IRON, SCREW TUG, 1879 

 Rigged Model, usnm 160167 



Rattier 



This model represents the iron, single-screw steam 

 tug Rattler built at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by 

 Neafie and Levy in 1879. The Rattler was a large tug 

 for her day and was intended for coastwise towing. 

 The invasion of the coastal trade by the barge tow 

 began in the 1870's and by 1880 the tug and barge 

 were becoming common in short-haul runs in the coal 

 trade. Though the large sailing schooner continued 

 in this trade until into the 20th century, the tug and 

 barge slowly displaced the large schooners of three, 

 four, five, and six masts in all but the longest runs and 

 even in these, finally, the steam collier doomed the 

 sailing schooner. Tugs of the Rattler^s type, but of 

 smaller size, had been developed, ironically enough, 

 as a necessary aid to the coasting schooner; these sea- 

 going tugs went out to tow in coasters when the wind 

 failed them or the schooners had been damaged. 

 Tugs engaged in this work were well developed in the 

 decade following the Civil War and by 1875 were fast, 

 powerful and seaworthy vessels easily capable of 

 coastwise towing in open water. 



The model shows an iron steam-tug hull having a 

 single screw, straight keel with marked drag, stem 

 straight and nearly vertical with forefoot much 

 rounded, vertical post, a round fantail counter with 

 tumble-home in bulwarks, a long and sharp entrance 

 slightly hollow near the stem at load line, and a long, 

 very fine run. The sheer is marked and graceful. 

 The midsection is formed with much rise in the 

 straight floor, a firm bilge, and tumble-home in top- 

 side. 



The model has a long deckhouse, on the roof of 

 which is a pilothouse, a single large stack, and a pair 

 of small boats in davits. On the flush main deck, 

 forward and abaft the house, are heavy iron towing 

 bollards. The arrangement of this tug on deck is 

 standard for her type and date. Model is painted in 

 the fashion of her day. 



The Rattler was 102 feet 6 inches between perpen- 

 diculars, 22 feet moulded beam, and 11 feet depth; her 

 gross tonnage was 139.68; and her nominal horse- 

 power 350 according to Hall's Report on Shipbuilding. 

 Scale of model is )i inch to the foot, by which she 

 is approximately 115 feet long, 25 feet extreme beam. 



Gift of Neafie and Levy, shipbuilders, Philadelphia, 

 Pennsylvania. 



SEAGOING TUG, 1904 

 Rigged Model, usnm 309521 



Conestoga 



This model is of the seagoing tug, Conestoga, built at 

 Sparrows Point, Maryland, in 1904, for coastwise tow- 

 ing of coal barges. Steel and iron tugs of this class 

 used the same hull model as earlier wooden tugs em- 

 ployed in towing the large coasting schooners of the 

 coal trade. The Conestoga was typical of her class, 

 which was employed largely in towing large wooden 

 seagoing barges whose hulls were often built on the 

 same model as the large 4- or 5-masted schooners; this 

 type of coal carrying lasted until about 1918, when 

 steam colliers and rail transportation put an end to the 

 barges. 



Barges were towed in line, the leading barge from 

 towing bitts located just abaft the deckhouse on the 

 main deck of the tug; American tugs did not use a 

 towing winch until recent years. Barge tugs in the 



Iron Steam Tug Rattler, built in 

 1879 at Philadelphia, Pennsylva- 

 nia, by Neafie and Levy. This 

 tug, was intended for coastwise 

 towing. Rigged model USNM 

 1 601 67. (Smithsonian photo .f46gj-d.) 



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