Blocks with eyes, no strops

[Boccherini]

I'm fiddling around with metal strops and eyes on blocks......it's very fiddly (and time consuming, also frustrating etc). I've noticed pictures and drawings of wooden blocks with eyes that appeared to be bolted through the block. For example:

https://c8.alamy.com/comp/DK91FK/wooden-blocks-on-an-old-sail-boat-DK91FK.jpg

Were these bolted right through the block top to bottom, or some other method? Any idea of the period when they were introduced? Were they used throughout the rigging? Or only in certain areas? Or on smaller sizes of blocks?

Thanks for any assistance.

 

Regards,

Grant.

[allanyed]

Hi Grant

Blocks and their construction varied a lot  so there is no set answer to your question without more information including, but not necessarily limited to, the nationality, ship, and year of the model you are building.   

 

Allan

[Gregory]

What type of model  are you contemplating?

 

Those blocks with the bolt through them appear to be part of some 20th  or late 19th century sailing craft.

 

I doubt they would have appeared on any 18th century or earlier ship.  They haven't shown up in any of my research.

[ccoyle]

The blocks you describe are known as internally stropped blocks. I can't tell you exactly when these came into widespread use. Chuck has some available through Syren Ship Models.

 

https://syrenshipmodelcompany.com/internally-strapped-rigging-blocks.php

[Boccherini]

Alan & Gregory,

it's my current model, Harriet McGregor (1860), 330 ton 3 masted barque.

 

Chris,

thanks for the link. Attractive, well thought out product.

I'm a bit of a masochist, so will continue with the home made approach. Personally, there is greater satisfaction in doing things this way.

 

Regards,

Grant.

[wefalck]

Internally stropped blocks are mechanically a better solution, because the iron strop support the axle closer to the sheave. However, I think, they only became practical, when rolled iron bars became available in larger quantities from around the second quarter of the 19th century on. Calibrated iron bar allows to mass-produce the block-shells on machines, as the slot for bar can be milled to a given dimension, rather than being fitted to each strop.

 

Internally stropped blocks would be found in locations, where heavier strain is expected and where there is no risk that they would chafe sails. In locations where the latter may be a risk, rope-stropped blocks were preferred for a long time.

 

Underhill's book on rigging would be an appropriate source for the 1860s details.

[Boccherini]

Thanks Wefalk.