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I have compiled a list of books that I think would make excellent resources on rigging period ships, and I would like to decrease the list size from 12 to the top 4 or 5 absolute, must-have books, before I purchase.  My focus is on modeling 17th Century ships.  What would be the top 4 or 5 must have books on rigging?  Thanks for recommendations.

 

The Rigging Of Ships: In The Days Of The Spritsail Topmast, 1600-1720, Anderson, R.C.

The Masting and Rigging of English Ships of War, 1625-1860 by James Lees

Eighteenth-Century Rigs & Rigging by Karl Heinz Marquardt

The Global Schooner, Karl Heina Marquardt, 1695-1845

Rigging Period Ship Models, Petersson, Lennarth

The Art of Rigging (Dover Maritime), Biddlecombe, George, New Condition

Rigging: Period Fore-and-aft Craft, Paperback by Petersson, Lennarth

The Construction and Fitting of The English man of war hardcover historical book

THE ARMING AND FITTING OF ENGLISH SHIPS OF WAR 1600-1815, lavery brian

The Construction and Fitting of the sailing man of war 1650-1850 goodwin, peter

THE ARTS OF THE SAILOR: KNOTTING, SPLICING AND ROPEWORK, Smith Hervey

SPARS AND RIGGING FROM NAUTICAL ROUTINE, mcleod. john

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Anderson is very good though a bit more of a narrative.  Lees is also very good. 

 

For the time period of interest there aren't many other good modern works, and not that many contemporary works.  I'll check my files tomorrow and see what I can find.

Wayne

Neither should a ship rely on one small anchor, nor should life rest on a single hope.
Epictetus

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17th century? ears perk up:

 

Deane's Doctrine of Naval Architecture 1670  Conway  1981

Seventeenth Century Rigging  by R.C.Anderson  MAP 1955

The Seaman's Speculum or Compleat Schoolmaster  1711 by John Davis  NRG 1985

The Ship-Builders Assistant 1711  by William Sutherland  ANCRE 1989

The Boatswain's Art or Complete Boatswain  1670  by Henry Bond  The Shellback's Library(?)

 much after:

The Young Sea Officer's Sheet Anchor  1819  Darcy Lever  Sweetman n.d.

Elements of Mastmaking, Sailmaking and Rigging 1794  by David Steel  Sweetman

 

 

 

NRG member 45 years

 

Current:  

HMS Centurion 1732 - 60-gun 4th rate - Navall Timber framing

HMS Beagle 1831 refiit  10-gun brig with a small mizzen - Navall (ish) Timber framing

The U.S. Ex. Ex. 1838-1842
Flying Fish 1838  pilot schooner -  framed - ready for stern timbers
Porpose II  1836  brigantine/brig - framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers
Vincennes  1825  Sloop-of-War  -  timbers assembled, need shaping
Peacock  1828  Sloop-of -War  -  timbers ready for assembly
Sea Gull  1838  pilot schooner -  timbers ready for assembly
Relief  1835  ship - timbers ready for assembly

Other

Portsmouth  1843  Sloop-of-War  -  timbers ready for assembly
Le Commerce de Marseilles  1788   118 cannons - framed

La Renommee 1744 Frigate - framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers

 

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26 minutes ago, tomsimon said:

Are these 2 books the same content?  Thanks 


1. Seventeenth Century Rigging  by R.C.Anderson

 

2. The Rigging Of Ships: In The Days Of The Spritsail Topmast, 1600-1720, Anderson, R.C.

 

thanks. 

Seventeenth Century Rigging is an update (1955) to the 1927 Rigging of ships.  Very similar content wise.

 

Anderson was one of the authorities. Check the "Mariners Mirror" for some of his work.

Wayne

Neither should a ship rely on one small anchor, nor should life rest on a single hope.
Epictetus

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The earlier edition included French and Dutch rigging variations, the later reprint only covers English rigging of the period.

Be sure to sign up for an epic Nelson/Trafalgar project if you would like to see it made into a TV series  http://trafalgar.tv

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3 hours ago, tomsimon said:

My focus is on modeling 17th Century ships.

There are two reasons why the 17th Century is the most challenging period to model: 1) The large amount of "gingerbread" carved decoration on the vessels requiring a high level of miniature carving or sculptural skill and 2) the dearth of accurate contemporary historical data. Even where 17th Century contemporary written works are at all extant, they are written in archaic language and difficult to decipher. Good luck with your interest in the 17th Century period, but it's the steepest learning curve of all.

