HMCo #77p Edith

"This company is now having erected a large frame building in addition to and adjoining the machine shop and boat works on Summer street, the new building being as large or larger than the original building, where so many fine large and small craft have been constructed and such a variety of first class machinery has been turned out. We visited the establishment a day or two since and by the politeness of Mr. Charles F. Herreshoff, were shown through the various departments of their busy shops.
Among the vessels now being built to order are --- one steam yacht [#72p Camilla] 60 feet in length by 9 feet in width for Dr. Holland, editor of Scribner's Monthly; another [#76p Idle Hour] of the same size for Mr. Carver, a prominent broker of New York city; and still another [#77p Edith] of the same size for a Mr. Woodward, also of New York; also one steam yacht [#78p Juliet], 45 feet long and 9 feet wide, for Mr. A. Newbold Morris, of New York.
A most beautiful steam launch [#73p Launch for St. Y. Radha], 30 feet in length and 5 feet in width, nearly completed, was receiving the final touches of the skilled workmen. This vessel is for Mr. T. Lorillard, and is one of the finest and handsomest craft ever built in this or any other country. Her keel is of oak, the inside planking of cherry, and the outside, from keel to upper works, deck, etc., all of polished mahogany. We noticed that this launch and the others mentioned were all put together with brass screws, --- no nails being used. The inside planking (or boarding) is put on in an acute angle from the outside planking, making the vessel much firmer and less liable to be wrenched or twisted out of shape.
All of the yachts and the launch mentioned are, or will be fitted with the Herreshoff compound engines, and safety coil boilers. ...
It is a specialty at this establishment to do nothing but first-class work, to build no second rate vessels. All the steam launches and yachts are finished up in the very best workmanlike manner in cherry, mahogany and costly kinds of wood. The Company has now in its employ about one hundred men, on boats and machinery." (Source: Anon. "The Herreshoff Manufacturing Company." Bristol Phoenix, March 19, 1881, p. 2.)

"Edith, steam yacht, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, RI, by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., 1881.
16.93 tons; 56 ft. x 9.4 ft. x 5 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
Plain head, round stern.
Surveyed and measured, June 5, 1881." (Source: U.S. Customs Department, Bristol, R.I. Custom House Record Book, 1870s to 1904 (Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum), s.v. Edith.)

"[License issued to vessel under 20 tons. Pos. 69:]
Edith, steam yacht, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, 1881.
16.93 tons; 56 ft. x 9.4 ft. x 5.4 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
No specifications shown.
Lic[ensed] ([for] C[oastal] T[rade]) June 7, 1881. Owner: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol. Master: George S. Healy, New London, Conn.
Surrendered [license] June 7, 1882 at New York. ([Record at:] C[ustom] H[ouse, Providence])." (Source: Survey of Federal Archives, Work Projects Administration. Ships Documents of Rhode Island. Bristol. Ship Registers and Enrollments of the Port of Bristol - Warren Rhode Island, 1941, s.v. Edith.)

"... Edith, steam yacht, Mr. Wm. Woodward, has been sold to Mr. E. C. Benedict, of New York, for $6,000. She was built by the Herreshoffs in 1880, and is 60ft long. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yachting Notes." Forest & Stream, May 14, 1885, p. 319.)

"... MR. WILLIAM WOODWARD, JR. has sold his steam yacht Edith to Mr. E. C. Benedict, of this city [New York], for $6,000. She was built for her late owner in 1880, by the Herreshoff Company, at Bristol , R. I., and is 60 ft. over all, 55 ft. 10 in. water-line, 9 ft. 2 in. beam, 4 ft. 7 in. deep, and 3 ft. 5 in draught. She is a screw steamer, with compound inverted engin; cylinders, 6 in. and 10 1/2 in., with 10 in. stroke, supplied from a coil boiler, 4 ft. 3 in. long and 3 ft. 11 in. wide. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yachting." Spirit of the Times, May 16, 1885, p. 480.)

