Hellman Harpoon Catalog 100-173-001

No. 100 (RH123)

gogi

DESCRIPTION Typical American double-flued iron with curved edges.

Fine condition.

OA length: 36-7/8"

MAKER'S MARKS

SHIP'S MARKS

J.T. None believed to stand for J & T Durfee, New Bedford

APPROX. AGE

WHERE PURCH.

RABourne mid-nine­ auction teenth century (?)

DATE OF PURCH. 3/1/69

4 Bio

00

SHIP'S MARKS

MAKER'S No.

101 (NH3609)

oool~

• 102 (NH 216*4RH 162)

OOO 3

MARKS :

DESCRIPTION

WHERE PURCH,

APPROX. AGE

J.T. & Co None Amer. doulble(J & T Durfee, flued iron with New Bedford) unusual narrow head shape (similar in hasic outline to Carsley iron No. 105) Fine condition.

OA len. 3H"

DATE OF PURCH.

mid- 19th Tom century (?) Prindall auction

Amer. double flued ^'.$>68=5^ deeply iron with straight stamped (• edges. Much original an- error and serving remains on should read socket. Condition; gd. -ST&P Snow—&OA len.- 3H " Purringtort, New Bed-ford-)

lowed x°wea , by clear

July, 1976

mid 19th Lynch & cent-(?) Graham, N.Y. 26th gt>

Arinory

U VtA-'w

show , -f^ Sept., 1972 scc" Izfi, (Graham said he originally o*r **$.+1^ b0U!13t ib at Axc»h \ -~7 auction m fV,L Portsmouth, N.H. ) ^

#IS5~

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of -Mi'""/•rJO'J}

lifew .V.J seF(^=£^) M

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**

"£••""* 't

Utitrate* */ , ^

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CP"

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S* V

lo% lU-n '""1 ^

SBF is almost assuredly the mark if SAMUEL BROWN FOLGER (Sr.) who was certaunly a ship chandler and most probably a blacksmith on Nantu6ket. He was born Nov. 21, 1795 and died Jan 7. 1854. To the right is a xerox copy of one of his bills to the ESSEX in 1816 and on follow­ ing page is a bill to the same vessel" in 1817

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I

MAKER'S No. 103

ass8 00 c*h

DESCRIPTION

MARKS O

SHIP'S MARKS

Early, rather primno legible marks ative Amer. doubleflued iron with straight edges - one barb slightlylarger than the other.

Socket with original . braided ropework(ÂŁending in eye-loop. Condition; good OA length - 36"

APPROX. AGE

WHERE PURCH.

DATE OF PURCH.

early 19th R A Bourne centrury (?) auction 8/14. #ISO

No. 103

104 (NH#3586 RH 210) CxDCgT * ^ *

Extremely finely D&S(Dean punched lett.

Bob Skinner wrought Amer. Double& Sawyer, WAtS.|5 Auction- July,76 standing flued iron with beauti- New Bedford) OIL for: William f"ully curved edges.

7'0 Martin (schooner Rather short, OA length out of Orleans, Mass. only 31" - no doubt made and later from for the atlantic sperm Boston) and Starboard whale fishery.

Old paint Boat markings on cone read "Cap't. Bixby coll.

This iron dates W. S. of A." between 1854 - 1859 (based on dates of Dean & Sawyer which also coincides with dates the William Martin sailed from Orleans.)

Ttir • i •to;--- r \f i€ k, Lx*

Ho.

No, 105 (RH219)

COOG

DESCRIPTION

MAKER'S MARKS ::

SHIP'S MARKS

W.C. None "William Carsley" double-flued iron (William Carsley, with twisted barbs.

New Bedford) This is probably a prototype of the first patented Amer. whaling iron.

Pat. No. 2195, issued 7/29/1841.

This is a very long iron, OA - 38£".

Very similar in head outline to iron No. 101.

Condition; moderate to heavy pitting overall.

Head design of this iron is somewhat different from one in the New Bedford Museum which is stamped with the patent date. However, it is very similar to another in the Hinsdale Coll. at the New Bedford Museum which may be been in the old photos of that collection (copy attached herewith). I should say these are early examples from the time when Carsley was experimenting with twist­ ing the barbs.

CRP Amer. double-flued 105A harpoon head only(RH 156 NH 1623) probably never welded to shaft. OA len. - 7" 0007 Said to have been dug up in yard in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Rare - if original to area, as Hudson River material is very scarce. Condition; moderate pitting.

NONE

APPROX. AGE

WHERE PURCH.

April, 1976

Tom Prindall Auction

prob. prior to 1841.

No.

DATE OF PURCH.

4176

°o

105

Poughkeepsie Antique Show Nov. , 1971

19th Cent.

05

c=

Vop -R

L

nESCRIPTION

MAKER'S MARKS 3

SHIP'S MARKS

APPROX. AGE

WHERE PURCH.

DATE OF PURCH.

106 English double flued both maker's and 19th cent, R.A.Bourne (RH 157) harpoon with Sz" wide ships marks present Auction head."Stop-withers" but completely un­ 3/21/70 OA len.- 33a"' General decipherable due 4 'XlO — heavy pitting thruout, to corrosion. Was but well smoothed and probably dated. cleaned. Socket closed, with large corrosion hole on one side.

rh

£ s&(6

1/ 19th cent. Rachel F.G. Reichelman Very fine English 107 Marks (RH 158) large headed doubleno visible (who found flued iron with ship's marks it in antique OOOS "stop withers". Head shop in Nyack) 5|" wide. Iron very short, only 26|" OA. April, Shaft considerably 1973 contorted as if in conflict with a whale 00

450

No. 108

DESCRIPTION

MAKER!S /I ARKS

SHIP'S MARKS

APPROX AGE

Amer. single-flued Deeply impress­ ca. 1850 iron; fine condition ed! with original black E. PARKER paint. Thick, rather (Nantucket, short head (5-3/^" tip Mass.) to tip). Slight _ 1 /k no ship's in shaft near I id, marks which illustrate M design feature of the single flued iron which was supposed to bend upon pressure after it was darted into the whale.

OA length - 35".

U»&

WHERE PURCH.

DATE OF PURCH,

Fred Hatfield Bedford Hills, N.Y.

.

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109 Unusual shaped Amer. J.B, (small, no ship's Tom Prindall (RH 221) single-flued iron. deep, clear marks auction Long, narrow & thin impression) mid-l9th April, 000°! single barb (6-3/^" James Barton(?) cent.

1976 tip to tip) with rather New Bedford straight cutting edge.

00 Heavy shank, chamfered immediately behind head, OA length - 36-3/8"

MAKER'S No,

DESCRIPTION

MARKS

SHIP'S MARKS

APPROX, AGE

1W

Good Amer. single( J. TINKHAM 1 mid 19th flued iron with long cent. lmPrfl§?lniSestrongly curved barb typical of (6f" on str. line measureTinkham's ^ment - tip to tip) shank trademark \ Jo i jr moderately heavy and short. OA len. - 31-7/8" no sign of P Moderate pitting on ship markings shaft and head. Sizeable may be lost in v \ " A, 1/. flake missing from head corrosion i° .^hnear point on left side J 0^1 \\l (see photo) (RHT25)

WHERE PURCH. RA Bourne Auction

DATE OF PURCH. NOV. 29, 1969

4 250 00

V V

T. Prindall B. SBM (undoubt111 Typical Amer. single- J. MACY auction, edly fors (RH 220) flued iron. Head sim­ (Josiah Macy, April, New Bedford.

Bark Sunbeam, ilar in shape and size 1976 New Bedford) to Parker iron No. 108. manufactured On reverse of under that mark Moderate corrosion on 00 115 & name from 18*4-3 shank marked s shaft and socket, but much of original orange - when shop was = waist purchased from paint remains. boat William Carsley .OA length - 33!"• until 1857, when name was changed to J. Macy Jr TMonro mull & Co.)