 

For someone starting out, I'd suggest the Dover quality paperback reprint of Anderson's 1927 volume The Rigging of Ships in the Days of he Spritsail Topmast - 1600-1720. It's cheap and comprehensive.  https://store.doverpublications.com/0486710653.html?gclid=CjwKCAiAg8OBBhA8EiwAlKw3kuLl6XqmoMX0RQa5JTiUTaJyXTUssJLT33eRP0YGPNx8yynW1eCU6xoCEsoQAvD_BwE

 

For general history and background, though not perhaps ship modeling "how to do it" details, one interested in the 17th Century period should also consider any or all of Richard Endsor's works, all of which are currently available:

 

 The Restoration Warship: The Design, Construction and Career of a Third Rate of Charles II's Navy. (2009)

https://www.amazon.com/Richard-Endsor/e/B0030INS44%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

 

The Master Shipwright's Secrets: How Charles II Built the Restoration Navy (2020)

https://www.amazon.com/Richard-Endsor/e/B0030INS44%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

 

Warships for the King: Ann Wyatt (1658-1757) Her Life and Her Ships (2012) (Contains 1:96 modeling plans set for Cumberland in pocket)

https://www.seawatchbooks.com/ItemDisplay.php?sku=112001

 

The Great Ordnance Survey of 1698, a fasimile (2013)

 https://www.seawatchbooks.com/ItemDisplay.php?sku=113003

 

and

 

The Warship Anne: An Illustrated History (2017)

https://www.amazon.com/Warship-Anne-illustrated-history/dp/1844864391

 

Not being a modeler of 17th Century vessels, I haven't laid my hands on any of Endsor's books, but they are very highly regarded by 17th Century period modelers and I plan to pick them up for my general research library. They seem to represent the current state of the art in terms of historical research and likely include all the information one would have to otherwise laboriously mine from the reprints of contemporary works. Perhaps somebody who has any of them can provide an eyewitness review of them.

 

(Library-building tip: google around and look for used or "remaindered" (publisher's close-outs) copies. These high quality specialty modeling volumes are often very expensive when first released to the relatively small modeler's market and, a year or three later, are "remaindered" for a fraction of their publication price. Used copies pop up at reasonable prices, as well, often when a deceased modeler's research library is sent off to the used book dealers. Prices for "classic" works remain high until reprints are available. Out-of-print and in demand volumes may require taking out a second mortgage, though.)

 

 

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As promised, here are a few resources on rigging of 17th Century vessels.  I have tried to avoid duplicating anything from above.

 

Bond, Henry. 1704. The Art of Apparelling and Fitting of Any Ship. http://echo.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/MPIWG:A09VZBVW.
Davis, John. 1711. The Seaman’s Speculum, Or, Compleat Schoolmaster: Containing, the Most Ready and Exact Manner of Rigging of a Ship, After a More Easy Way Than Has Been Hitherto Practiced, Suited to the Capacity of Every Seaman, Tho’ He Knows Nothing of Numbers. Eben. Tracey. https://books.google.com/books?id=frZoPAAACAAJ
Lees, James. 1984. The Masting and Rigging of English Ships of War, 1625-1860. 2nd rev. ed. Annapolis, Md: Naval Institute Press.
Moore, Alan. 1912a. “Rigging in the Seventeenth Century.” The Mariner’s Mirror 2 (9): 267–74. https://doi.org/10.1080/00253359.1912.10654628.
———. 1912b. “Rigging in the Seventeenth Century.” The Mariner’s Mirror 2 (10): 301–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/00253359.1912.10654635.
———. 1913a. “Rigging in the Seventeenth Century.” The Mariner’s Mirror 3 (1): 7–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/00253359.1913.10654658.
———. 1913b. “Rigging in the Seventeenth Century.” The Mariner’s Mirror 3 (11): 328–36. https://doi.org/10.1080/00253359.1913.11006036.
———. 1914. “Seventeenth Century Rigging.” The Mariner’s Mirror 4 (8): 260–65. https://doi.org/10.1080/00253359.1914.10654826.
Salisbury, William, and R. C Anderson, eds. 1958. A Treatise on Shipbuilding: And a Treatise on Rigging, Written about 1620-1625. Occasional Publication, No. 6. London: Society for Nautical Research.

 

The Davis (1711) was reprinted by the NRG in 1985 (editted by Merrit Edson). I have a pdf copy, but for the life of me I can not recall from whence it came!

Davis, John, and Merritt Edson. 1985. The Seaman’s Speculum, or Compleat School-Master. Bethesda, Md.: Nautical Research Guild. ISBN 978-0-9603456-1-8.
 

