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30 MARINE REVIEW AND MARINE RECORD. ' ANCIENT AND MODERN STEERING GEAR. | Perhaps there is no part of a ship's equipment so important to the vessel's safety as the steering apparatus. Sails may go by the board, propelling machinery may break down and still the ship may be manageable... But let the. steering mechanism refuse to perform its functions and the vessel is veritably at sea, a prey to the waves, to be tossed hither and thither at will. The first steering apparatus for boats consisted of an oar, and this method Steering Engine No. 1. } ' was used for guiding the viking ships of the bold, hard: Norse- men. It is probably not generally known, even among seamen, that it was from this mode of steering that the two sides of a ship derived their. appellations "starboard" and "larboard." On the right hand ads of the boat a narrow platform or plank was placed, which. was. raised above the rail, with a notch or oar- lock in its top into which.the long oar, used for steering pur- poses, fitted. This platform or plank was called "starboard," by the Norsemen, from steoran to stear, and board a plank. In order to designate the left from the right hand side it was called "lar," meaning lower; hence. came starboard and larboard. But there being too. much of a similarity in the sound of the two names, the British admiralty in 1845, changed larboard, to "port," which, term.is now _ generally used. _ Following the oar as a steering implement came the tiller with rudder attachment, which cante into univer- 'sal use, as it) proved to be a:great improvement on the 'oar, and even to this day for small craft its value is :proven by its continued use. = : - But as man learned to build larger ships it was found 'necessary to improve upon the-tiller which resulted in 'the invention of the wheel withits..drum and_ tiller topes. As vessels continued to grow in size the wheel, which had well served its purpose during the early davs, became inadequate, as provedby,the number of crip- pled steersmen,; disabled while 'ttving.to, cope with the buffeting of an angrv sea. Attithesit\becathe neces-. 'Sary, in a rough sea, to lash from.three to five men to 'the wheel, and even then tneir: united: efforts would | often prove of little or no avail. - 48 Steam' gtadually superseded the sail as motive 'power for ships and their size and general speed in- 'creased it became apparent that an improvement in Steering apparatus was needed. In fact was a necessity, and, as "necessity isthe mother of invention," the steam steering gear was devised. According to information furnished the writer by a New York marine man, who has been in the business' since 1866, the first American steamship to be equipped with such gear was the City of Gloucester, the hull of which was built at Brooklyn, N. Y., by Leary and cabins finished and Seer. installed at Wilmington, Del., by Jackson & Sharp in 1883. From that time various styles of steam steering gear have been invented, which, according to the Irishman's classification have proved to be "good, bad.and indifferent." The good are in satisfactory service, while of the others many have never got be- wvond the model stage. soars, 3ic PSO bale \ One among those to win favor with vessel owners, captains and pilots, who bear ample testimony as to its good qualities, is what is known as the Moulton steering engine, illustrations of which are herewith given. Engine No. 1 is designed for use on steam yachts and ocean, lake and river steam craft in general, It 'has been in practical use for several years and is highly com- mended by those who have used it. As may be seen, by reference to illustration, this engine con-: 'sists of a steam cylinder--the diameter of which depends on size -of vessel on which engine is to be used. A piston rod, running through and projecting' from either end of this cylinder, is con- 'nected by means of yokes to a tack-bar above, which runs par- [Septi ag, allel to cylinder, this rack meshing into a~pinion wheel keyed to a shaft running at right angles to rack-bar and cylinder. A dou- ble grooved sheave-wheel, the diameter of which is sufficient: to make one circumferencial travel equal tothe travel of tiller of quadrant, as the case may be. Over this. sheave-wheel runs a wire rope which connects with tiller rods or rope. On the hub of this sheave-wheel one half of a square-jawed clutch is cast, the other half being secured to pinion 'shaft, which engages with wheel when machine is in use. This clutch is. controlled by means of a lever, placed on the bridge or other con: venient place and is used for the purpose of changing the engine from steam to hand power, should occasion arise, and by an ingenious appliance the change from steam to hand power, or vice versa can be made without the loss of a moment's time. : The value of this engine is a very simple device which with automatic attachment is absolutely steam tight, and is so arranged that a movement of the wheel in the pilot house opens the steam valve to the same degree as represented by wheel's movement, thereby setting the engine in operation to any degree desired by the helms- man. The valve returns to its center or closed position, and when the piston of the engine has completed the de- sired fraction of its stroke--corresponding to movement of the wheel--the valve is closed, and the engine rests until further movement of the wheel is made. The pilot house outfit consists of brass stand, wheel and indicator, the latter, working in conjunction with the wheel, con- stantly showing the position of the rudder, making ex- act steering of easy accomplishment by the helmsman. Engine No. 2'is designed for use on harbor tugs or other craft where an extra sharp, positive movement of the rudder is needed for quick work. It is controlled by a lever located in the pilot house, is simple in con- struction, quick in action and extremely serviceable. With this engine a most convenient after stand is fur- nished, combining steering lever and bell pull, and giy- ing control of the vessel from the after part of the house. A noticeable feature of these engines is that while they work slowly--thus reducing possibility of breakdowns and repairs to a minimum--the action on the rudder is quick, thus producing im- mediate results. There are at present twenty-five or more vessels using these engines, with most satisfactory results. The Moulton Steering Engine Co., with offices at 17 State street, New York city, have lately increased their manufacturing facilities, and are now mail- Steering Engine No. 2. ing an illustrated catalogue, together with testimonials, free to inquirers. Three new battleships, the first to be designed by Mr. Philip Watts, are to be laid down at Chatham, Portsmouth, and Devon- port, in April, 1904. Although the new ships closely resemble the King Edward VII. class, they mark a'distinct advance in war- ship architecture. The displacement of these new vessels is to be between 17,000 and 18,000 tons, and the armor belt of 10-in. Krupp steel, tapering to 6 in., will be continued the whole length of the broadside, which has never yet been done in any modern battle- ship. They will have four submerged torpedo tubes, and the main armament will consist of four guns of 50 tons, eight wire quick- firers of 27 tons, and twelve 6 in. guns, each capable of throwing projectiles of 100 Ib. each in a minute. The ships are expected to develop a speed of 19 knots an hour. Hunters' Special Rates--Via Nickel Plate road to points in northern Michigan and Wisconsin. Tickets on sale Sept. 15 to Nov. 15, '03, inclusive. Liberal return limit. See nearest agent for particulars or address E. A. Akers, CP. & T. A, Cleveland, Ohio, Oct. 23. (173). | > EP momen