"The following is a list of the steam yachts built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol, R.I: ... Edith, built 1880, for William Woodward, Jr., New York. Length, 60 feet; breadth, 9 feet 2 inches; depth, 4 feet 7 inches; draught, 3 feet 5 inches; speed, 15 miles per hour. ..." (Source: Jaffray, Edward S. "American Steam Yachting." Outing, April 1886, p. 23-25.)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Handwritten notebook titled in ink '1881. (Supplies.) 60ft Yacht[s]. 48ft Vidette. 45ft Vidette' listing 'Supplies [delivered by HMCo] for 60ft Steam Yachts with 6 and 10 1/2 x 10 Engine & Ii boiler [#76p IDLE HOUR, #72p CAMILLA, #77p EDITH, #79p DIDO]. Also 'Supplies for 45 feet open yacht with 4 1/4 and 7 x 7 engine, G boiler' [#78p Juliet]. Also 'Supplies for 48 feet Vidette boats Nos 74 and 75 [#74p and #75p]'. Also 'List of spare parts for 8 and 14 x 9 Engines. Str. #74 & #75 [#74p and #75p]'. Including an inserted penciled note listing anchors and cables supplied for #590s INGOMAR." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.143. Notebook. Box HAFH.6.5B, Folder Supply List for Vessels. 1881.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Newspaper clipping that can be shown to be from the Bristol Phoenix, March 19, 1881, p. 2:] This company is now having erected a large frame building in addition to and adjoining the machine shop and boat works on Summer street, the new building being as large or larger than the original building, where so many fine large and small craft have been constructed and such a variety of first class machinery has been turned out. We visited the establishment a day or two since and by the politeness of Mr. Charles F. Herreshoff, were shown through the various departments of their busy shops.
Among the vessels now being built to order are --- one steam yacht [#72p Camilla] 60 feet in length by 9 feet in width for Dr. Holland, editor of Scribner's Monthly; another [#76p Idle Hour] of the same size for Mr. Carver, a prominent broker of New York city; and still another [#77p Edith] of the same size for a Mr. Woodward, also of New York; also one steam yacht [#78p Juliet], 45 feet long and 9 feet wide, for Mr. A. Newbold Morris, of New York.
A most beautiful steam launch [#73p Launch for St. Y. Radha], 30 feet in length and 5 feet in width, nearly completed, was receiving the final touches of the skilled workmen. This vessel is for Mr. T. Lorillard, and is one of the finest and handsomest craft ever built in this or any other country. Her keel is of oak, the inside planking of cherry, and the outside, from keel to upper works, deck, etc., all of polished mahogany. We noticed that this launch and the others mentioned were all put together with brass screws, --- no nails being used. The inside planking (or boarding) is put on in an acute angle from the outside planking, making the vessel much firmer and less liable to be wrenched or twisted out of shape.
All of the yachts and the launch mentioned are, or will be fitted with the Herreshoff compound engines, and safety coil boilers.
Two vedette boats [#74p 149 and #75p 150] are being built, each 48 by 9 feet, for the British government, both to be fitted with compound machinery and boilers, same as others mentioned, but of greater power. The yacht Sadie [#186704es] is being enlarged and rebuilt; she was formerly a sloop, but is now a schooner; her dimensions now are, length, 64 feet, breadth, 16 1/2 feet; she is owned by Mr. W. A. Cole, of New York.
They now have, nearly completed, a compound engine and boiler for a yacht 80 feet long, belonging to Mr. Mark Hopkins, of Detroit, Mich., where the machinery will be put in the yacht. The cut be-low is a very good representation of the Herreshoff Compound Engine. [Woodcut of a compound steam engine]
A writer in a recent number of the Scientific American says: The engines used in the Herreshoff system for marine purposes are of the compound condensing type, having feed and air pumps attached. The machinery of this system is especially noteworthy for its extreme lightness and for the judicious distribution of material, all of the parts having ample strength, and no portion being loaded with useless metal, which would rather detract than add to the efficiency of the machine. These engines use the steam with the highest economy, actual and prolonged tests having proved the efficiency to be at least 40 per cent greater than that of the non-expanding type. As to mechanical details of construction, finish proportion and general design these engines leave nothing to be desired.' The same writer concludes his article as follows: 'The entire range of the manufactures of the Herreshoff company exhibit careful and intelligent supervision, and workmanship that is in every way superior.'
The steam yacht LEILA [#40p], 100 feet in length, built by the Herreshoffs about two years ago, has recently been sold to a Club, at Toledo, O., where she will be forwarded about the first of May next.
The Company are building a number of engines and boilers for United States Navy launches, also constructing engines and boilers for running electrical light machines to be used by the United States Electric Lighting Co., of New York. The quickness with which steam may be raised, the freedom from danger of explosion, the lightness of both boiler and engine, and the perfection of the mechanical details, render this system valuable for this purpose, and admits of placing powerful machines in the midst of crowded cities without danger to life or property.'
It is a specialty at this establishment to do nothing but (first-class work, to build no second rate vessels. All the steam launches and yachts are finished up in the very best workmanlike manner in cherry, mahogany and costly kinds of wood. The Company has now in its employ about one hundred men, on boats and machinery.
It is a specialty at this establishment to do nothing but first-class work, to build no second rate vessels. All the steam launches and yachts are finished up in the very best workmanlike manner in cherry, mahogany and costly kinds of wood. The Company has now in its employ about one hundred men, on boats and machinery." (Source: Anon. "The Herreshoff Manufacturing Company." Bristol Phoenix, March 19, 1881, p. 2.)" (Source: Bristol Phoenix (creator). Newspaper Clipping. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE14_01220. Folder [no #]. 1881-03-19.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Penciled experiments booklet titled in ink on cover 'H.M. Co. Experiments. 1880 - 1881'. Relevant contents:
§20: #77p EDITH Trial Run (1881-06-08)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Experiments Booklet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE07_02030. Folder [no #]. 1880-08 to 1881-06.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #77p Edith even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Edith (HMCo-made index card)
• Edith (MIT Museum-made index card)
• Note: The vessel index cards comprise two sets of a total of some 3200 cards about vessels built by HMCo, with dimensions and information regarding drawings, later or former vessel names, and owners. They were compiled from HMCo's early days until 1920 and added to in later decades, apparently by Hart Nautical curator William A. Baker and his successors. While HMCo seems to have used only one set of index cards, all sorted by name and, where no name was available, by number, later users at MIT apparently divided them into two sets of cards, one sorted by vessel name, the other by vessel number and greatly expanded the number of cards. Original HMCo cards are usually lined and almost always punched with a hole at bottom center while later cards usually have no hole, are unlined, and often carry substantially less information. All cards are held by the Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections of the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Mass.