See also this thread for some additional information. .

 

Edited by trippwj
added additional information

Wayne

Neither should a ship rely on one small anchor, nor should life rest on a single hope.
Epictetus

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Forgot this one!

 

Miller, Thomas. 1667. The Complete Modellist Shewing the True and Exact Way of Raising the Model of Any Ship Or Vessel, Small Or Great, Either in Proportion, Or Out of Proportion ... Performed by Thomas Miller. W.G. http://archive.org/details/bub_gb__FCdAgS7HUoC.

Wayne

Neither should a ship rely on one small anchor, nor should life rest on a single hope.
Epictetus

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12 hours ago, Bob Cleek said:

Not being a modeler of 17th Century vessels, I haven't laid my hands on any of Endsor's books, but they are very highly regarded by 17th Century period modelers and I plan to pick them up for my general research library. They seem to represent the current state of the art in terms of historical research and likely include all the information one would have to otherwise laboriously mine from the reprints of contemporary works. Perhaps somebody who has any of them can provide an eyewitness review of them.

 

Bob -

 

I have his Master Shipwrights Secrets. It is a very well researched and detailed book.

 

If not able to acquire his books, there is some information published to the interwebz:

Endsor, R. 2005. “Notes: A Drawing of the Midship Bend of the Hampshire 1653.  The Earliest Plan of a Known English Warship and the Story of Her Repairs.” The Mariner’s Mirror 91 (1): 67–100. https://doi.org/10.1080/00253359.2005.10656933.
 

The Women of Restoration Deptford, Transactions of the Naval Dockyard Society, Volume 8, June 2012

The Van de Velde Paintings for the Royal Yacht Charlotte, article in Mariner’s Mirror, Vol 94, No 3, 2008

The Loss of Stirling Castle 1703, article in Mariner’s Mirror, Vol 90, No 1, 2004

https://www.richardendsor.co.uk/home/4539578529

Wayne

Neither should a ship rely on one small anchor, nor should life rest on a single hope.
Epictetus

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Tom

These are repeats of the above, but considering your time period of interest, I reinforce these for being considered for your library.   Others may also apply.

 

The Rigging Of Ships: In The Days Of The Spritsail Topmast, 1600-1720, Anderson, R.C.

The Masting and Rigging of English Ships of War, 1625-1860 by James Lees

  NB: I would forget about Rigging Period Ship Models for your particular project, as it is specific to one rate of vessel in one time period in the 18th century.  

As your interest is 17th century, Richard Endor's books are a must for information from the keel up, including both The Restoration Warship and The Master Shipwrights Secrets. 

 

Also consider acquiring a few appropriate original contracts from the same time period once you have selected a ship to build.  The following is a portion of page one of an 8 page contract for two fifty gun English ships in 1693.  Transcribing these is fun and very challenging project in itself.

 

Allan

1288903686_Contractsample2.thumb.jpg.01656332cceedff3f97395117614d82f.jpg

PLEASE take 30 SECONDS and sign up for the epic Nelson/Trafalgar project if you would like to see it made into a TV series.   Click on http://trafalgar.tv   There is no cost other than the 30 seconds of your time.  THANK YOU

 

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Thanks all for your commendable recommendations. I have recently purchased a few of the regarded titles, used, from Ebay, and in the meantime I am finishing up Mastini’s book. And to thunk I think, a “purchase” was how one bought and sold on Tallship.

 

@allanyed I am curious, as this craft is still new to me, would you provide details on/about:

 

 

“Also consider acquiring a few appropriate original contracts from the same time period once you have selected a ship to build.  The following is a portion of page one of an 8 page contract for two fifty gun English ships in 1693.  Transcribing these is fun and very challenging project in itself.”

 

I appreciate your time and insights. 

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Tom

If you go to the National Archives, Kew, England website, you can try to do a search or email them.   They also have an online tutorial on how to read these old documents as the lettering, wording, punctuation and grammar are not necessarily the same as they are today. They have contracts for such things as ships' boats to rated vessels.  As mentioned earlier, the contracts were typically only given to private yards.  If you wish to build a model of a vessel built in a King's yard, there is likely no contract.  Depending on the time period, these vessels would have been built to the Establishment scantlings for that particular time which are readily available from the 18th century.  I do not know of any detailed information on scantlings for the 17th century so have opted for ships with contracts when researching potential 17th century projects.   The books by Endsor will have answers to a lot of your questions for the 17th century.  

