HMCo #142p Now Then

"[1887-07-12] Tue 12: Now Then #142 delivered. ...
[1889-05-15] Wed 15: Launched Now Then [#142p] from S wharf. ...
[1889-06-03] Mon 3: Now Then [#142p] started for N.Y.
[1889-06-08] Sat 8: Now Then [#142p] returned from N.Y.
[1889-06-26] Wed 26: Sold Now Then [#142p] to Mr. Addicks of Boston.
[1889-06-29] Sat 29: Now Then [#142p] left for Boston.
[1889-08-21] Wed 21: Now Then [#142p] left for Boston with new boiler." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1887 to 1889. Manuscript (excerpts). Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection.)

"The 'Now Then,' eighty-five feet long, was quite a departure in model from previous power vessels and had a wide flat stern with a very straight run aft. Her stern ... had a pronounced tumble home and terminated in a sharp point at the water line, and although this model was copied by literally hundreds of later power vessels, Captain Nat did not like it at all. He said the sharp point at the water line was an abomination but, worst of all, one day when 'Now Then' was backing out of the slip at the Herreshoff works she struck a couple of waves which this stern brought right up on deck and soaked a couple of ladies (one of whom was the author's mother), sitting in chairs on the after deck. So he never used this type of stern again.
Nevertheless, 'Now Then' was a remarkable yacht and if she had been built without the clipper bow, masts, etc., certainly would have looked very modern. On her first run after delivery she traveled from Newport, Rhode Island, to Twenty-fourth Street, New York City, a distance of one hundred and seventy miles, in seven hours and four minutes, or at a rate of over twenty-four miles per hour, a speed between Newport and New York not often beaten since by privately owned yachts. When one considers that this record was made in 1887, it seems amazing. I know there will be many of my younger readers who will say, 'Oh, there are plenty of launches nowadays that go more than twice as fast as that,' but I wonder if many of them have made the run much faster from Newport to New York through the sea off Point Judith and the tide rips of the Sound. At the time of 'Now Then,' a fast steam yacht was the fastest privately owned conveyance that a person could own. Of course, the horse could go faster for a few miles, and a few people could ride a bicycle faster for a mile or two, but nothing but the steam locomotive could travel faster for long distances, and the locomotive or steam train could only run in the direction the tracks were laid. So, in its day, the high-speed steam yacht was quite a thing, and for several years Captain Nat designed the fastest of them. In fact, the owner of 'Now Then,' Mr. Norman L. Munro, offered to race 'Now Then' against any American steam yacht without time allowance, but received no acceptance to his challenge." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. The Wizard of Bristol. The Life and Achievements of Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, together with An Account of Some of the Yachts he Designed. New York, 1953, p. 107.)

"NOW THEN and SAY WHEN
by Halsey C. Herreshoff
One hundred years ago the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company produced the most advanced power yachts of the time. Captain Nat Herreshoff designed every detail of the light weight steam machinery and of the steel or composite hull structure. The high sustained speed of these craft was unmatched in the United States.
One of the most remarkable vessels was NOW THEN, built in 1887 for Norman L. Munro, a New York publisher. This 88' power yacht was fitted with a quadruple expansion steam engine similar to the 5-cylinder engine of the U.S.S. CUSHING, sea going torpedo boat #1, built the previous year. These engines had a stroke of 15" with cylinders ranging in diameter from 11" to 22 1/2". The last two cylinders combined for the fourth stage of steam expansion. The design of this elaborate engine included a number of firsts, including placement of valves and valve gear to the side of cylinders rather than between. This scheme later became the norm for steam engines, and for all internal combustion engines to this day.
The CUSHING engine had such great power for a yacht of 'only' 88' length that NOW THEN's design provided opportunity for hull innovation. Departing from the conventional narrow vee stern which allows a highly powered boat to 'squat,' Captain Nat designed a wide, flat stern for NOW THEN, producing an efficient, flat-running hull which was powered to a speed length ratio of nearly three!
NOW THEN made a run from Newport, RI, to 24th Street, New York --- a distance of one hundred and seventy miles --- in seven hours and four minutes, an average of over 24 miles per hour. One hundred years later, how many private yachts can do this in total comfort? Not many! Mr. Munro was so proud of NOW THEN that he issued a challenge for a race against any American steam yacht without time allowance, but received no takers.
Another innovation, later much copied, was NOW THEN's rakish reverse angle transom, terminating in a sharp horizontal line with her flat stern. One day Captain Nat's wife Clara and some other ladies sat in deck chairs in NOW THEN's aft cockpit when she backed from the shop pier into a southwest chop. A wave dashed up the reverse transom, drenching the ladies. Captain Nat never again designed a reverse transom boat.
... Quiet, with minimal vibration, boats such as NOW THEN and SAY WHEN were altogether some of the finest conveyances of all times." (Source: Herreshoff Marine Museum Chronicle, Spring 1987, p. 3.)