*

III

ssPr.,iW Since the Bark Sunbeam was built and first sailed in 1856 - the tail end of the J. Macy mark we can assume that this iron was forared ca. 1856

m

DESCRIPTION

MAKER'S M

SHIP'S M

AÂŁE

WH5RE

WHgfJ

110-A Very fine American single flued iron of same design and by same maker as item 110 except 0 —in better condition. Long, strongly re- curved single barb (6-7/8" on a straight line measurement tip to tip) Condi tion - excellent with no pitting except on the socket. Shank slightly wavy indicating use. OA Length- 32-11/16" Very slight bend in shank immediately forward of socket.* *A single flued iron also by Tinkham and of the same sweeping design was in the collection of Clifford Ashley and is illustrated in "The Yankee Whaler". It is now in the collection of Paul Vardeman of Kansas City, Mo. " J. TINKHAM" impressed within a rectangular frame on the left boss [John Tinkham, Fairhaven, Ma. working in the 1850's and probably much earlier] "S. LYDIA" chisel cut into right boss - Ship Lydia of Fairhaven, Ma. 1845-1865 Also on left boss two (2) vertical slash marks no doubt indicating the Larboard Boat Mid 1840's to 1850's Gustave White Auction Portsmouth, Rl 12/7/98

$1265.

NO 111-A nr~)il

DFSPR TPF TON DESCRIPTION

MAKER'S MARKS

SHIP'S MARKS

APPROX. AGE

WHERE PURCH.

DATE OF PURCH.

American single-flued hand thrust harpoon with fine large single barb. Very good cond. with very light pitting overall. OA len. - 32-5/8".

Very slight dent for about 1" along midpoint of cutting edge, . Point of iron very slightly blunted.

J. MACY JR. & CO. NO trace of ship's markings are evident 1857 to 1861, which were the dates the Macy firm operated under the name of J,Macy Jr. & Co. R.A. Bourne Auction June 24, 1981

No,

DESCRIPTION

MARKS

SHIP'S MARKS

APPROX. AGE

WHERE PURCH.

DATE OF PURCH.

112 Amer. single-flued S&P S JAMES ca. 1850 (?)

(NH420g>) iron with moveable (Snow & (Ship Sheffield Flea rear half of barb.

Purrington, James, Market May, 1978 I believe this iron New New Bedford)* OO/t CO may have been developed Bedford)

by Snow & Purrington, whalecrafters of New Bedford, to compete *"S" for ship and "S" in with the Temple toggle James, only visible after iron, after the latters very close scrutiny - but appearence ca. 1848. 'they are definitely present.

Like Temple's toggle this Also curved bottom of "J" is iron was never patented. barely visible. This serves It is very rare. Unfortunately, as an excellent example of this example is incomplete how difficult it was to scratch since it is missing the end of in curved lines as opposed to its shaft and its socket. chiseling straight lines and It is as found, with the why such curves are so often end of the shaft buried "lost" on old irons. On this in the old 4-3" long pole, iron the stright part of the which might be a remnant of the "J" & the"AME" are very clear original harpoon pole, but and well incised. On irons could not have worked in the which have been marked by im­ manner we now see it. At the pressing a series of dots, this iron end, the pole is wrapped problem usually does not exist. with three turns of 1/8" thick copper wire of undetermined origin or age. OA length of iron remaining is 22" (including approx. 3" which is buried in the wooded*, pole. Shape of head with hinged back open is similar to typical s.f. iron head and similar to examples which are illustrated in Ashley's "Yankee Whaler", and in photos of Hinsdale collection in New Bedford Museum, Head retains remains of old, unreadable paper lable.

\

19th cent.(1861 none apparent 11^ "Modern" toggle center punch 1886 are dates (NH 2786) iron. Shaft & marks on head of vessel) socket with black appear to read, paint which is probJohn Newton one side: ably not original. at Spring­ Q.S. believed Paint on socket is • field, Mass. to be for heat blistered (we Show removed paint from schooner •• quickstep;' Feb., 197^ head). OA len.- 32f" Provincetown, Mass. opposite side: = Larboard 'pvKl'i Ot (Uc-b OK, boat av\t\ so I J also letters E.B. (?) (possibly initials 6/ ' 1 " ^ \ ^'AA • of the harpooner )\ ,5Kcw) P^-C M&O

:v 115 "Modern" toggle iron. S&P (Snow chisel marked John Veenschoten, Erie, Pa. (from (NH 3896) Good condition; socket & Purrington, B-K (bark) M v P TT a home in Ohio) with nearly all of New Bedford) (MattaPoisett, original serving and June, 1977 Westport, Mass.)

—-2 length of old rope (i" dia.) with eye - possibly orig.

V2D_ on opp. side: #£5 OA length - 33" MB - I believe WB = waist boat, with "W" upsided in error.

No.

DESCRIPTION

MAKER'S MARKS i,

SHIP'S MARKS

116 "Modern" toggle iron none (NH 242*0 Very fine - at one time belonged to a "gun collector" who polished off all its patina. However, close inspection will reveal faint traces of orange paint. OA length - 32".

This iron was reportedly found on the beach at Cuttyhunk Is. after the wreck of the "Wanderer" in 1924. This may be a complete fabrication another one of the thousands of so called "came from the Wanderer" items. The complete lack of markings, however, on an unquestionably authentic whaling iron, might lend credence to the story as there was certainly little need for marking irons in the 1920*s.

Azores toggle iron; none 117 (RH 142) appears to have some age. Has long (8-3/4") graceful head. Cut off QOrf end of shank visible within socket (typical of Azores irons - certainly the later ones). Iron coated with a clear varnish. A fair amount of scaling on cone.

OA length - 28". Small hole near end of socket j for attaching iron to wood pole (typical of Azores irons).

1X

none

none

APPROX. AGE

WHERE PURCH.

20th Warwick, century(?) R.I.

DATE OF PURCH. March, 1973

20th Cent.(?)

Scrimshaw Shop, Hyannis, Mass.

9/3/68

t3i^

No,

118 SOJif

DESCRIPTION

MAKER'S MARKS 'I

"Sag Harbor" toggle none iron with small head (5~3/^") and standard to rather long shaft.

OA length - 35"« General light to moderate pitting.

Tip of head somewhat blunted.

SHIP'S MARKS

none

APPROX. AGE

WHERE PURCH,

DATE OF PURCH.

19th Cent. Sullivan's Auction, Katonah, N.Y. (originally from home in Bridgehampton, Long Is., N.Y.)

4jOGQ£-

J.D. chisel markeds "Sag Harbor" toggle (probably S. GZ iron with small head James Durfee, (prob. Ship (5-3/8")» and rather New Bedford) Gazelle, 0<5Rcl°ng shaft. OA len.- 36" New Bedford) ^ ^moderate pitting. on reverse of heads III = waist boat

119

ca. 1860~|0

none Reproduction toggle none 120 (RH 127) iron mounted on wooden pole with rope £0/7 and serving.

American - one of the better repros.

Length of iron - 30" I oV. OA Length of pole - 55"/

1967(?)

RA Bourne Auction Aug. 1, 1978

New Bedford Surplus Sales

No.

DESCRIPTION

121 Amer. darting gun (NH toggle iron. Nice 2916) condition. Black­ ened (paint?)

OA length - 38"

Tc mil Seff. 1979

MAKER'S

SHIP'S

MARKS

MARKS

:

APPROX. AGE

WHERE PURCH.

DATE OF PURCH.

center early COLE 20th cent.(?) (very faint) punched ship's Edward R. Hartsdale Flea marks: Cole, FairMarket - bought B. ??? haven, Mass. / —7 , from Todd Oberdorf (not readable) ( i E. Cole was on reverse side T3«+4.„ the grandson from Betty of head, centercenter Long) of William punched s June, Carsley. He S B = starboard was one of the 197^ boat last of the whalecrafters.

%

122 Doig

123 &&&%

Contemporary Amer. darting gun iron made for Alaskan Eskimos. Brass toggle head, poorly fitted to 3/8" iron rod shaft. Shaft painted black enamel.

OA length - 39"

none. none ca. 1973 Iron made

by Naval Gun Co. of Doylestown, Pa./ Owned by a Mr^' Mein&nger* the business was handed down in his family. It was originally acquired from Frank Brown, New Bedford. Mr. Mein^nger is truly the "last of the Amer. whalecrafters

July, Arctic Trading 1973 Post, % Nome, Ak, -

^3

chisel marked?