Allan

 

PLEASE take 30 SECONDS and sign up for the epic Nelson/Trafalgar project if you would like to see it made into a TV series.   Click on http://trafalgar.tv   There is no cost other than the 30 seconds of your time.  THANK YOU

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

I received my new copy, today, of, The Rigging Of Ships: In The Days Of The Spritsail Topmast, 1600-1720, Anderson, R.C.

 

I noticed on the 24 picture plates, in the front section of the book, there are numbered rigging keys for certain ships, where the picture plate rigging is to be numbered, with a description of the part. Unfortunately the numbers don’t appear on the picture plates, so the rigging key descriptions are not of much use. Does anyone else have the same problem with their copy of the book?  
 

For example: Plate 21, Dutch Rigging Plan of about 1700. Turn page to: plate 21 key. It’s a very long list of parts, listed as A, B, C 1,2,3, etc, etc, but the letters and numbers  are not visibly printed on the picture plate to connect the rigging piece to its description. 
 

Thanks for help in solving this. 

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As Henry writes, the letters and numbers are all there.

the problem is: the original was way larger, Andersson made a copy of the original which was included into his book inreduced size, and the current edition is a photographic reset (and again made smaller) of the first edition of Anderssons book. Inother words: in terms of resolution and readability, quite a step back :)

 

On the bright side: once you have read the book, you should be able to point out all parts in the figures: the book does not rely on those illustrations.

 

Jan

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Thanks for everyone’s help. I tried a 12x magnification with no luck. What magnification would I need to be able to read?  Recommendations are appreciated 

 

Clarifying that the 12x was through an IPhone zoom on the camera, 3x through a magnifying glass. 

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2 hours ago, tomsimon said:

Clarifying that the 12x was through an IPhone zoom on the camera, 3x through a magnifying glass. 

Now that's a clever trick I've never heard of before! Thanks much! It's really quite amazing what one can do with an iPhone. Now, along with everything else I'v'e figured out, and probably a lot more I've yet to discover, I've got a 12X magnifier in my pocket all the time. I learn something new on MSW every day.

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Perhaps it's asking too much. I've had the same problem over the years. I've been annoyed repeatedly by my copy of Chapelle's American Small Sailing Craft, which is a later printing at a time when the plates were, apparently, somewhat worn, sometimes making it very difficult to decipher the plans notations and tables of offsets. (These are otherwise available in much larger format from the Smithsonian in most instances.) Magnification can make things bigger, but it can't replace what isn't there. If a character is too "fuzzy" to read, making it bigger only results in a bigger character that's still too "fuzzy" to read. In many instances, for modeling and research purposes, the earlier the printing, the better because the type impressions are crisper and the paper quality sometimes better.

 

This seems to be a particular problem with reprints of old, long out-of-print volumes that are reissued in paperback format. They seem to have a penchant for reducing the size of diagrams and drawings or, in some cases, simply omitting them when convenient. 

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Lets see if this works:

Anderson1.png.daf99ab3443055b9ad0ea339e1fdda6f.png

Anderson2.png.280db500cd59d1d32d513dac857abd7d.png

Anderson3.png.38bd3338765c874c521f88da322ac878.png

Anderson4.png.d968f7e0ca2421c513a7fa5c9bdab5fe.png

NRG member 45 years

 

Current:  

HMS Centurion 1732 - 60-gun 4th rate - Navall Timber framing

HMS Beagle 1831 refiit  10-gun brig with a small mizzen - Navall (ish) Timber framing

The U.S. Ex. Ex. 1838-1842
Flying Fish 1838  pilot schooner -  framed - ready for stern timbers
Porpose II  1836  brigantine/brig - framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers
Vincennes  1825  Sloop-of-War  -  timbers assembled, need shaping
Peacock  1828  Sloop-of -War  -  timbers ready for assembly
Sea Gull  1838  pilot schooner -  timbers ready for assembly
Relief  1835  ship - timbers ready for assembly

Other

Portsmouth  1843  Sloop-of-War  -  timbers ready for assembly
Le Commerce de Marseilles  1788   118 cannons - framed

La Renommee 1744 Frigate - framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers

 

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21 hours ago, amateur said:

On the bright side: once you have read the book, you should be able to point out all parts in the figures: the book does not rely on those illustrations.

 

Jan

I agree completely here.  I don't think I have referred to those plates at any time while puzzling out the rigging for my Solieil Royale.  The written descriptions in the text are very detailed.

 

Regards,

Henry

 

Laissez le bon temps rouler ! 