Name: Edith
Type: Steam
Length: 60'
Owner: Woodward, William, Jr.

Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. "A Partial List of Herreshoff Clients." In: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Herreshoff Yachts. Bristol, Rhode Island, ca. 1931.

• Edith
• Note: The L. Francis Herreshoff index cards comprise a set of some 1200 cards about vessels built by HMCo, with dimensions and / or ownership information. Apparently compiled in the early 1930s, for later HMCo-built boats like the Fishers Island 23s or the Northeast Harbor 30s are not included. Added to in later decades, apparently by L. F. Herreshoff as well as his long-time secretary Muriel Vaughn and others. Also 46 cards of L. F. Herreshoff-designed vessels. The original set of index cards is held by the Herreshoff Marine Museum and permission to display is gratefully acknowledged.

Name: Edith
Type: 60' steam
Owner: William Woodward, Jr.
Year: 1880
Row No.: 183

Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. "Partial List of Herreshoff-Built Boats." In: Herreshoff, L. Francis. Capt. Nat Herreshoff. The Wizard of Bristol. New York, 1953, p. 325-343.

Year: 1881
E/P/S: P
No.: 077
Name: Edith
OA: 60"

Source: Vermilya, Peter and Maynard Bray. "Transcription of the HMCo. Construction Record." Unpublished database, ca. 2000.

Note: The transcription of the HMCo Construction Record by Peter Vermilya and Maynard Bray was performed independently (and earlier) than that by Claas van der Linde. A comparison of the two transcriptions can be particularly useful in those many cases where the handwriting in the Construction Record is difficult to decipher.

"In the absence of better available data displacement was estimated by using the figure for Old Measurement Tons (23.5) from the 1885 Olsen's American Yacht List (New Measurement Tons were reported as 16.93) and converting to lbs by dividing through 2000 (short tons). Note that this figure can only be a rough estimate because register tons as reported in Yacht Registers correlate only loosely with actual displacement figures." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 17, 2015.)

Note: Research notes contain information about a vessel that is often random and unedited but has been deemed useful for future research.