Tom Prindall COLE Amer. darting gun WAN (Wanderer, Auction (Edward R. toggle iron. Very New Bedford) Cole, Fairfine condition. Some 12/73 haven, Mass, ) One of the traces of black paint, last major a very sharp point.& very Amer. sailing sharp cutting edge. whalers.

OA length - 38-3/8" on reverse: W$ = waist boat (combination of chiseled and centerpunching) early 20th cent. (?)

GC

No,

DESCRIPTION

SHIP'S MARKS

MAKER'S MARK'S ;

APPROX. AGE

WHERE PURCH.

DATE OF PURCH.

chisel markeds late 19th J. BA— 124 Rather short Amer.

B PRXXeo (?) cent.

(NH3829) darting gun toggle (Most prob.

Swansea iron with unusual James Barton, to date have Antique New Bedford) not been looking (narrows Show, April able to in­ abruptly with scarce­ terpret these ly any taper). Good 1977 markings. condition. OA len.on opp. sides 32-3/4" SB = starboard ki I fi (tf ffC boat lAYt UH PRACQ(?) fi of i,«5 fKp d{c-\ /\LMcsr.\

X XJ

(Atol

_L10

jf

f\S5 iA Kcd / J

47

A most unafter 1861, MACY (for Very short darting 125 usual iron most prob.

E.B. & (NH 3711) gun toggle iron. Un­ with two around 1876 F. Macy, usual eye loop near­ oozo sets of New Bedfordly circular instead of iron purchased chiseled more common "tear drop" successor to from John ship's marks. shape. This is a most J. Macy Jr. Veensghoten, On one side: & Co.- from distinctive and fine Erie, Pa. (who B. P .T whaling iron. It has 1861 until it (Bark President, obtained a rather short spike. its closure from an New OA length - only 27|". in 1904.

Ohio home) Bedford) This iron is very sim­ Nov. , That ship name is ilar to a short Macy 1976 cancelled out with darting gun iron in diagonal lines thru the Hinsdale collection CO the ship's marks. at the N.B. Museum.

This was done, no Eye loop is served with doubt at the time the marline. iron was transferred to the 2nd vessel which is indicated on the op­ posite sides S.A.B.(for shooner Abbie Bradford, New Bedford)* *Both the bark President and the Sch­ ooner Abbie Bradford were managed by the firm of Jonathan Bourne, in the mid 1870's when this change was made probably around 18§0 when the President seems to have been retired from whaling.

Noted also between the S and B are .... which probably stood for "waist boat" when this iron was used aboard the President.

SEE EXACT TRACINGS ON FOLLOWING PAGE

MAKER * S No. 126 (RH 160) OO'L \

DESCRIPTION

MARKS ;;

A most unusual toggle None iron - almost certain­ ly not Amer. Head smooth on top with barb below.

Socket closed as in Eng­ lish irons. Configuration of head reminds me of some early, non-toggling Japan­ ese harpoons. Large hole in head and shaft (3/16" dia.) for wooden holding pin. Moderate amounts of pitting. OA len.- 29i"

SHIP'S MARKS

APPROX. AGE

None

19th Cent.

WHERE PURCH.

DATE OF PURCH.

Frank Sylvia Antiques at N.Y. Coloseum Show, March, 1972 c>0 #/oO-

V

No markings 127 Fairly late grommet iron, (RH167) with spring tilted toggle head and steel grommet. &OZ2Probably English or Scotch. ' Quite short; OA len. - 23-3/^"• May have been used for small whales or dolphins - although head is quite large (7i").'

Socket is closed & appears to be quite late - may even be a replacement. Cut off end of shaft clearly visible within socket. Small hole near end of socket for pinning iron to wood pole. Condition; good. * Contemporary photo of man using a very similar iron may be found in P. Budker's book "Whales and Whaling" London, 1958 (translated from the French)

early R.A. Bourne 20th Cent.(?) Auction, Aug., 1970 fifGQ

00

DESCRIPTION 128 0O13 ~

MAKER'S MARKS '

SHIP'S MARKS

APPROX. AGE

"Elisha Babcock" iron- I J. TINKHAM 1 ca. I860 supposedly invented by in rectangle Whaling Master Ejisha typical of Babcock of New Bedford Tinkham's about I860. Never pat­ trademark ented. Consists of Temple(see item 110) type toggle head with small Fairhaven, Mass. double flued front end.

There are two slight pat­ No ship's tern variations - both markings illustrated in polaroids » below. The one in our collection is similar to that illustrated in Ashley's "Yankee Whaler". Both varients made by Tinkham. This is a superbly crafted iron in almost pristine condition.

It has some slight traces of original white paint.

OA length - 361?" •

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4 ? • t W J C . C .. M a

WHERE PURCH. Pascoag, R.I. e P !> &v(.i!(b

DATE OF PURCH. Summer, 1978

tâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;

No

30

No. 129

oo 24

DESCRIPTION Broadsided patent­ ed toggle iron byGeorge Doyle of Provincetown, Mass.

Pat, #219^9, Nov. 2, 1858. Moderate to heavy pitting throughout. Socket almost completely covered with rope braiding Ind late dark green paint.

Heavy rope becket extends from rear end of braiding.

Quite short OA length - 31-3/4"

MAKER' MARKS

SHIP'S MARKS

none

none

APPROX. AGE

WHERE PURCH.

DATE OF PURCH.

Brought to 18601875 (?) us at Wilton Flea Market

by Mrs. Doane of Wilton,Conn.

She said it came from Nova Scotia, where her husband's family was en­ gaged in inr' whaling. Per­ haps it was pick­ ed up in trade with Provincetown whalers, as this is unquestionally an Amer. iron.

May, 1977 •*L

130 (NH4044) Head-RH 177 j;' .Q„ nh

t

Hand thrust explosive marked on wide ca. 1872- Shaft from 1880 (?) Dr, Shortman, harpoon invented by part of shank below toggle: Charles Freemen of Riverside, Brewster, Mass. PatPATD- MAY 7,1872 Conn. Oct, 1977 No ships ent ^126,388, May 7, Head;part 1872. Shaft & mechanism markings of lot of in good condition with 5 pieces, some light pitting. Ex­ RA Bourne plosive head cast iron, Auction Feb., I972 very heavily pitted.

(Head is not original to this iron) Devices to fasten head to shaft are new. Very small piece of metal over spring is broken off and missing.

Much black paint on shaft which may or may not be original. Socket closed iry^ OFF (So British manner - very un- ( ' V usual for an Amer. Iron.

TOM I~4TL/ AT OA length(With head)- 4o|" (K gim.'Ur piece Q A Shaft has two barb-like projections on opposite sides (T \> * J c i\i > A]cIf C • f <3, 1 jjr7

131

No.

ooai"

DESCRIPTION

MAKER* S MARKS 'I

SHIP'S MARKS

Gun iron de^elopsd None None and patented by Oliver Allen of Norwich, Conn.

Pat. #5949, Dec. 5, 1848. Sometimes called "Orange" or "Clover leaf" iron. Head like two double flued heads at right angles to one another, followed by 3/8" shank for 24" terminating in Shoulder and small socket. '• Behind that is part which went into the gun, which in this case is made of + shaped iron (in cross section) 17" long, which terminates in i" thick disc, or wafer. OD of gun part approx. 13/16" (for 7/8" bore). OA length - 46^".

Fine condition with much original black paint. * Allen's gun harpoon was probably a failure. It is believed to fly side­ ways when projected from the gun and thus was not very effective. The trailing rope was fastened to the shoulder.

The part which entered the gun was sometimes made of wood or brass tubing as an alternate to the + shaped steel.

APPROX. AGE

mid 19th cent.

— {

j

WHERE PURCH.

DATE OF PURCH.

E. Lang, Mar. , who bought 1974 it in shop on Route 6A, Cape Cod.

I „ .