 

 

Current Build:  Le Soleil Royal

Completed Build Amerigo Vespucci

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On 2/20/2021 at 9:15 PM, tomsimon said:

I have compiled a list of books that I think would make excellent resources on rigging period ships, and I would like to decrease the list size from 12 to the top 4 or 5 absolute, must-have books, before I purchase.  My focus is on modeling 17th Century ships.  What would be the top 4 or 5 must have books on rigging?  Thanks for recommendations.

 

The Rigging Of Ships: In The Days Of The Spritsail Topmast, 1600-1720, Anderson, R.C.

The Masting and Rigging of English Ships of War, 1625-1860 by James Lees

Eighteenth-Century Rigs & Rigging by Karl Heinz Marquardt

The Global Schooner, Karl Heina Marquardt, 1695-1845

Rigging Period Ship Models, Petersson, Lennarth

The Art of Rigging (Dover Maritime), Biddlecombe, George, New Condition

Rigging: Period Fore-and-aft Craft, Paperback by Petersson, Lennarth

The Construction and Fitting of The English man of war hardcover historical book

THE ARMING AND FITTING OF ENGLISH SHIPS OF WAR 1600-1815, lavery brian

The Construction and Fitting of the sailing man of war 1650-1850 goodwin, peter

THE ARTS OF THE SAILOR: KNOTTING, SPLICING AND ROPEWORK, Smith Hervey

SPARS AND RIGGING FROM NAUTICAL ROUTINE, mcleod. john

The first two are a must ,that's all you really need .

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1 hour ago, tomsimon said:

Is that a higher resolution scanned image from the book or just a photo from a phone?

I have a reprint from ~ 1968.  Given the poor resolution, I suspect that the original  first edition was significantly larger and perhaps the illustrations at the front were originally even larger loose sheets.

The scan is from a Brother 3-in-1 printer scanner. I think 400x400.  The 1200x1200 pixel version was not any better.  I have an old flip phone, no text even.  I have no use for a smart phone.  For me, it would only be an expensive target for telemarketers and other thieves phishing. 

NRG member 45 years

 

Current:  

HMS Centurion 1732 - 60-gun 4th rate - Navall Timber framing

HMS Beagle 1831 refiit  10-gun brig with a small mizzen - Navall (ish) Timber framing

The U.S. Ex. Ex. 1838-1842
Flying Fish 1838  pilot schooner -  framed - ready for stern timbers
Porpose II  1836  brigantine/brig - framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers
Vincennes  1825  Sloop-of-War  -  timbers assembled, need shaping
Peacock  1828  Sloop-of -War  -  timbers ready for assembly
Sea Gull  1838  pilot schooner -  timbers ready for assembly
Relief  1835  ship - timbers ready for assembly

Other

Portsmouth  1843  Sloop-of-War  -  timbers ready for assembly
Le Commerce de Marseilles  1788   118 cannons - framed

La Renommee 1744 Frigate - framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 2/22/2021 at 2:10 PM, allanyed said:

Tom

These are repeats of the above, but considering your time period of interest, I reinforce these for being considered for your library.   Others may also apply.

 

The Rigging Of Ships: In The Days Of The Spritsail Topmast, 1600-1720, Anderson, R.C.

The Masting and Rigging of English Ships of War, 1625-1860 by James Lees

  NB: I would forget about Rigging Period Ship Models for your particular project, as it is specific to one rate of vessel in one time period in the 18th century.  

As your interest is 17th century, Richard Endor's books are a must for information from the keel up, including both The Restoration Warship and The Master Shipwrights Secrets. 

 

Also consider acquiring a few appropriate original contracts from the same time period once you have selected a ship to build.  The following is a portion of page one of an 8 page contract for two fifty gun English ships in 1693.  Transcribing these is fun and very challenging project in itself.

 

Allan

1288903686_Contractsample2.thumb.jpg.01656332cceedff3f97395117614d82f.jpg

Wow,..that is great stuff. I scrimshaw 18th century style powder horns and I am constantly adding to my references for period script/writing. Where would I be able to find more pics of this subject matter? Man that is beautiful..thanks for posting. -Aaron

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  • 2 weeks later...

Take a look at the Courses and Theses & Dissertations pages at the website of the Nautical Archaeology Program at Texas A&M University.

https://nautarch.tamu.edu/

 

The Courses page lists course syllabi, in which instructors list books required for the courses:

https://nautarch.tamu.edu/academic/courses.html

 

Theses and Dissertations typically contain extensive bibliographies:

https://nautarch.tamu.edu/academic/alum.htm

Brett D.

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