CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIP-BUILDING
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Wyncoll Baxter, of Mistley, in the
County of Essex, Ironmonger, for the Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIP-BUILDING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Wyncoll
Baxter at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 3rd October 1853.
I, JOHN WYNCOLL BAXTER, of Mistley, in the County of Essex,
Ironmonger, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIP-BUILDING" consists,―
Firstly, in a peculiar formation of the bottom of the vessel, the
length and breadth of which may be adapted to the purpose for which
the vessel is required, and the power by which it is to be propelled.
The bottom of the fore part is to be formed by a straight line iuclining
downwards from about half the height of the stem to the utmost depth
of the centre or widest part of the vessel, the keel following the same
or nearly the same straight line. Or the stem may be perpendicular to
the deck (or horizontal) line, for about half the depth of the vessel.
which is connected by a short curved line to a horizontal keel extend-

page_text: ing to the middle of the vessel, from whence the after part of the
bottom may have the usual form. In the first arrangement the after
part of the hull may be formed by a second straight line proceeding
from the lowest part of the vessel to a point in the stern, about two
thirds of its depth; the keel, from the middle of the vessel to the
stern, to be kept parallel or nearly parallel with the deck or horizontal
line.
Secondly, the side timbers or ribs of the vessel are to be portions of
circles forming a series of ovals or Gothic arches, conforming to the
increasing and decreasing width of the deck.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Wyncoll Baxter in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 30th March 1854..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I.
JOHN WYNCOLL BAXTER, of Mistley, in the County of Essex, Ironmonger,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Jolin Wyncoll Baxter, Her special
licence that I, the said John Wyncoll Baxter, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Wyncoll Baxter,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times 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 "CERTAIN IM-
PROVEMENTS IN SHIP-BUILDING," upon the condition (amongst others) that
1, the said John Wyncoll Baxter, 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

page_text: Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that the nature of iny Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, that is, to
say:
My Improvements in Ship-building" consist, firstly, in a peculiar
formation of the bottom of vessels, the length and breadth of which
may be adapted to the purpose for which the vessel is required and
the power by which it is to be propelled. The bottom of the fore part
is to be formed by a straight line inclining downwards from about
half the height of the stem to the utmost depth of the centre or widest
part of the vessel, the keel following the same or nearly the same
straight line. Or the stem may be perpendicular to the deck (or hori-
zontal) line for about half the depth of the vessel, which is connected
by a short curved line to a horizontal keel extending to the middle of
the vessel, from whence the after part of the bottom may have the usual
form. In the first arrangement the after part of the hull may be
formed by a second straight line proceeding from, the lowest part of
the vessel to a point in the stern of the vessel, about two thirds of its
depth; the keel, from the middle of the vessel to the stern, to be kept
parallel or nearly parallel with the deck or horizontal line.
Secondly, the side timbers or ribs of the vessel are to be portions of
circles, forming a series of ovals or Gothic arches, conforming to the
increasing and decreasing width of the deck.
And in order that this my Invention may be more fully understood
reference is had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters
and figures marked thereon; viz, Figure 1, is an outline elevation of a
vessel constructed agreeably to my Invention, and combining both parts
of my improvements. A, A, is the deck line; B, the stem; and C, the
stern. The fore part of the bottom of the vessel is formed by a straight
line, inclining downward from the point D, to the widest part of the
vessel at E. The after part of the vessel is formed by a second straight
line, inclining upwards from E to C, the point C being about one third
of the depth from the deck to the bottom of the keel, the after part of

page_text: which, from the point. E to e, runs parallel with the deck: The side
timbers or ribs of the vessel are formed by portions, of circles. struck
from a common radius F, f, and in this instance so arranged as to form
Gothic arches throughout the body of the vessel, widening or contract-
ing agreeably to the contour of the deck. The lower parts of the fore-
most ribs or side timbers, to about the middle of the vessel, rest upon
and are fastened to the keel D, E, and those of the after part of the
vessel are fastened in the usual way to the dead wood G, raised upon
the keel E, e.
ن.
Figure 2, shews another modification of my improvements. A!, A',
is the deck line; B', the stem, perpendicular to about half the depth
of the vessel. From thence to the bottom of the fore part of the
vessel it is circular down to a point C¹, the curve being about equal
to the curve of the fore part of the deck, as herein-after shewn.
The other part of the bottom, from: C to D, is horizontal. From D¹
to E¹, is a curve, described by a radius F1, at right angles with the
keel, at about one fourth of its length, measured from the stern of
the vessel. The ribs or side timbers are formed of portions of a circle
G¹, G¹, described by the radius G, g, forming together a series of
Gothic arches of varying widths, extending throughout the body of the
vessel. When the circular part of the timbers is required to be less
than the whole depth of the vessel, then their upper parts, from any
given height; are to be perpendicular, as at H, H. Or the upper
part of the side timbers, above the load water line I, I, may, if
required, diverge from the circle G, or from the perpendicular H',
without prejudice to the character of my Invention. The length of the
radius G, g, is to be determined according to the character and
requirements of the vessel, and is to, be contracted or extended as a
more or less burthensome hull is required.
Another modification of these my improvements is shewn at
Figure 3, in which arrangement the timbers. of the middle part of
the body of the vessel C²; D2, are formed in the usual manner: The
före and aft timbers A2, B, and. E, are shewn in their relative forms
and proper proportions throughout 'the vessel, struck by a radius M; m,
so as to produce the iniproved form of the hull. The side timbers

page_text: or ribs aft the widest part of the vessel may, if required, diverge
from the prescribed form, without prejudice to the character of my
Invention.
Figure 4, is a plan yiew of the deck, formed as they are now
sometimes made, by curved lines from the stem B³, and the stern H",
to the widest part of the vessel I³. The curve of the fore part is struck
from the radius K³, , and that of the after part by the radius L³, 1".
The position of the widest part I³, is to be about two fifths of the
vessel's length measured from the stem, and the stern to be about
two thirds the width of the widest part.
What I claim as constituting my Invention of "Improvements in
Ship-building" is, the construction of vessels formed and arranged
substantially as herein-before described and shown.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Wyncoll Baxter, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of
March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-four.
Witness,
WILLIAM BAXTER.
JOHN WYNCOLL BAXTER. (L.S.)