Herreshoff #188603es [Unbuilt America's Cup Contender for William Ziegler]

"The Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., is to build a fine sloop yacht about eighty feet in length, and to be rigged and furnished complete at the Company's Works in time to compete for the privilege of defending the America's cup, and for service at the annual international sailing contest next season." (Source: Anon. "Local Affairs." Bristol Phoenix, December 25, 1886, p. 2.)

"THE Herreshoff Mfg. Co. have now on the ways in their fine building house at Bristol another steam yacht [Clara #140p] for Mr. Charles Kellogg ...
Messrs. Herreshoff furnished a model of a yacht to Mr. William Ziegler, but it is reported that the negotiations are off. This vessel was to be 82ft. over all, 69ft. l.w.l., 19ft. 2in. beam, with 35 tons in her keel. [For more information on William Ziegler see Parkinson, History of the New York Yacht Club, p. 193.]" (Source: Anon. "A New Herreshoff Steamer." Forest and Stream, February 17, 1887, p. 75.)

"... It seems rather strange, in view of the operations now going on at Bristol, that during the years 1885, 1886 and 1887 no cup defender was built at Bristol, R. I. That the Herreshoffs did not have an opportunity to build is not so, for in 1885 and prior to the building of the Puritan, a committee of Boston yachtsmen called on the firm for a design for a cup defender. Their request was not acceded to wholly, for, while the firm was quite willing to design a cup defender, it was under the proviso that the Herreshoffs should build the boat. This qualification was quite unsatisfactory to the Bostonians, who, though quite willing to pay a goodly sum for the design, wanted the privilege of going into the open market to have her built. As the parties never agreed no design was made, consequently no cup defender was built by the Herreshoffs. ... If the Herreshoffs did not build a cup defender in 1887, to meet the Thistle, it again was not because they were not asked. During a visit to New York, in the fall of 1886, I called on Mr. William Ziegler, a prominent merchant, and also a leading member of the Atlantic Yacht Club. When I met Mr. Ziegler in his office, he told me that he hoped a 70-footer would come over, as in that case, he would build a yacht and that he was then negotiating with the Herreshoffs to construct one. Those who follow yachting closely will remember how the Scotchmen tried hard to get a 70-footer mutually agreed on. ..." (Source: McVey, A. G. "Are World Famous. The Herreshoffs and Their Speedy Boats. Review of the Work of the Noted Builders." Boston Herald, ca. July 1895, no page (undated newspaper article from a yachting scrapbook compiled by A. S. Thayer, Claas van der Linde collection).

"[Item Description:] Penciled side-by-side half-sections with displacement curve of an unidentified yacht with very slack bilges and flaring topsides titled '69 1/2f l.w.l.'. (Note: Despite the same waterline length, this design appears to be not #188603es Unbuilt America's Cup Defender for William Ziegler designed in November 1886 which has hull sections with almost vertical topsides whereas this design has topsides with a lot of flare.) On verso dimensioned sketch of what appears to be a steam-driven fire engine which may be related to HMCo's building a new coil boiler and making other repairs to the town of Bristol's No. 1 Fire Engine 'King Philip'. See 'Report of proceedings of the Committee appointed by the Town to examine the condition of the Steam Fire Engine ... After a careful examination of the Steamer, we found what appeared to be a leak in the water-leg or bottom of the boiler, also the blow-off cocks leak about the threads where they screw into the boiler. We do not think the boiler is safe to run. ... Resolved, That the mater of repairs on the Steam Fire Engine be entrusted to the Board of Engineers, with full power, but at an expense not to exceed the sum of $500.' (Source: Anon. 'Local Notes.' Bristol Phoenix, April 17, 1880, p. 2.) and '[King Phlip] Steam Fire Engine No. 1, was taken to the Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.'s machine shop of the 16th inst., to receive a new patent safety boiler and otther needed repairs.' (Source: Anon. 'Local Notes.' Bristol Phoenix, April 24, 1880, p. 2.). See also NGH note in experiments booklet titled in ink on cover 'H.M. Co. Experiments. 1880 - 1881': 'Oct[ober] 20th [18]80. At Fire Engine 'King Phillip'. Trial on steam boat wharf. 5lbs steam in 2 min. 40lbs steam in 4 min. Stream over sloop mast in 6 min. Held steam easily at 100lbs and water pressure [blank] lbs. Played horizontally 180f'." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. (creator). Side-by-side Half-Sections and Displacement Curves. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0592. WRDT08, Folder 45. No date (1882-04 ??).)
① ② ③ ④