DESCRIPTION 132a

ox)7~&

MAKER'S MARKS

SHIP'3 • MARIS

4th (and ultimate) model of Robert Brown's double flued gun harpoon with two moveable barbs, patented June 4, 1850, (original had fixed head see item 217). Good cond. with old black paint over­ all, with decorative red paiht over 1st 6" of head and lJs-7 at butt end. Signs of what appears to be an^old welded repair diagonally across shank about 11" from tip.

OA length - 33|r"

,

APPROX. AGE-

WHERE PURCH.

DATS OF PURCH.

•

Raised letters cast into shank R. BROWN PATD 1850 (this is typical for these irons) center punched along one side of shank 12" from butt - 3• 3U host likely represents either 3HIF SUROPA or SHIP EUPHRATES, both of New Bedford NOTEs Brown harpoon No. 132 which is virtually identical to 132a was removed from our collection and sold to Tom Lytle, having been replaced by this item.

1

~>" ° ^^ BARBARA JOHNSON COLLECTION SOTHEBY' S AUCTION PART III April 30, 1983 (top photo item 447)

No,

DESCRIPTION

MARKS

SHIP'S MARKS

APPROX. AGE

WHERE PURCH,

DATE OF PURCH.

None mid 19th E. Lang, Raised let­ 132 Gun iron pat(who bought cent. tering cast (RH 15*0 ented by Robert it at R.A. into flat of Brown of New Lon­ Bourne Auction don, Corm. Pat. No. shank reads s 7410, 1850.

R. BROWN PAT'D 1850 1971 N Has two moveable barbs (month?) behind triangular shap­ SOLD TO ed head and lance-like */&£• R blade at right angles to the plane in which the barbs move. Shank C-F TRAF XJ/C FTBJCCB 'IDETHUL 1 J3^P of cast iron or steel, flattened to permit rope to enter gun. Flares out to round butt end with OD of 1-5/16" (for 1-3/8 bore). Good condition; most of original black paint retained.

OA length - 33-3A".

ca.I87O Morgan Very faint, Levine, S&P (Snow & (NH 3635 Kelley of New Bedford,Mass.

Nantucket Purrington, on 2} Pat. #71763, Dec. 3, 1867.

New Bedford) Aug., 1976 Has standard toggle head Ship's marks and standard harpoon shaft present but (with one slight bend) which illegible terminates in cylinder If" 1" OD. Unusual in that long x it is designed to fit a Brand No, 2 bomb gun (most Zeno Kelley irons in collections have smaller butt cylinders designed for 7/8" bore guns (e.g. #1 Brand or Pierce guns). Original slide but missing rope becket. Spring is new. Iron has much black paint (probably or­ ifo*/ 32? iginal) over which clear varnish ID TO J 0i* has been applied. Cond. - very good.

OP • OA length - 29-1/8". We feel this example is an early version of Kelley's ITe-ec! \Q \3>I>CXS gun iron.

133

Gun iron patented by Zeno

HO. 133a 06*7

DESCRIPTION

MAKER'S MARKS

SHIP'S MARKS

APPROX WHERE AOE PURCH.

DATE OF PURCH.

Zeno Kelley Gun i r o n with obtuse head, s l i d e f o r rope becket (becket missing) o r i g i n a l shock absorbing s p r i n g and b u t t c y l i n d e r s i z e d t o f i t t y p i c a l 7 / 8 " bored gun. Two p r o j e c t i o n s on r e a r of s l i d e t o f i t i n t o muzzle o f gun. rubber shock absorbing button m i s s i n g . Cond. good with only minor p i t t i n g . Shank somewhat i r r e g u l a r and wavy. OA l e n g t h - 25 5 / 8 " Appears t o have S (&P?) on head (Snow 3c Purrington) but d e f i n i t e l y not c l e a r - may be a c t u a l l y only c o r r o s i o n NONE

i 8 6 0 ' s - l S 7 0 *s R.A. Bourne Auct.

Hyannis, Ma.

s e e item 133 Tor a s i m i l a r i r o n which i s no l o n g e r i n t h i s collection Zeno Kelley, a New Bedford, Ma. watchmaker and instrument d e a l e r obtained U.S. Patent No. 71763 on Dec. 3» 1867 f o r t h i s design o f gun harpoon

Nov. 1988 8300.

No, 13^

DESCRIPTION

Gun harpoon invented

MAKER'S MARKS ;

SHIP'S MARKS

none

none

APPROX. AGE 1880's

(RH155) about 1882 by H.W.

Ooz?

Mason, who was police chief of New Bedford.

Never patented. Made to fit Cunningham & Cogan's shoulder bomb gun. (They were ass­ ociates of Mr. Mason.)

Head with three cutting edges, followed by two moveable flukes. U shap­ ed groove on one side to accept harpoon line .

Condition: very good with some traces of original green paint.

OA length - 22" OD approx. 15/16" (to fit 1" bore.)

135 Gun harpoon patented None None ca.1870 (RH208) by Robert E. Smith of (NH 3588)Provincetown, Mass.

Pat. #640^5, April 23, 0OA.3 I867. Point with three ' cutting edges, followed by 5" long toggle fluke.

Split shank with sliding wire eye loop. OA length25|". OD 13/16" (for 7/8" bore gun). Condition; good, with traces of orig­ inal black paint. Mark­ ed below toggle in old red paint "Cap't. Bixby Coll, W.S. of A." *This was I believe a fairly successful gun,iron, well advertized and used by many of the Provincetown whalers. There are quite a few in the Nan­ tucket Whaling Museum some (probably the later W ones) made where the entire head, including cutting edges toggled over shank - rather than a fixed front piece with a moveable fluke behind as in this specimen.

WHERE PURCH.

DATE OF PURCH.

E. Lang (who bought it at RA Bourne Auction) 1971 (Month?)

*110

R. Skinner Auction, July, 1976 ^9o-

<yD sUe^ 0 = Lower OA Lgftj, > 36 ji

bio. I3G

No,

DESCRIPTION

MAKER'S MARKS G

SHIP'S MARKS

APPROX. AGE

WHERE PURCH.

DATE OF PURCH.

136 Gun harpoon made for John Faint ca.1850 (NH R. Brown whaling gun but unmis­ Newton, 4236) by Lewis Temple takable Wiscasset, inventor of the toggle July, marks on Maine 0^3 0 harpoon. Possibly head: 1978 the only one in exist­ L.T. ence. Has typical or­ (Lewis iginal Temple toggle Temple, head 83" long. Shape New Bedford) of head identical with OfJ £ e signed heads in Nantucket Whaling Museum, Dukes Co. hc&tl >$ -Puffy Hist. Soc., Edgartown, M.V. L .T£MPLjf and Flayderman Cat. No. 100 This iron has conventional harpoon shaft which widens out to a button end, with anc" 0D of 1-5/16" - which will fi't the Brown gun. cL>se( In front of butt disc is OtJ 5/8" dia. hole for harpoon S.B S-tARSoARO Befir line and widened shaft ahead of this hole has slight concave C h >st( Ma aPf-C d channels to accomodate the 0*A /<? c/r(£ line. This iron is in excellent condition, and has much original black paint.

OA length - 36!".

1ato<tx-UnC aj

M©. 1 3 7

No 137 (NH3635 on 2see No. 133) 00$ I

DESCRIPTION

MAKER'S MARKS ;;

MARKS

Gun Harpoon for swivel None None bow gun patented by Henry W. Mason & Patrick Cunningham of New Bedford, Mass.

(Patent covers both harpoon and bow gun) Pat. #269,080, Dec. 12, 1882.

Large harpoon with two moveable flukes. Very similar to item 13^. except much larger.

This harpoon has heavy, solid, 4-sided point, which is non-explosive.

I have never before seen or heard of a non-explosive version like this one.

Most of the Mason & Cunningham swivel gun irons, in collections have explosive tips. Solid tip on this iron is so heavy as to make it quite unbalanced.

However, it appears original, and right. Iron is in good condition with much old black paint. Paint on tip exactly matches that on rest of iron.

Head unthreads to reveal nipple of primer (which is of course not necessary in this non-exploding version). Also present, but un­ necessary, is wire loop to which lanyard would be attached for the purpose of igniting fuse as the harpoon left the gun, in bomb tipped irons. A most unusual specimen. OA len.- 30-3/^" 0D - 1-3/8" at butt end.

