Improved Means for Saving Papers and other Articles from Wrecks.
Year: 1896

page_text: Cameblad Oh
Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1896
1007
1005
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Saving Papers and other Articles from Wrecks.
I, MATTHEW HARRIS BOWDEN, of 25 Pevensey Road, Eastbourne, in the County of
Sussex, Captain, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as
follows;-
The object of my invention is to construct improved floating wreck messengers,
for conveying information of wrecks and disasters of and to seagoing vessels, to
those interested on land.
According to my invention I construct the improved messenger (preferably) of a
form analogous to a model of a vessel or boat. The stern of the vessel is square or
thereabout. From the stern forwards, longitudinally, I bore a hole and insert
therein a metallic tube forming a chamber, the internal end having a metallic cover
soldered thereto, and the stern end of the tube being fitted with a screwed socket
and plate, the plate being secured to the stern of the vessel. A screw plug is fitted
to the socket, so as to render the chamber perfectly water-tight. I also provide a
small wooden rod, round which the ship's log, or a copy thereof, or any other
information, written upon paper, or the like may be rolled, and together inserted in
the tube.
The messenger is made of solid wood preferably pine, and is entirely covered,
externally, with (preferably) Muntz's yellow metal, to protect it when afloat, and
also to render it conspicuous.
Upon the deck I fix a metallic plate, upon which is engraved such a message as
the following:-"Whoever finds this boat; Look in the stern tube for an Abstract
log-which please forward to Lloyds-Underwriters-London"; or any other suitable
directions.
The boat is suitably ballasted to prevent its capsizing, and keep the deck plate
in view at all times, while floating.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Saving Papers and other Articles from Wrecks.
I, MATTHEW HARRIS BOWDEN, of 25 Pevensey Road, Eastbourne, in the County of
Sussex, Captain, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to construct improved floating wreck messengers,

page_text: for conveying information of wrecks and disasters of and to sea-going vessels, to
those interested on land.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar figures of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a deck plan. Fig. 2 a longitudinal side elevation, partly in section.
Fig. 3 is an elevation of the stern, and Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of the tube
and roller.
According to my invention I construct the hull of my improved messenger
(preferably) of a form analogous to a model of a vessel or boat.
The stern of the vessel is square or thereabout, as shown in the drawings. From
the stern forwards I bore a hole, as shown at 6 in Fig. 1, longitudinally, and insert
therein a metallic tube 7, (shown separately in Fig. 4) forming a chamber.
The forward end of the tube has a metallic cover 8 soldered thereto. The stern
end of the tube is soldered to a plate 9, this plate being secured to the stern of the
vessel, as shown in Fig. 3.
The stern end of the tube is screw-threaded internally to receive the externally
screw-threaded plug 10, whereby the chamber is rendered perfectly water-tight.
The tube is fitted into the bore and secured by the plate 9. A small wooden roller 11
is provided for insertion in the chamber, round which rod the ship's log or a copy
thereof, or any information, written upon paper or the like, may be rolled, and
together inserted in the tube.
The Hull of the messenger is made of solid wood, preferably pine, and is entirely
covered, externally, with (preferably) Muntz's yellow metal, to protect it, when
afloat, and also to render it conspicuous.
Upon the deck I affix a metallic plate 12 (Fig. 1) upon which is engraved such a
message as the following "Whoever finds this boat; Look in the stern tube for
an abstract log-which please forward to Lloyds-Underwriters-London"; or any
other suitable directions.
The boat is suitably ballasted to prevent its capsizing, and to keep the deck plate
in view at all times, while floating. A metallic handle 13 is also fitted to the boat
to enable any person on a passing vessel to raise the messenger by means of a boat
hook or analogous appliance, and thus save the trouble and risk of launching a
boat for the purpose.
When the boat has been recovered from the sea, the screw cap 10 is removed by
means of a key, such as that shown at 14, or by a pair of round-nosed pliers, or
other suitable tool, and the log removed to be forwarded as above described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
The improved shipwreck messenger substantially as and for the purposes herein
before described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated 5th June 1897.
GEO. DOWNING.
8 Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.