiving and having fixed therein pieces of yards, spars,
or other wood to form a spare rudder. When circumstances require the use
of a spare rudder to a ship or vessel, two or more metal straps or frames, such
as those above described, are used, and pieces of spars or yards or of other
wood are laid together roughly to the form of a rudder, and they may be
quickly strapped and held strongly in such form by the straps, and such a
temporary rudder may then, by ropes and suitable tackle, be connected to the
sternpost of the ship or vessel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st
September 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
JOHNSON, of Bow, in the County of Middlesex, Drysalter, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Johnson, Her special licence that I, the said John Johnson, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Johnson, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TEMPORARY RUDDERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Johnson, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 John Johnson, 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
thereof (that is to say) :-

page_text: The object of this Invention is to construct convenient mechanical instru-
ments or apparatus for facilitating the formation of temporary rudders on
board ships or vessels. For this purpose, according to the size of a ship or
vessel, and consequently of the dimensions of rudder required, I construct
two or more straps of wrought iron. Each of these iron straps is composed of
two side bars connected by a transverse bar, whilst the outer ends of each
of the side bars is made with a screw thereon, to receive a screw nut or nuts,
or holes for keys or cotters. The ends of these side bars pass through holes
at the end of another bar or plate, by which means a quadrangular frame or
strap is produced, suitable for receiving and having fixed therein pieces of
yards, spars, or other wood to form a spare rudder. When circumstances
require the use of a spare rudder to a ship or vessel, two or more metal straps
or frames, such as those above described, are used, and pieces of spars or
yards or of other wood are laid together roughly to the form of a rudder, and
they may be quickly strapped and held strongly in such form by the straps,
and such a temporary rudder may then, by ropes and suitable tackle, be
connected to the sternpost of the ship or vessel.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed to
describe more fully the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 shows a plan and side view of a wrought-iron strap, such as is
used for making a temporary rudder, according to my Invention. Figure 2
shows a plan and side view of another strap, such as is used for the lower part
of a temporary rudder; and I would state, that in case the required rudder
should be of considerable length, I prefer to use three such instruments or
straps. The form of the straps may be varied, and the outer ends thereof may
be connected together, either by having screws formed thereon to receive
thereon a transverse plate and nuts, or the ends may be formed suitable for
receiving thereon a plate and holes through for receiving keys or cotters;
or the holes may be made through the ends of the straps, as shown in the
Drawing, and screw keys applied with eyes at the ends to receive ropes. The
lower strap may be made with a bent strap, such as is shown at Figure 2, to
fit the sternpost, and if desired all the straps may be similarly provided, or
they may be dispensed with. These straps would be carried by a ship so as
readily to be used at any time. Rough spars would be placed within the straps,
and the outer ends of the straps would then be closed by the screw keys
shown, or by end plates and nuts or keys, as above explained; and the

page_text: temporary rudder would then be lowered into position by suitable ropes and
tackle, provision for fixing which is made in the straps.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Johnson, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this First day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Witness,
JNO. ALCOCK.
J. JOHNSON. (L.S.)