APPROX, AGE

WHERE PURCH.

1880's (?) Morgan Levine, Nantucket,

DATE OF PURCH.

Aug., 1976

Ho 13?

No.

DESCRIPTION

MAKER'S MARES Z

138 Typical Mason & None (NH387I) Cunningham Swivel gun iron (see item 0032137) with explosive filled bomb cylinder, ahead of which is harpoon point with b cutting edges.

Moveable flukes have one small hole in each., most likely for use in temp­ orarily keeping flukes closed. Wire loop visible between closed flukes and start of bomb tube. Wire attaches to primer & fuse is lighted as wire is with­ drawn by lanyard (lanyard not present) as harpoon leaves gun. Fine cond.; much original black paint.

JHITAMRE to -UTIS-CPCW bomb fronr harpoon-shaff.

OA len. - 33i">. OD (at butt)

SHIP'S MARKS None

1-3/8

APPROX. AGE

WHERE PURCH.

DATE OF PURCH.

1880's (?) Keith Kittredge, Chatham, Mass.

May, 1977

No,

DESCRIPTION

MAKER'S MARKS ;

R.R. 139 Scotch Greener bow and gun iron. Doubledates aq25 flued, very large 1856 head (6i" across) with "stop-withers".

Has typical split shank, with large sliding ring & thimble for rope connection.

Excellent condition.

OD at butt - 1-11/16" OA length - 49"

140 Greener bow gun harpoon None of much later date than <9034* item 139. Has two large moveable flukes with "stop withers", and un­ usual "double pyramid" type point. Point blunted from having been dropped.

Split shank; slide ring missing. Cond; fairly good with slight traces of original black paint.

OA length - 46-3/4" OD at butt - 1-11/16" *This iron type is illus­ trated in Henderson's "Fishing for the Whale", item 14 - said to be for 3 ed_JiLhaJ-gs_ ""BvMr. Dy Mr. He: Henderson to be Norwegian in origin.

SHIP'S MARKS

APPROX. AGE

WHERE PURCH.

CHIEFTAIN I856 R.A.Bourne (believed Auction, to be Scotch whaling schooner from Kirkcaldy)

None

DATE OF PURCH. Aug. 15, 1970 » ^ ™/Q<3

late 19th Anthony "Catania, or early 20th Seattle, century (?)

Wash.

July, 1978 Supposedly this iron was used at a shore whale station on Van­ couver Is., B.C. 00 $/00

^ ^

No. 141

003{T "

DESCRIPTION

MAKER1 MARKS

Modern American None 50 mm. (drenade*^) Harpoon; shank K deformed from / pro use. Four move­ able flukes.

Slide ring made of many wire strands.

Has steel shackle and traces of nylon rope.

OA length - 61" OD at butt - 1-15/16" Cond.; good

SHIP'S MARKS None

APPROX, AGE

ca. 1950-60

WHERE DATE OF PURCH. PURCH. Dr. Shortman, Riverside, Conn.

Originally he obtained harpoon about i960, from whaling station at Warrenton, Oregon.

According to Dr. Shortman, that station took about four whales a year for the Univ. of Oregon Medical School, Oct.

1977

(Sec, P^5<£-A? c cfaj-rx' otJ tiJ a rv f s+u'horf 3

142

NONE Amer. "Lily iron" NONE with four petal-like flukes, each with in­ dependent movement.

Rather unusual diamond shaped tip. General over­ all moderate to heavy pit­ ting. Two holes in socket 180° apart for fastening iron to wooden pole.

Although these irons were frequently carried on whaling vessels, they were intended to capture dolphins, porpoises and large fish.

OA length - 35" *Note: Lily irons are very rare and desireable to whalecraft collectors.

19th Cent.(?) Robert Spencer, Essex, Conn.

- at Stonington, Antique Show,

Oct., 1975

$300

Oh! ThfIT —

p,E

;

"

it£M

Su i

IN THE MEAT BUSINESS

company lUFAWU lea. Newroposal to twenty|any offer, , but they hen cut its Ispite meIrate."° In ll who had fishermen o corntracts, the lyment for Ire was no Ir contract pnth, with X

1

iced its in:w to share ippered by the muchrose in obubdividewfoundnot given lie, and in(humpback to be very Iket, where pound in lhaser boats [re costs re­ conditions

Shore whaling was revived briefly at the mouth of the Columbia River about i960.

Bioproducts, Incorporated, converted two fishing boats to chasers and brought sev­ eral humpback and sperm whales to the flensing platform at Warrenton, Oregon.

The spectacle was sufficiently unusual to attract a crowd of bystanders.

Richard Carruthers, Bioproducts, Inc.

but to no avail; management determined that the market for the product was unsatisfactory.

In i960 shore whaling on the west coast of North America was conducted from two stations located at Point San Pablo inside San Francisco Bay and by t marginal operation near the mouth of the Columbia River at Warrenton, Oregon. The Warrenton firm, Bioproducts, Incorporated, outfitted the sixty year-old dragger Tom and Al on behalf of the Oregon Fur Producers Co­ operative to catch whales for mink food and for the manufacture of protein meal, fertilizer, and vitamins. A former U.S. Navy gunner supervised the 90-millimetre harpoon-cannon on the bow of the vessel; the half-day or day­ long cruises were conducted along the Washington and Oregon coastline. A iccond small fishing vessel, the Sheila, was also fitted with a harpooncannon. A separate organization, established by Bioproducts but called "Hvalfangst-Oregon" ("Whaling-Oregon ), landed and flensed the car­ casses. Whalemen were paid by the size of the whale; eighteen dollars per loot for sperm whales, twenty-two dollars per foot for finbacks.

The bioproducts venture lasted just a few years, from i960 to about 1965. with minimal result. T0nnessen and Johnsen have suggested that only thirteen whales were taken during this period."7

/q??

k

P

NO. 1^3 (RH 207) (NH3253) oo3 7

MAKER'S MARKS None

DESCRIPTION Small, doubleflued blackfish or porpoise iron.

Closed cone. Heavy rope braiding takes up more than 50% of length of iron.

Cond.: very nice Much of square section of shank behind head is chamfered.

OA length - 26^"

SHIP'S MARKS None

Balance type toggle None None iron sometimes known as "turtle iron" (although it is doubtful that they were ever used to take turtles) Has heavy, four sided tip which comes to a point like a "solder­ ing iron". Morticed into head is a one piece offset balancing toggle - straight pointed at one end and offset and flaring at opposite end. Short, heavy socket appears seamless.- poss­ ibly cast and then welded to shank. General light pitting.

This iron was probably used for blackfish or porpoises.

OA length - 28-|"

APPROX. WHERE DATE OF AGE PURCH. PURCH. 19th Cent.(?) Dan Fortin (Thar she Blows) Lincolnville, Me. This iron is original to northern Maine Aug., 1975

*60

late 19th or early 20th cent. (?)

00

Tom Prindall Auction, Portland, Me. Dec., 1973 CJ~

No. 145 (RH 176) NH1115) £ 03°\ """ "

DESCRIPTION

MAKER'S MARKS

SHIP ' S MARKS NONE

Small doubleW. Smith flued blackfish & Sons or porpoise i r o n . (from Reddinton, Head with 2 wide England - a spread although suburb of narrow b a r b s . Socket Birmingham) closed with through holes f o r pinning t o wood p o l e . Much o r i g . black p a i n t . Cond.; f i n e OA l e n g t h - 21-1/8"

APPROX, AGE 19th Cent.

WHERE PURCH. James Abbe, Oyster Bay,

DATE OF PURCH. Nov., 1970 00.

