[United States Navy]:

$1,750 · Offered by William Reese Company · No longer available

[LENGTHY MANUSCRIPT DOCUMENT PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE MEASUREMENTS AND CALCULATIONS FOR MASTS, BOWSPRITS, AND OTHER EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPS OF VARIOUS SIZES BUILT IN THE BOSTON NAVY YARD ON THE EVE OF THE ... A detailed and interesting document written at the Boston Navy Yard in 1845, providing very detailed calculations and measurements for the building of ships. The unidentified author begins: "Sir, In compliance with the order received from the bureau of Construction, Repairs & Equipment, to report the proportions by which the mast maker of this yard has hitherto been accustomed to make the different mast & spars for vessels of the navy, I would respectfully submit the following statement…." Over the next several pages, he offers precise measurements for each mast on each type of ship built in the yard. For example, for first class sloops of war, the mizzen mast is:"Length 66 feet made from single tree multiply the length by 29 for the diameters at the partners. [Calculations].Extreme diameter at the partners 1914.Diameter under the hounds seven eights 1674. " in trestletrees three fourths 1425." wake of Cap three fifths 1149." at the heel six sevenths 1640."Each other category of ship (Ships of the Line, Frigates of the First Class, First Class Sloops of War, Brigantine & Schooners) is given the same treatment. The second half of the document contains similar calculations for bowsprits, topmasts, booms, and yards.After a period of relative quiet since the War of 1812, the ship

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