"Bristol, Mass., March 19 [1887] ... The Herreshoffs have lately received an order for a steam yacht [probably #142p Now Then] somewhat smaller than the one just described [#140p Clara]. She is to be very fast, and will not be fitted up for a cruising yacht, as the most her owner will want is a day's run in the Bay or an occasional spin up Long Island Sound as far as Newport." (Source: Anon. "Gorgeous Steam Yachts. Fleet As Swallows And Fine As Silk." New York Times, March 20, 1887, p. 9.)

"No. 142 Now Then, steam yacht, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, RI, by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., 1887.
12.70 tons; 78.4 ft. x 10.1 ft. x 6.3 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, two masts.
Surveyed and measured, May, 1887." (Source: U.S. Customs Department, Bristol, R.I. Custom House Record Book, 1870s to 1904 (Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum), s.v. Now Then.)

"... Henrietta [#133p]; this fast launch has been sold by Norman L. Munro to E. S. Jaffray. Mr. Munro has a new launch [#142p Now Then] building at Herreshoff's. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yachting Notes." Forest And Stream, May 5, 1887, p. 334.)

"AT Herreshoffs's shops there is now building a high speed yacht [#142p Now Then] for service between New York and the Shrewsbury to take the place of the famous Henrietta [#133p], lately sold. This new craft will be 81ft. l.w.l., 10ft. beam and 38in. draft aft. She will have triple compound engines, 7 1/2, 12 and 19 x 10 1/2, with a grate surface of 25ft. and a 36in. screw. ... The large yacht [#142p Now Then] is planked with a very fine quality of yellow pine, clear and free from pitch --- for the outer skin 1/2in. thick, the inner skin being of 3/8in. white pine, the fastenings of galvanized steel nails, clinched. ..." (Source: Anon. "Steam Yacht Building At Bristol." Forest and Stream, June 2, 1887, p. 424.)

"[License issued to vessel under 20 tons. Pos. 196:]
Now Then, steam yacht, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, 1887.
12.70 tons; 78.4 ft. x 10.1 ft. x 6.3 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
No specifications shown.
Lic[ensed] ([as] yacht) July 7, 1887. Owner: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol. Master: [blank]. ([Record at:] C[ustom] H[ouse, Providence]).
Lic[ensed] ([as] yacht) May 25, 1889. Owner: same. Master: [blank].
Surrendered [license] May 26, 1890 at Wilmington, Del. ([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. Now Then.)

"The new steam yacht 'Now Then' 81 feet long and 10 feet beam, recently completed by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., and launched June 25th, was built for Mr. Norman L. Munro, of New York. She made a satisfactory trial trip from here to Newport and return, Monday. Tuesday [July 12, 1887] morning she steamed from Newport at 11.22, and dropped anchor in New York harbor at 6.26, p. m., making the passage at an average speed of more than twenty-two miles an hour. In smooth water she can make about twenty-seven miles an hour." (Source: Anon. "Local Affairs." Bristol Phoenix, July 16, 1887, p. 2.)

