ANCHOR 



163 



The following Table gives at one view tho results of the experiments made by 

 the Admiralty upon breaking the trial-anchors, and tho time occupied upon each 

 experiment : 



60 



The history of the introduction of Lenox's anchors to : the British navy was as follows : 

 After sundry attempts to induce the Admiralty to give up entirely the use of 

 hempen cable anchors, in consequence of their breaking when applied to chain cables, 

 Mr. Lenox, in 1832, was permitted to alter some of .the old anchors to such propor- 

 tions and shape as would enable them to stand a proof-strain upon the machine in 

 Woolwich Dockyard. It was found, as previously apprehended and asserted, that 

 from the inequality of material in the old anchors, not above one in three was success- 

 fully altered, and Mr. Lenox was ordered to supply new anchors, which were proved, 

 and then approved of, This state of things continued until 1838, when Mr. Lenox 

 was requested to reconsider and complete the shape and proportions of anchors for 

 the navy, with a view to a contract being given out for the supply of such anchors to 

 the service. Then was constructed the shape called the ' Admiralty,' or ' Sir 

 "William Parker's Anchor' (Sir William being then Store Lord). Mr. Lenox 

 suggested to Sir William the doing away with every sharp edge and line in an 

 anchor, and adopting the smooth long-oval (in tho section) for the general shape of 

 shank and arm. This was approved of by Sir William, and. he brought it out as his 

 anchor. An entire Table of proportions was furnished ; but that it might meet with 

 no opposition from the influence of dockyard authority, it was sent to the officers of 

 Portsmouth Yard for their approval. They returned it after a few months, with 

 some slight alterations in the proportions of some of the sizes, and recommended tho 

 construction to be on ' Perring's principle ' of tho cushioned, or made-up, crown. 

 It was so adopted, and continued to be made by 

 Brown and Lenox for about a year or two, when 

 the great and unnecessary expense incurred by 

 the plan was pointed out. It was contended it 

 was without any good ; because, if tho crown of 

 the anchor, or any shut or weld, was made sound 

 and perfect, the amalgamation of the grain of the 

 iron would be complete, and assume its full power 

 or strength, whatever way it might be put to- 

 gether ; and the strongest form was that which 

 exposed tho least surface of iron to the welding 

 heat, and consequently to injury. About tha 

 latter end of 1839, the subject was again opened. 

 Mr. Lenoi renewed his objections, by letter to 

 Sir William Parker, to ' Perring's plan ' of shut- 

 ting-up, and the consequence was a contract, 

 with specification, &c. &c. appeared, and an 

 improved or modified plan of shutting-up (as it 

 is called) was proposed by Mr. Tyler, master- 

 smith of Portsmouth Yard, which was adopted ; 

 and Mr. Lenox's shape and proportions (slightly 

 altered, as before said) came out as ' Sir William 

 Parker's," or the ' Admiralty Anchor,' and continued, until after the trials in 1852, 

 with every success in actual service that a good anchor could maintain, and they were 

 made and sold in quantities to all the world. 



In tho navy of England, and in nearly all foreign navies, this anchor, of which 

 jig. 60 represents tho form, was adopted. They are also largely employed in the mer- 

 chant service ; but those are not so nicely proportioned as the anchors made for the 

 Government, nor are they so highly finished. Many merchant captains, however, take 

 Rodger's anchor, and our steamers almost invariably take Porter's or Trotman'B anchor. 



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