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Penciled specifications and scantlings titled 'Mem[orandum] of dimentions[sic, i.e. dimensions] of material for 1 70ft w.l.w. yacht' specifying keel plate, garboard, floorplates, floor beams (bulb angles), bilge stringers (bulb angles), frames (bulb angles) deck beams, sheer strake, deck stringer, chain plates, straps, mast partner, bowsprit bitts, rail stantions, riveting, painting, ballast (lead, outside), planking (two layers of yellow pine 1 1/8in thick), deck (white pine 2 1/8in thick), plank sheer, bulwarks, rail, centreboard, rudder, centerboard box, fastenings, 'all material to be of best quality and well seasoned, painted with two coats paint and well smoothed down, all deck work to be bright, bottom to have anti-fouling paint', watertanks, water closets (Sands), anchors, windlass, 'Rig to be complete for racing purposes of American cutter style (i.e. standing bowsprit, laced foot to sail & c.), standing rigging of galvanized steel, sails by Sawyer or other most approved maker'. The dimensions are identical with those of the midship plan titled 'Midship section of 69 1/2 l.w.l. Sloop yacht' which is believed to be for #188603es Unbuilt America's Cup Defender for William Ziegler which was designed in November 1886." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Correspondence (specifications) to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE05_01260. Folder [no #]. No date (1886-11 ?).)
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦

"[Item Description:] Penciled construction midship section of an unidentified composite-built centerboard yacht. Titled 'Midship section of 69 1/2 l.w.l. Sloop yacht'. Scantlings show 'Planking 1 1/8in and 1 1/8in yellow pine' and 'Frames 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 x 5/16 angle' and 'Iron sheer streak 18in x 3/16[in]' and 'Deck 2 1/8 x 2 1/8 white pine' and a note shows 'about 40 tons lead'. There seem to be additional sections overlaid for comparison labeled '66.72' and '83.16 cb[?]'. The 69 1/2ft LWL suggests this to be for #188603es Unbuilt America's Cup Defender for William Ziegler which was designed in November 1886." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sketch. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0495. WRDT08, Folder 39, formerly MRDE10. No date (1886-11 ??).)
① ②

"[Item Description:] Penciled sailplan of an unidentified clipper-bowed centerboard gaff sloop titled '69ft 7in lwl [#188603es Unbuilt America's Cup Sloop for William Ziegler]'. With calculations arriving at a total sail area of 5144sq ft (without topsail) or 5883sqft (with topsail. With note 'Measurement sail area 711sqft. Sailing length 74.5ft'. Compare with 2004.0001.0504 which shows the same boat without the added-on clipper bow. Undated, probably November or December 1886." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sailplan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0503. WRDT04, Folder 41, formerly MRDE10. No date (1886).)
① ② ③

"[Item Description:] Penciled general arrangement plan and inboard profile of an unidentified plumb-bowed centerboard gaff sloop titled '69 1/2 lwl [#188603es Unbuilt America's Cup Sloop for William Ziegler]'. Compare with 2004.0001.0503 which shows the same boat with an added on clipper bow. Overlaying Model 1232 shows a perfect match with the exception of the model being slightly higher and having a longer stern. Undated, probably November or December 1886." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled General Arrangement Plan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0504. WRDT04, Folder 41, formerly MRDE10. No date (1886).)
① ② ③

"[Item Description:] Penciled table comparing 'Length', '[symbol]', 'Disp[lacement] 2000' [i.e. short tons], 'Estimate of Cost' and 'Per D' [i.e. Cost per Displacement in Short Tons] for seven different designs: '69 1/2ft [probably #188603es Unbuilt America's Cup Defender for William Ziegler]', '26 1/2[ft] PELICAN [#408s]', '29 1/2[ft #409s GANNET]', '29 1/2[ft] CLARA [#402s]', '23[ft] IRIS [#406s]', '45[ft #411s GLORIANA ???]', and '45[ft #414s WASP ?]'. (Note that cost estimates differ from those in the Construction Record.)" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Cost Estimate. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE05_01730. Folder [no #]. No date (1891 ?).)
①

Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #188603es [Unbuilt Americas Cup Contender for William Ziegler] even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.