IMPROVEMENTS IN ANCHORS, TO BE CALLED THE FERDINAND MARTIN SAFETY ANCHOR
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Haskett, of 52, Wigmore Street, in the
"
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ANCHORS, TO BE CALLED THE FERDINAND MARTIN SAFETY ANCHOR."
-A communication.
Sealed the 18th November 1853, and dated the 18th May 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Haskett at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 18th May 1853.
I, JOHN HASKETT, of 52, Wigmore Street, in the County of Middle-
sex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ANCHORS TO BE CALLED THE FERDINAND MARTIN SAFETY
ANCHOR, "to be as follows, viz. :-
The safety anchor consists of an oval ring, Fig. A; in a shank, Fig. B
a bow with gable and flange, Fig. C; a ring, Fig. D; two arms with
their palms, Figs. E, and F; a bolt or pin, Fig. G. The anchor com-
posed of the above pieces put together, as in Fig. H, affords the im-

page_text: mense power of two palms holding at the same time. The weighing
(or swivel) point is so infallible that the anchor can never fail to fall
on its two palms, in whatever position it may be placed. The Fig. J,
represents the anchor dropping with its palms up; yet by heaving on
the cable or chain connected with it by the ovali ring, Fig. A, there is
a strain on the bow or arc, which strain brings down the palms, which
by their own weight tend to sink flat on the bottom. The anchor then
lies in the position Fig. K. The preceding operation also connects the
false position, Fig. L, in which the anchor is seen dropped on its side.
The The above explanatory references will fully show that the safety
anchor affords in every contingency, on reaching the bottom, a simulta-
neous holding power of the two palms by the play of the bow or are in
every direction required. Thus it may be seen that a vessel holding by
the safety anchor is as secure as when riding on a backed anchor, and
that the tedious and perilous labour of backing the anchor, unavoidable
in boisterous weather, is thus obviated by the safety anchor.
The safety anchor, may be got "atrip" (in spite of the obstacles
which frequently occur) by two peculiar and distinct means, and from on
board; the one by heaving with a tackle or the capstan on a stout buoy
rope attached to the ring Fig. D; the other by sending down by the
chain a strong messenger with a shot to fetch it home, which on reach-
ing the point Z, Fig. K, the chain is let go that the shank may fall
flat on the bottom, Fig. M, and the messenger rope is heaved on, by
which the vessel is brought to a short peak, and the anchor got atrip
with case. This result will be easily perceived on considering that the
gravity of the shank, 'no longer under strain, will form the place of the
messenger, and by far outweigh the gravity of the palms, which being
thus eased will loose their hold, and assumesa perpendicular-position:
Itris scarcely necessary to point out that the licayiness of the chain
attached to the oval ring Fig. M, though not necessary, is in fact an
accessory weight.
The above two means are recurred to only when the anchor cannot
be got atrip" by the ordinary method.
The shape of the safety anchor precludes the dangerous inconvenience
of having, as in the common method, one of its palms standing (or

page_text: erect), which palm is apt to stave in the bottom of the vessel when
anchored in shoal water, or forced against it by the current. The
safety anchor cannot be foul, as it has no istock, and it can be-laid
alongside the vessel or on deck conveniently, and without requiring
much room Nor can this anchor become entangled by coming in
contact with the chains of other anchors
".
s
.
:
.I
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Haskett in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 18th November 1853..
Birbi
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I;
JOHN HASKETT, of 52, Wigmore Street, in the County of Middlesex,
send greeting.
4 at w
"WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the six-
teenth year' of Her reign, did, för Herself, Her heirs and successors;
give and grant unto me; the said John Haskett, Her special license
that I, "the said John Haskett, my executors; administrators; and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Haskett, my executor's;
administrators; and assigns, should at any time agree with; and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the terni
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 communicated to me
by a foreigner residing abroad for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ANCHORS, TO BE
CALLED THE FERDINAND MARTIN SAFETY ANCHOR, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Haskett, 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 imme
diately after the date of the said Letters. Patent:
ך…

page_text: :
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Haskett, 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):
The safety anchor consists of an oval ring, Fig. 1; in a shank Fig. 2;
a bow with gable and flange, Fig. 3; a ring, Fig. 4, Two arms with
their palms, Figs. 5, and 6; a belt or pin, Fig. 7. The anchor composed
of the above pieces put together, as in Fig. 8, affords the immense
power of two palms holding at the same time. The weighing or swivel
point is so infallible that the anchor can never fail to fall on its two
palms, in whatever position it may be placed. Fig. 9, shows the anchor
dropping with the palms up; yet by heaving on the cable or chain
connected with it by the oval ring there is a strain on the bow or arc
which strain brings down the palms, which by their own weight tend
to sink flat on the bottom. The anchor then lies in the position
Fig. 10. The preceding operation also connects the false position,
Fig. 11, in which the anchor is seen dropped on its side.
The above explanatory references will fully show that the safety anchor
affords in every contingency, on reaching the bottom, a simultaneous
holding power of the two palms by the play of the bow or are in every
direction required. Thus it may be seen that a vessel holding by the
safety anchor is as secure as when riding on a backed anchor, and that
the tedious and perilous labour of backing the anchor, unavoidable in
boisterous weather, is thus obviated by the safety anchor.
The safety anchor may be got "atrip" (in spite of the obstacles which
frequently occur) by two peculiar and distinct means, and from on
board; the one by leaving with a tackle or the capstan on a stout buoy
rope, attached to the ring, Fig. 4; the other by sending down by the
chain a strong messenger with a shot to fetch it home, which on reaching
the point, Fig. 10, the chain is let go that the shank may fall flat on the
bottom, Fig. 12, and the messenger rope is heaved on, by which the
vessel is brought to a short peak, and the anchor got "atrip" with case.
This result will be easily perceived on considering that the gravity of
the shank, no longer under strain, will form the place of the messenger,
and by far outweigh the gravity of the palms, which being thus eased

page_text: will loose their hold, and assume a perpendicular position. It is
scarcely necessary to point out that the heaviness of the chain attached
to the oval ring, Fig. 12, though not necessary, is in fact an accessory
weight.
The above two means are recurred to only when the anchor cannot
be got "atrip" by the ordinary method.
The shape of the safety anchor precludes the dangerous inconvenience
of having, as in the common method, one of its palms standing (or
erect), which palin is apt to stave in the bottom of the vessel when
anchored in shoal water, or forced against it by the current. The
safety anchor cannot be foul, as it has no stock, and it can be laid
alongside the vessel or on deck conveniently, and without requiring
much room. Nor can this anchor become entangled by coming in
contact with the chains of other anchors.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Haskett, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.