The two volumes |
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The Elements and Practice
of Naval Architecture was first published by Steel in 1805, and is
one of the most important works on the subject in English.
Published at a time when there was a great need for shipbuilding to
standardise, Steel's two volumes led the way. Today, this important
work had proved invaluable to both those who restore ships of this
era, and to model makers. David Steel shows you exactly how these
great ships were built, and with the original publication date being
1805, he shows how they were built at the time of Nelson's victory
at Trafalgar.
This reprint follows the same size and format of the original. The
paper used has been chosen to produce a close match to the original.
Naval Architecture comprises of two volumes, one of text and the other
an elephant sized folio of ship draughts. Today, the original folio
of ship draughts is excessively rare. This is due to the individual
draughts being taken from the folio, so that the actual delineation
for the ship to be built could be drawn on the mould-loft floor.
Summary of the main contents:
Text volume: Quarto (10.6" x 9.2" / 270mm
x 235mm)
Book the first: Explaining the First Elementary and
Theoretic Principles.
Chapter I: An explanation of the terms and of some
elementary principles requisite to be understood in the theory and
practice of shipbuilding.
Chapter II: Of fluids and their action on floating
bodies as investigated by actual experiment.
Chapter III: On the figure and construction of ships
and vessels in general, and on the means of giving them the most desirable
qualities: with remarks on the different classes of British shipping.
Book the Second: Containing the practical rules for
the construction of ships and vessels; with all requisite tables,
etc.
Chapter I: General observations and definitions.
Chapter II: Practical methods of finding the gravity,
displacement and tonnage of a vessel; including the centres of gravity
and displacement; with the point of stability or meta-centre.
Chapter III: Instructions for delineating the several
draughts and plans of ships.
Chapter IV: Explanation of the methods of laying
off all parts of a ship on the mould -loft floor, preparations to
the actual construction or building.
Chapter V: Of the method of construction called whole
moulding.
Chapter VI: Practical directions for the actual building,
progressively arranged.
Chapter VII: Miscellaneous observations of improvements
and projected improvements; including some instructions and remarks
upon the subjects immediately connected with naval architecture.
Tables for forming the bodies of ships and vessels of each class.
Tables of the principal dimensions and scantlings of ships and vessels
of each class.
Folio of Draughts: Elephant folio (19.6" x 20"
/ 492mm x 508mm).
The following is a selection of the thirty eight large draughts. Draught
measurements range from 4' 3.5" x 1' 5.5" to 2' 7.75"
x 11.75".
Draughts I - IV: The following draughts contain the
Sheer-draught, Body Plan, Disposition of the Frames, Planking, Inboard
Works, Plans of the Gun Deck and Orlop, Plans of the Upper Deck, Quarterdeck
and Forecastle of an 80-Gun Ship upon two decks.
Draught VIII: Midship Sections of a 74-Gun Ship and
a Frigate.
Draught IX: Sheer-draught, Half-Breadth and Body
Plan of a 40-Gun Frigate etc.
Draught XII: Sheer-draught, Half-Breadth and Body
Plan of the Brigs of War, of 18-Guns, constructed in the year of 1804.
Draught XVII: Plans and Sections of the interior
of a Fire Ship.
Draught XVIII: Plans and Section of a Bomb Vessel.
Draught XX: Sheer-draught, Half-Breadth and Body
Plan of an East Indiaman of 1,257 tons.
Draught XXIII: A Brig Collier, of improved construction,
burthen 170 tons.
Draught XXX: A Man of War's Launch, Pinnace, Cutter
and Yawl.
Draught XXXIII - XXXVIII: A series of plates showing
the Laying Off of the Fore Body and Moulds, After Body, Fore and After
Cant Bodies, Transoms, Square Tuck, and Round-aft Tuck, Hawse Pieces,
Harpins and several Parts of the Head and Stern of an 80-Gun Ship.
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Author: David Steel
First published 1805, reprinted Sim Comfort Associates
Naval Architecture comprises two volumes Quarto (Volume one, 10.6"
x 9.2" / 270mm x 235mm. Volume two, 19.6" x 20" / 492mm
x 508mm).
Bound in Blue Buckram with gilt title and devices housed in two green
card cases.
Foreword by Dr. Alan McGowan of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.
Limited edition of 500 copies only
First come, first served!
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