"THE shoal draft steam yacht, Now Then, built by the Herreshoff Mfg. Co. for N. L. Munro, former owner of the Norma and the Henrietta, arrived in New York on July 12 [1887] from Bristol, making the remarkable run of 130 nautical miles in 7h. 4m. The yacht is entirely new and this run was a trial trip. The course of the American Y. C, between New London and Larchmont, was run in 4h. 9m. The fall times of the run are:
Newport 11:22 A. M.
Point Judith 11:55 A.M.
WatchHill 12:56 A.M.
New London 1:27 1/2 P.M.
New Haven 3:24 P. M.
Stratford Shoal 4:02 P. M.
Eaton's Neck 4:47 P.M.
Larchmont 5:36 1/2P.M.
New York, 24th St 6:26 P.M.
On July 13 the new boat made her first trip to the Shrewsbury River, where her owner resides in summer, beating the steamer St. Johns by several miles.
The Now Then is built with steamed oak frames 1 5/8in. square, spaced 14in. and double skin of wood, the inner being of 3/8 in. white pine and the outer of 1/2in. selected yellow pine, with galvanized steel fastenings. The planking in each layer runs fore and aft, the two skins breaking joints, while the deck, of mahogany, is laid in a similar manner. The hull is 85ft. over all, 81 ft. l.wl., 10ft. beam and draws 30in. at lowest point of keel, with an extreme draft of 38in. under shoe. The least freeboard is 3ft. 6in. She has a long, clean bow, but aft the hull widens above water into a flat oval overhang, the object being to prevent squatting. The buttock lines are very easy, giving a good delivery of water to the screw, which is placed beneath the overhang. The triple expansion engine has cylinders 7 1/2, 12 and 19in. x 10 1/2in., and the coil boiler has 25ft. of grate surface. The screw has four blades 36in. diameter and the shaft is of 3 1/4in. steel. Mr. Munro offers to race any steam yacht in America with a record, over the A.Y.C. course, giving the competing yacht a start of ten miles." (Source: Anon. "A New Herreshoff Steamer." Forest and Stream, July 21, 1887, p. 562.)

"Mr. N. L. Munro has sold the Now Then [#142p] and it is reported that he has ordered from the Herreshoff Co. a seagoing steam yacht [#150p Say When] of 135ft. over all to be built of mahogany on the firm's double skin system. The yacht will be designed for great speed. Mr. Munro will also have a smaller boat [#148p Our Mary and/or #149p Jersey Lily] from the same yard. ..." (Source: Anon. "New Steam Yachts." Forest And Stream, October 27, 1887, p. 276.)

"Bristol, R. I., May 31 [1888]. ... The Now Then, Mr. Munro's flyer of last season, built by the Herreshoffs, is on the ways at the works. She belongs to the company, having been accepted in part payment for the larger yacht, Say When. She has had the usual fitting for the season. The Now Then is a yacht of record, having made the trip from Newport to New York in 7 hours 4 minutes. ..." (Source: Anon. "At the Herreshoffs." Boston Globe, June 1, 1888, p. 4.)

"[Now Then (Steamyacht) owned by Norman L. Munro, Port: New York; LOA 86.4ft; LWL 81.9ft; Beam 10ft; Draft 3.2ft; designed by Herreshoff Mfg. Co. and built by Herreshoff Mfg. Co. in 1887.]" (Source: Stebbins 1888 Yachtsmen's Souvenir, p. 1.)