( a t White flZg' P l a i n s Show)

Concord Show NONE 146 Harpoon f o r l a r g e NONE ( Originally (RH213) f i s h . Head square from t h e New (NH3422) pointed with 4 barbs Bedford area) arranged i n s t e p s Feb. , around s h a f t . Barbs 1976 appear t o be made of J) l a r g e c u t n a i l s placed i n '0 */7 holes d r i l l e d i n head, and -\VSn< then bent a t r i g h t angles vsN^.awav Vs? vbZ away from t i p . o v e r a l l . ^ m o d e r a t e p i t t i n g . Butt ^AtS W t end of s h a f t with 2" of vi \ 0$^ t h r e a d . OA l e n g t h - 28-§" *1 have seen one o t h e r 5^ harpoon i d e n t i c a l t o 'I ^ t h i s one i n a shop i n t h e F a l l River - New Bedford a r e a NOTEs DEC. 1983 - Charles Sayle, t h e well known c a r v e r and marine expert o f Nantucket, Ma. showed me a device of s i m i l a r design and c a l l e d i t a TORMENTOR. I t s use was t o break up a b a l l of Eels under water and i n t h e mud in w i n t e r , so t h a t they can be taken with t h e t y p i c a l WINTER EEL SPEAR.

'-aSte

NO.

DESCRIPTION

MAKER'S MARKS

SHIP'S MARKS

147 Small doubleflued None (NH3859) "Shark harpoon" from Long Island.

Early, all hand wrought; open socket; nice condition.

OA length - 11-1/8"

None

148 Small Blackfish or None (NH4242) swordfish harpoon w/ 2 petal like flukes. oM 1 Traces of old rope and serving on shaft & part of socket. Socket closed.

Originally from vicinity of Deer Isle, Maine.

OA length - 24-7/8"

None

APPROX AGE

DATE OF

PURCH.

19th Cent.(?)

Dick Cowan

OMO

149

WHERE PURCH.

5/77

19th cent.(?)

Dan Fortin, Lincolnville, Maine

7/78 OO,

NONe Small "Balance" type toggle for Blackfish or porpoise. Point like long pyramid, foll­ owed by one piece balance toggle - morticed through head. One end of toggle is straight and pointed; opposite end is longer and curved. Shaft made from commercial rod. Socket closed, appears late. End of rod visible in socket. One hole in socket for pinning. Much black paint on rear of shaft and on socket. OA len.- 24|"

NONE

20thcent.(?)

Upper Deck, New Bedford

? *

a)

*

Co( ^ A ^cec ,Nibl'rl" 1 p id txd w £ '• U r ^ f>orO°ys€ . oV gnjl isk ®\r C^e'e 'Na. 'J*l— ) UewdVtJ -fro ma. IN \4

lec^*

pi

NO.

DESCRIPTION

MAKER'S MARKS

150

Small, one barbed NONE fish harpoon with 00^2. spiked end, lance" like cutting edges, i" dia. hole for rope attachment ahead of li" spike. All hand wrought.

Condition; very fine origin completely un­ known. OA len.- 10-3/8"

151 Grommet iron with rope NONE (RH159) grommet, probably used for blackfish or porOCH3 poises. Probably English -— made. Moderate amounts of pitting and corrosion.

Shaft has been subjected to certain unknown forces proably compressive which has caused it to rup­ ture for about 5" shortly ahead of socket. Socket closed. Through holes in socket for pinning iron to wood pole. Intricate braided ropework preceded and followed by turks knots, on shaft ahead of socket.

Ropework ends in loop for attachment of harpoon line.

Front part of head shaped like elongated pyramid.

OA length - 31-1/8"

SHIP'S MARKS NONE

NONE

APPROX. AGE 19th C.

late 19th cent. (?)

WHERE PURCH.

DATE OF PURCH.

MRS Bill Osborne

Frank Sylvia at N.Y. Coloseum Show March, 1972

MAKER'S SHIP'S MARKS MARKS 152 Very unusual harpoon NONE NONE (RH 181) which was sold to us as a "towing harpoon" <3^44 supposedly from Sag Harbor. I believe it to be an early form of "Humpback iron" used for raising sunken whales.

It has a 3/4" square shank with strongly chamfered cor­ ners - making it really eight sided. Shank ends in spike 5-3/4" long, preceded by shoulder (also eight-sided) which is l|f" across. Front end of shank tapers into small, lance-shaped blade, behind which is a 6" long single, heavy toggling barb which is morticed into the shank.

OA length of iron - 24-3/8".

Condition: very fine.

There is a "humpback iron" in the New Bedford Whaling Museum of almost identical dimensions, and which has similar type spike and shoulder, That iron has a conventional Temple-type toggle head.

If our iron is not for whaling, we have been unable to find any­ one who can suggest any other possible use. On the other hand we can find no one who has seen another iron like this one - even remotely.

NO.

DESCRIPTION

APPROX. AGE 19th C.

WHERE DATE OF PURCH. PURCH. Jim Abbe, at White Plains Show Nov., 1972 •f/Jle

bdLcteZP>o/J ir-1 hl&oJ &ec!£od (AJIMX.1 /Hg M u £t u~ im c-iostly Sim 1 1*r design d$\-n£>\SiorS

To

ou*r

ibtm Afo. '52.

NO.

DESCRIPTION

MAKER'S MARKS

153 Fairly late porwn „ (RH217) poise iron with 4" \ long pyramid shaped head followed by single flat leaf shap­ ed moveable barb which lays very flat against shank in closed position.

Shank very heavy (§" dia.).

Socket partially closed, applied to shank so that end of shank is visible within socket. Single hole in socket for pinning to wood pole. OA len.- 28".

Very fine cond. Harpoon has sheath made of brass tubing with wooden insert shaped to fit harpoon point, jAlso provided with canvas 'covering bag and draw string.

Most probably English made.

SHIP'S MARKS

APPROX. AGE

NONE

early 20th cent.

WHERE PURCH.

DATE OF PUR.

Franklin 1/24/74 Institute Of Phila.

Sale of surplus "attic" items I

C /i

OC

s*-

154 Very fine English Small impressed late 19th (NH3929) double flued por­ mark on shank or early poise iron with 2 near head. Very 20th cent. moveable barbs. Head similar to British Naval mark which it D. Fortin, rather large for .a small iron - 4-3/4"long may be. Maker is Lincolnville, x 4-3/4" tip to tip. almost certainly Maine, Socket closed. End of _ W. Smith & Sons (He bought it shank visible within socket. in Nova Scotia) One small hole in socket for No ship marks pinning to pole. Some late July, ropework at midpoint of shank.

1977 OA len. - 22". # Line drawing of similar iron on p. 3? (item #2) of Henderson's "Fishing for the Whale", Flayderman sold a similar iron several years ago which was marked "W. Smith & Sons, Reddington"

NO. 155

<309-7

MAKER * i DESCRIPTION MARKS "HUMPBACK IRON" toggle type? extremely large and heavyOA, 10|" head.

WT. approx, 6 lbs. (normal iron is about 2-2^ lbs.) light to moderate pitting throughout! some slight distortion of metal due to abuse, but never-the-less a fine example of an extremely rare whaling iron. (SEE TRACING ON NEXT PAGE) * NONE Dia. of shanks 5/8" + READABLE

SHIP'S MARKS

APPROX, AGE

WHERE DATE PURCH. OF PUR. Morgan OCTOBER, Levine, 1979 Nantucket (For many years this iron was used with a number of others for decorative purposes on the outside door to the FOUR WiNDS gift shop on Straight late 19th Wharf, Nant. cent.

NONE READABLE A series of impressed dots on both sides of head - but they are so far undecipher­ able. (SEE Tracing)

CO

This type of harpoon is not used in the capture of a living whale, which is harpooned with a conventional toggle iron.

The Humpbacked whale has a great tendency to sink after it has been killed, so the massive recovery type iron is thrust into the whale's "neck" immediately before or just after it turns "fin out". After several days at the bottom the whale will become more bouyant and by pulling upon the line which is attached to the "Humpack iron" the whale can usually be brought to the surface. If the whale sinks before the hump­ back iron can be darted, it it sometimes rigged to a long wood­ en pole to which two loops or guides have been attached, and with a thirty pound weight lashed to the lower end of the pole, this apparatus is sent down the line which is attached to the harpoon which captured the whale with the hope that the humpback iron will fasten itself deep into the whale and can then be used to raise the animal to the surface.

