IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING BOATS ON THE WATER
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Saunders, of No. 13ª, George Street,
Hanover Square, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention
41119
111
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Saunders at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on-
the 30th October 1874.
I, EDWIN SAUNDERS, of No. 13ª, George Street, Hanover Square, in
the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING BOATS ON THE
WATER," to be as follows:-
My Invention has for its object to enable a person while rowing to sit
with his face in the direction in which the boat is being propelled, in
order that he may more readily steer clear of any obstacles. For this
purpose I provide on each side of the boat a horizontal bar mounted in
bearings on the gunwale, so that it can turn or rock somewhat upon its

page_text: axis. Upon this bar are fixed two upright pins or studs at some distance
apart, one of which serves as the fulcrum or rowlock of an oar or scull,
while the other serves as the fulcrum of a lever or handle by which the
oar or scull is actuated. The end of the oar or scull projecting inwards
beyond its fulcrum is connected to the end of the lever projecting
outwards beyond its fulcrum by means of a strong rod or link connected
to either part by a hinge joint, so that as the person rowing pulls the
lever towards him the blade of the oar or scull will by means of the
connecting link also be moved towards him, and thus the boat will be
propelled in the direction in which the oarsman faces. The lever and
oar fit with sockets upon the before-mentioned pins, so that when the
oarsman depresses the lever after performing the propelling stroke he
thereby turns the rocking bar somewhat in its bearings, whereby the pin
forming the fulcrum of the oar in turning with the bar will raise the oar
out of the water, preparatory for performing the return stroke, such
raising of the oar being also partially effected by the connecting link.
The inner end of the oar is by preference provided with a counter-
poisc for partially balancing the weight of the oar, so that in raising
the oar too much strain is not put upon the pins and connecting
link. The oar and lever may be readily unshipped by raising them off
the pins.
Although I prefer to mount the pins on a rocking bar, as described,
yet the latter may be dispensed with and the pins be fixed on the
gunwale, the raising of the oar on the depression of the handle being in
this case effected entirely by the connecting link.

page_text: of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Edwin Saunders, Her special license that I,
the said Edwin Saunders, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Edwin Saunders, 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, usc, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
PROPELLING BOATS ON THE WATER," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Edwin Saunders, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, 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 Edwin Saunders, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that
is to say :-
My Invention has for its object to enable a person while rowing to sit
with his face in the direction in which the boat is being propelled, in
order that he may more readily steer clear of any obstacles. For this
purpose I provide on each side of the boat a horizontal bar mounted in
bearings on the gunwale, so that it can turn or rock somewhat upon its
axis. Upon this bar are fixed two upright pins or studs at some distance
apart, one of which serves as the fulcrum or rowlock of an oar or scull,
while the other serves as the fulcrum of a lever or handle by which the
oar or scull is actuated. The end of the oar or scull projecting inwards
beyond its fulcrum is connected to the end of the lever projecting
5 outwards beyond its fulcrum by means of a strong rod or link connected
to either part by a hinge joint, so that as the person rowing pulls the
lever towards him the blade of the ore or scull will by means of the
connecting link also be moved towards him, and thus the boat will be

page_text: propelled in the direction in which the oarsman faces. The lever and
oar fit with sockets upon the before-mentioned pins, so that when the
oarsman depresses the lever after performing the propelling stroke, ho
thereby turns the rocking bar somewhat in its bearings, whereby the pin
forming the fulcrum of the oar in turning with the bar will raise the i
oar out of the water preparatory for performing the return stroke,
such raising of the oar being also partially effected by the connecting

page_text: lever in such manner that the rower faces the direction in which he
advances, substantially as herein described.
Second. Mounting the oar or scull and the hand lever above referred
to on a longitudinal rocking shaft, so that the rower by operating on the
hand lever can raise or depress the oar or scull, substantially as horein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Saunders, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.