CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE BUILDING OF METAL SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1843

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
RICHARD GUPPY, of the Great Western. Iron Ship Building and Steam
Engine Works, Bristol, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Fifteenth day of June, in the sixth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Thomas Richard Guppy, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Thomas. Richard Guppy, my exors, admors, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Richard Guppy, my exors,
adiñors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and
the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE BUILDING OF METAL SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS;" in which said Letters
'Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Thomas Richard Guppy,
shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her
said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and
by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Thomas Richard Guppy, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention
to consist,-
First, in the substitution of plates of copper, or other suitable alloys of metal,
instead of plates of iron, for such exterior parts of the bottoms and sides of
ships or vessels as are exposed to or are liable to be acted on by the water
surrounding them.
Secondly, in the casing over, or what is commonly called sheathing, the
bottoms of iron ships or vessels with copper or other suitable alloys of metal.
Thirdly, in the construction of false internal sides and bottoms to metal ships
or vessels, such false sides and bottoms being made of sheet iron or other
metal, and placed at a suitable distance from the external bottoms and sides,
and the space between being divided into compartments or spaces, as shewn
in Figure 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Fourthly, in the application of metal hollow air-tight thwarts and seats to
metal boats.
And in further compliance with the said proviso, I, the said Thomas
Richard Guppy, do hereby describe the manner in which my said Invention
is to be performed, by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the Drawing annexed, and to the figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
First, as regards the substitution of other metals for iron plates, it is only
necessary to state, that they are to be put together in the same manner as
ordinary iron plates, the rivets being of metal similar to the plates.
..Secondly, as regards the sheathing of iron ships or vessels, it is only
necessary, to state, that instead of nails rivets must be used, and the sheathing
and plates of the bottoms and sides properly drilled or pierced to receive the
.same.
Thirdly, as regards the construction of the false bottoms and sides to metal
ships or vessels, and of the compartments or spaces between, the ordinary mode
of using angle or T iron or other metal may be adopted, which will be easily
understood by any competent workman by referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4,
in the Drawing annexed.
Fourthly, as regards air-tight thwarts and seats for boats, Figures, 5 and 6
shew an air-tight thwart; a being the side of the boat, b the top side of the
thwart, c the under side of the thwart, d the angle iron connecting it to the boat.
Figures 7 and 8 shew a seat on my plan rivetted, also air-tight.
Now whereas I claim as my Invention the improvements herein-before
described; and such my Invention being, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, entirely new, and never before used within that part of Her said Majesty's

page_text: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her Dominion
of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, I do hereby declare this to be
my Specification of the same, and that I do verily believe this my said Specifi-
cation doth comply in all respects, fully and without reserve or disguise, with
the proviso in the said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent contained..
Wherefore I hereby claim to maintain exclusive right and privilege to my said
Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Richard Guppy, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-three..
THOMAS RICHARD (L.s.) GUPPY..
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Fifteenth day of December, in
the year of our Lord 1843, the aforesaid Thomas Richard Guppy came
before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the
Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified,
in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid and all and
everything therein contained and specified, in form above written.
Enrolled the Fifteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord'
One thousand eight hundred and forty-three.