SHIP"S MAKER"S APPROX. WHERE DATE DESCRIPTION MARKS MARKS AGE PURCH. OF PUR. After 1861 Amer. toggle iron ' 156 (based on maker's for "Greener-type" pW+f*? bow gun. Large toggle mark) but most probably from the head - 8-|" oa. ; orig. oval sliding loop with 1880's 004? "thimble" rings typ. split Morgan Levine, shank with butt dia. 1-3/16" Nantucket Aug_ _ W9 (apparently the smallest size made). OA lengrh 46-5/8" Slight traces of original orange paint thruout. *3S5.

Conds good, with general overall light pitting.

NO.

MACY - marked on toggle.

(E.B. & F. Macy, New Bedford) Ship's marks not legible

â&#x20AC;˘See "tr*eifJt

157

American "Diamond-point" NO visible maker's toggle iron. Was orig. or ship's marks very heavily corroded and remain, required considerable cleaning late 19th and cosmetic treatment. End century of socket was very badly eaten . away and had to be reshaped and shortened by about one half inch.

Iron has original rope attached, which had to be reinforced near mid-length. Pres. OA Len. - 33-5/8" *The Diamond point toggle is a very rare version of the modern type toggleiron. It was apparently not favored by most whalemen, as the lower cutting edge while facil­ itating entry into the whale was thought to cut its way out after the head was in the toggled position.

E.Lang, who bought itfrom Mason Cleveland

' Vfird ^ cr[% Per iPpp j "7 / " O" a VivMxVy f/, iPi/i hc// ptvivfit p

Feb. 1980 'fr &

rty^cW P& \

/. ! \

NO 158

DESCRIPTION

SHIP'S MARKS

APPROX. AGE

WHERE DATE PURCH. OF PUR. Morgan Levine, Nantucket.

Oct. , 1979

marked on side Large double-flued harpoon for Greener of head} -ERMANIA" 1884 gun (6-5/8" across No doubt this width of head)"Stop 00 is from the withers"} split shank, #7-4S whaler GERMANIA, sliding ring missing. the G being entirely Cond. -very good with contemporary dark red corrosion.^ . obliterated by corrosion.* paint over silver paint.

OA len. - *1-8-1/8" }v(ete' •*(- "IT OD at butt - li" present on CPP. . { -fX(i^ c " C I ]q<?i side of head r 0^ but not readable

V

There seems to be some confusion abou the precise name of this British or Scotch whaler. Lubbock in "The Arctic Whalers" lists a Hull brig "Germania" which was crushed in 185**-. In his index he calls it Germanica. He also mentions an unindexed Germanica as sealing in 1885 (home port not mentioned). Lindsay in hhis book on the Scotch whaler Aurora, lists the whalers sailing from Peterhead, Scotland in I88*i-, among which was a Germanic I believe the latter and Lubbock's Germanica are the same vessel and the one on which this harpoon was used, The exact name is still a mystery and it seems interesting to me that the name (G)ERMAfilA on this harpoon is enclosed in quotation marks.

159 NH476*1

unually small doubleflued harpoon for Greener type gun - a sort of min­ iature version of item 158.

Cond.j good with light general overall pitting. Double flued head about the size of average American hand thrust harpoons, except with typical "stop withers". This iron is most likely English or Scotch, /J 7) width across head - 3-3/^" OA len. - 30-5/8" OD at butt - 1-5/16" t) Split shank with sliding ring, circular about 3i" in dia., and ar> vote0A round rope thimble to marks of any kind are visible m this iron m John Newton, probably earlyWiscasset, Me. -cs-k ihcit ikjr JA 19th century TE> 0^- It^- Aen/ o~ fb hub IrArPo™ ?

AS iAs/d iv£ Q-Xte0a«.K / J'( (MAf?Pi?£S (a)iFtrtSLOf * Kusrtohefi p-

s

NO. 160 OO&O

•

161

oofL

#

DESCRIPTION

MAKER'S MARKS

SHIP'S MARKS

APPROX. AGE

WHERE PURCH.

DATE OF PURCH.

marked on side of shank Large Norwegian Greener gun iron. behind head: ft ft) N.H. SANDI( ?") A --(?) (ONE SIDE) Unusual double flued head - possibly a SANDEFJORD (OPP. SIDE) repair or replacement (see tracing) No ship's Width across head - 3-3/^" marks probably OA length - 4-6-3/8" early 20th cent.

OD at butt - 1-7/16" Condj very good, though Tom Prindall rather crudely made. Contemp.

Auction, red paint with black over Portland Me. the foremost 16". 5/16" wide groove near butt, possibly for Oct., 1979 a ring gasket. Crude, elliptical sliding ring with thimble and (Originally bought five foot len§th of 7/8" dia. rope, with Greener gun Typical spli£ shank.

by Lexi Krause of Monhegan, IS.,Me. from Sam Lowe of Boston, Mass. )

large Greener gun iron, probably Norwegian or Scotch, with two moveable barbs, Very similar to item 13. p. 4-0 in David Henderson's "Fishing for the Whale", Cond; good with some overall light pitting.

Groove near butt end nearly identical to that on item 160 (above) OA length - 4-8-7/8" OD at butt - 1-7/16" (nom.)

Sliding ring missing No signs of any markings Prob. late 19th cent.

Tom Prindall Auction Portland, Me, Oct., 1979 (same orig,source as item 160)

NO. *

162

hlri-tHi ( Zojtjl

MAKER'S MARKS

DESCRIPTION

SHIP'S MARKS

APPROX. AGE

WHERE PURCH

DATE OF PURCH .

Temple-type Amer. toggle iron. OA moderate amounts of pitting and scaling.

Small chip out of ex­ treme rear end of toggle head. Interesting braided ropework at juncture of shank and socket.

Oa length - 36-5/8" J&T.D (James and Thomas Durfee, New Bedford)

Mid tq..-3rd quarter 19th cent. (?)

B.K. K. center punched and chisel connected. ,// /So far, unable to >— / , fcSfiVi'' (( interpret these marks '/_,K"

0 y:<*cj

7<f.

L h'

Skinner Auction, 'LL BeanVColl."

Sept.,

1980 W, !6~0

Head also marked ±j_ for Larboard Boat

^

jjr

/ N

(

00

C a r - l 4 tfArltrt-

/3CAti

o CT ^/?k^Po(ZTf A-1 e- • ($& -T^ V A L

. ; )

Modern type toggle iron. Very fine cond.

About 50% of original marlin serving on socket.

OA length - 32-3/8" Remains of illegible paper collection label on head S&P (?)(only faint traces remain) Snow & Purrington, New Bedford

X^k<L\it raWl S lv0'--> OA (XV\ 6 r d M ^ lApCCfd f° k

head also marked

1 £ *' • < -Per PW Jokn. keVAfffwr iA [l$l; To+ftl o A iew^k X

©K ©.£.

(Bark Black Eagle, New Bedford)

103"

f o r

W a i s t Boatj

Skinner Auction, "L.L. Bearjjj/, Coll."

i860 to 1868 (after which that vessel did not whale)

Sept,,

1980

NO. 164 GOf4

DESCRIPTION

MAKER•S MARKS

SHIP•S MARKS

APPROX. AGE

WHERE PURCH.

DATE OF PUR©

Very fine Ainer.

Temple-type toggle iron, in near mint condition. Iron retains all of its original marlin serving.

OA length - 32" This iron is a virtual "carbon copy"'of item 113,(which has been removed from the coll.) except that this piece is in much finer condition J.P.P. No ship's marks (James D. Driggs, Probably 4th New Bedford) quarter 19th Cent.

Shop was formerly Dean & Driggs", and Dean retired in 1875, the shop then becoming just "James D. Driggs" Mo. I <s>4

165

R.A. Bourne Marine Auction, Aug., 1980 (lot 312)

very large and heavy Amer. toggle iron with modern style head. Head long (same size as toggle for Greener gun) shank 9/16" dia.

OA len. - 37-7/8", Wt.- 3-3/4 lbs.

This iron is in good condition but has overall, light pitting. Considerable traces of black paint, perhaps original.

