AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE STANDING RIGGING OF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Stirling Newall, of Gateshead-on-Tyne, Wire
Rope Manufacturer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE
STANDING RIGGING OF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS."
Sealed the 12th June 1855, and dated the 2nd April 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Stirling Newall
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd April 1855.
I, ROBERT STIRLING NEWALL, of Gateshead-on-Tyne, Wire Rope Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT
IN THE STANDING RIGGING OF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS" to be as follows:-
In constructing standing rigging, instead of using wire rope, as heretofore,
made of a number of small wires laid into strands, and of strands laid into a
rope, which class of ropes exposes a large surface to oxidation, I employ ropes
each composed of six stout wires (which number I prefer to any other, but I
do not confine myself thereto), laid round a core of gutta percha, or of flexible
waterproof composition, by which the required strength and greater durability
will be obtained in standing rigging.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Stirling Newall in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 27th September 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
STIRLING NEWALL, of Gateshead-on-Tyne, Wire Rope Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the-Second day-of...April,.. 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 Robert Stirling Newall, Her special licence that I, the said Robert
Stirling Newall, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Robert Stirling Newall; 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 "AN
IMPROVEMENT IN THE STANDING RIGGING OF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS," upon the
condition (amongst others). that I, the said Robert Stirling Newall, 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 Robert Stirling Newall, 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):-
In constructing standing rigging, instead of using wire rope, as heretofore,
made of a number of small wires laid into strands, and of strands laid into a
rope, which class of ropes exposes a large surface to oxidation, I employ ropes
each composed of six stout wires (which number I prefer to any other, but I
do not confine myself thereto), laid round a case of gutta percha, or of flexible
waterproof composition, by which the required strength and greater durability
will be obtained in standing rigging.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.
Heretofore when using wires for standing rigging it has been the practise

page_text: for the most part to employ wire ropes, that is to say, the wires have been first
laid into strands, and the strands have been laid into ropes, and the ropes so
made have been set up and made into standing rigging. By this construction
the desired strength has been obtained by a considerable number of small wires,
which have offered a very extensive surface for oxydation, which it is desirable
to avoid. It has also been proposed to employ a number of straight wires
bound round to make them into a bundle, so that when made up into standing
rigging the wires have retained their straightness, which is objectionable, as
such standing rigging is deficient in elasticity. Now, the object of my Inven-
tion is to obtain to standing rigging that.elasticity which is consequent on
laying wires in a spiral direction on a flexible case, and yet to avoid offering so
large an extent of surface as has heretofore been consequent on employing
several strands of wire laid into a rope. For this purpose, I prefer to employ
in setting up and making standing rigging a series of wires laid or spirally
bent round a core of flexible material, and I recommend six wires, though any
other number may be employed, by which I obtain the strength desired, with
as little surface exposed to oxidation as may be, the sizes of wires used being
in proportion to the strength of standing rigging required; and I set up or
construct standing rigging in other respects in like manner to that in which
standing rigging has heretofore been set up when using wire ropes composed
of strands. The internal core on which the wires are laid I prefer to be of
gutta percha, though other flexible material may be employed; and I lay the
wires side by side around such core, in like manner to that in which wire
strands have heretofore been laid, without twist for making wire ropes, and
also when making wire ropes for telegraphic purposes, all which is well
understood.
What I claim is, the manufacture of standing rigging by employing wires
laid or bent spirally around cores, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Stirling Newall, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Witness,
JNO. Cook,
4, Old Square, Lincoln's Inn.
R. S. NEWALL. (L.8.)