MACY (faintly on head) (E.B. & F. Macy, No readible ship's New Bedford) markings after 1861, most This iron is really extremely probably last quarter large for a conventional hand of 19th cent. thrust capturing iron, and may very well be a HUMPBACK IRON. Morgan Levine, A virtually identical iron from the Nantucket, Ma. New Bedfrod Coll, (Lytle No. 112 Oct., 1979 which in the 1 pRoto's; is1 l'able<3T No. 113) is considered to be a Humpback iron.

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DESCRIPTION

Maker's Marks

SHIP'S MARKS

APPROX. AGE

WHERE PURCH.

DATE OF PUR.

166 Amer. "Temple-type" NH4442 toggle iron for darting err gun. Iron very distorted from conflict with whale.

Shank has been rolled so that eye loop for whale line lies at 900 from its normal position with respect to the toggle head. Aside from the deformity this iron is in very fine condition, wXith scarcely any pitting. OA len.- 38-3/^" Very slight traces of red paint, especially on eye loop. *Darting gun irons MACY (on head, with Temple type heads are very poSffi^n^ ^rom normal uncommon as the (E.B.&F. Macy, N.B.) darting gun did not appear until Bk, SBm (chisel marked) 186.5, by which time (Bark Sunbeam, New Bedford) the modern type toggle head had probably opp, side of head chisel marked; taken over the market.

S.B. (Starboard boat) last quarter of 19th Cent, Milieu Antiques Gaylordsville, Conn.

May, 1979 00

16?

0 OS 7

small English blackfish or porpoise iron. Replacement for item No, 1^9 which was withdrawn from the coll. very fine condition. Nice patina. Traces of old black paint. Closed socket. Hole for pin in socket to fasten iron to pole. OA len.- 27i".

No maker's or ship's marks

late 19th cent.(?)

Indoor Flea Market, White Plains

Oct, 1980 Dealer said he bought it in London, Eng.

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NO. 168 OOS3

APPROX. AGE

WHERE PURCH.

DATE OF PURCH.

Modern style toggle darting iron.

OA moderate to heavy pitting. Very slight trace of rope serving on eye loop. OA len- 38-1/8" None discernable

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SHIP'S MARKS

MAKER•S MARKS

DESCRIPTION

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A.H. (most probably Andrew Hicks, Westport Mass. ) chisel marked on head opposite side of head marked; * S,B.B. - Starboard Bow Boat * It is interesting that the Andrew Hicks, which was frequently illustrated by photographs and paintings, was a five-boat barque, and as such had a starboard bow boat. Five boaters were the exception,rather than the rule. This iron was sold to us as from the Andrew Hicks. It came to us together with a Cunningham & Cogan 2nd modeli darting gun, but we cannot say for sure that the two pieces were always together. They formerly were in the collection of Eduard Stackpole, Nantucket.

The only other A.H. whaler I can identify is the Bark A. Houghton, about which I can find very little.

Late 19th or e^Hy 20th Century F, Sylvia Antiques, Nantucket Aug. 1980

169

Darting gun with modern OA light to OA length -

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toggle iron style head. mod, pitting.

39i" MA(CY) (E.B.&F.Macy, New Bedford, Ma.)

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B.K.SB. - probably Bark Sea Breeze, ~\ New Bedford (chisel marked on head of toggle) opp. side of head chiseled: W,B, - waist boat, also on flattened part of shank below \ toggle head (both sides) is center-punched = waist boat late 19th or early 20th cent.

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Morgan Levine, Nantucket Oct.,1979

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No.

170

fiJak.

DESCRIPTION

MAKER'S MARKS

SHIP'S MARKS

APPROX. AGE

WHERE PURCH.

DATE OF PURCH.

Amer. darting iron with modern style head.

Cond. fair to good with light to mod. pitting.

OA len.- 38-5/8".

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MACY (Rather faintly on head) (E.B.&F. Macy, N.B.) BK. NL _ stamped on head of toggle. It is very unusual to have the ship's marks placed with a letter stamping die. They are almost always chiseled or centerpunched.

The marks on this iron most probably stand for BARK NORTHERN LIGHT of New Bedford. As further evidence, that vessel was managed by Jonathan Bourne, JR., who was known to be a customer of the MACY firm.(Note items 125 & 169 which were also from J. Bourne vessels and were made by Macy.) probably late 19th or early 20th cent,

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Morgan Levine, Nantucket Oct. 1979 >7 U4 -7 £51 No visible Maker's or Ship's marks are present

Amer."Diamond pointed" toggle iron - a rare form (see notes under item 157) Cond. fair with moderate amounts of pittingfwwt- -f-UiCiko, probably last quarter This iron seems to have been reof 19th century conditioned for a 2nd career, perhaps in "blackfishing" at some time much after its original whaling use. The head has been resharpened and packed with grease.

A//8" dia (usual is i") by 16'Tlong whale line was applied, and the iron was attached #• all U&'S6' to an atypical 68" long by 1-3/8" diameter "T~in? ///-/{_ wood pole (from which it has been removed) by means of a bolt and mat; drilled thru the CaP-0-Pf 'J(•<- ' c i / socket about an 1-3/8" from the open end, OA length of iron - 3^i"' Both this iron and item 157 only toggle about 60° (instead of the usual 90° when fully opened) Perhaps this was to minimize the back-cutting effect noted under item 157 * According to de&Ler from whom iron was purchased, it came from Provincetown, Mass,

p+^Ia y00"1^ Yarmouth, Mass.

MARCH, 1980

$/51^

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NO. 172

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MAKER'S SHIP'S MARKS MARKS Double-flued porpoise harpoon, proably British in origin, with two moveable spring loaded flukes and iron grommet.

Condition: very fine, no pitting, overall light traces of silver colored paint. Socket has small hole for pinning to wood pole. Double linked sliding ring for whale line attachment.

OA length - 25-3/8".

Socket with!fully closed seam.

Blunted end of shank visible within socket. Shank quite heavy - av. dia. about 5/8".

Design of spring mechanism and grommet very similar to item No. 127. and is un­ doubtedly by same maker.

DESCRIPTION

No maker's or ship's marks of any kind

APPROX, AGE

WHERE PURCH.

DATE OF PURCH.

early 20th Gene Mysona, century (?) Woods Hole, Mass.

March,1980

173

English Double-flued whaling iron. Very fine condition, well cleaned, no pitting. shank quite wavy from use. Socket seam closed.

About 3/4 of original serving on socket. Head very large with "stop withers".OA len.- 34-5/8".

This iron formerly in the collection of the Whaling Museum in Hull, Eng. Obtained from them in trade (item No. 121) Die impressed mark on head (very faint): (TR)UELOVE * followed by chisel marked M (meaning unknown) 0pp.side headMaker's marks unreadable; Die impressed date 1834 (very faint) 1834 TRUELOVE was one of the most famous whaleships in the world. She was built as a commercial vessel in Philadelphia in 1764; captured by British during the Revolutionary War; converted to whaler and whaled out of Hull from 1784 to 1868

Hull Museum (Trade)

April, 1979

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Handy as a cutter, safe as a lifeboat': The 'Truelove' and whaling in transition Lecture-Hall the TWO

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The "Truelove" - a watercolour by William Ward, who had a part share in her in the 1790s. (Hull Museums)

Throughout the good and bad years, the "Truelove" remained in the words of her captain "handy as a cutter, safe as a lifeboat".

Built in Philadelphia in 1764, she came into English hands during the American War of Independence and was converted for the whale fishery, like many other ships. She made almost 80 whaling voyages, and killed over 500 whales, as well as countless thou­ sands of seals (13,000 on one voyage in 1849), polar bears, wal­ ruses and narwhals. On one occasion two Eskimos spent a bizarre holiday in Hull, having been brought home in the "Truelove".

The "Truelove" was the last of the Hull sailing Whalers and sailed alongside the steam-engined whaling vessels which were intro­ duced to the trade in the 1850s and 60s. She was a direct link with 17th and early 18th century ship-building methods and when she sailed to her original home port of Philadelphia in 1873 with a cargo of minerals, there was a move to preserve her as a floating museum. Sadly this failed and she ended her days as a hulk on the Thames, being broken up about 1895.