WESTERLY, R. I., June 2 [1889] --- The steam yacht Now Then built and owned by the Herreshoffs at sleepy old Bristol in this State, and which was in New York harbor for a few days last autumn has opened the summer on Narragansett bay as a record breaker. The alterations and improvements that have been made upon this long, low, sharp, snaky exemplar of the blind boatbuider's skill in marine architectural work have made her a veritable flyer.
On Thursday morning she steamed into the Fall River Iron Works wharf at Providence, at 9:45 A. M., and, taking on board a small party of friends of the owners, started out in a pouring rain storm to break the record on a trip to Newport. Whether the Now Then was too fast for the storm or not no one on board could tell, but she ran into sunshine inside of an hour after starting and reached the steamboat wharf in Newport in exactly 1 hour 17 1/2 minutes. Mr Herreshoff says the boat's engines were not forced to their highest speed either. The distance covered was about 28 miles.
The Now Then is schooner rigged, 86 feet long, 10 feet wide and carries a crew of five. The engine room contains a triple expansion engine and a boiler of over 300-horse power. The boiler is fed by pumps on the main shaft. This shaft, by tbe way, gives about 480 turns per minute to the screw when the boat is running at full speed. It is expected that this craft will show the gilt letters on her stern board to many of the flyers of New York's yacht club before the summer is over." (Source: Anon. "Fast Trip of the Steam Yacht Now Then." New York Sun, June 3, 1889, p. 6.)

"NOW THEN, steamer owned Mr. N. L. Munroe, has been sold to Mr. Addicks of Boston. The new Mosher boat building in a sealed shop at Pryor's yard is said to be for Mr. Munroe." (Source: Anon. "Now Then." Forest and Stream, July 11, 1889, p. 521.)

"... Pleasure Boat. (107). A pipe in the Herreshoff boiler of J. Edward Addick's steel steam yacht Now Then burst off Claymont, near Wilmington, Del., on June 23d [1889] injuring three of her crew. Between 9 and 10 o'clock the yacht met the steamer City of Chester, and steamed around her two or three times. Suddenly the pipe burst, blowing open the furnace door and sending the flames into the faces of her engineers and fireman. The chief engineer, name unknown, John Andrews, the assistant engineer, and Frank Johnson, fireman, were severeIy but not dangerously burned. The yacht was towed to her wharf. The Now Then is probably the fastest steam vessel in the world. She is shaped like a shuttle, and was built by the Herreshoffs, the torpedo builders. Her speed is between twenty-three and twenty-five miles an hour. She carries a crew of seven men, of whom Frank Torrey is Captain." (Source: Anon. "Boiler Explosions. June 1890." In: The Locomotive, September 1890, p. 135.)

"... About the 26th of June, 1889, Mr. Addicks bought the yacht from the libelant [Herreshoff Manuf'g Co.] for the cash price of $15,000, and by his direction the bill of sale was made to his wife, and the yacht was delivered to her at Nahant, Mass. After the delivery, and early in the following month of July [1889], the boiler of the yacht gave out, and the vessel was sent by Mr. Addicks to the libelant, at Bristol, with orders from him to have the necessary repairs made. When a bill for the repairs was sent to Mr. Addicks he refused to pay it, on the ground that Mr. John B. Herreshoff, the president of the libelant company, had warranted the boiler for one year, and that it was the duty of the company to keep it in good order for that period without additional charge. After this the libelant continued to do additional work on the yacht by the orders of Mr. Addicks, who punctually paid for it, with the exception of a small balance, which is included in the present claim, but he has uniformily refused to pay for the boiler repairs. Much testimony was taken in relation to the nature of the warranty, which was claimed on one side and positively denied on the other; and also as to the condition of the yacht's boiler at the time of the sale, but, as already remarked, the controlling question here is whether the libelant has established its right to a lien. ...[The case was decided against HMCo, the court ruling that HMCo could not establish a lien against the vessel itself but was to establish a libel against her owner.]" (Source: District Court, D. Delaware "The Now Then. Herreshoff Manuf'g Co. v. The Now Then. No. 427." Federal Reporter, vol. 50, June 2, 1892.)

"THE year following the Stiletto's advent [1886], her builders sent to New York, on the occasion of the annual regatta in June, another notable craft, the open launch, Henrietta [#133p]. She was 48 feet overall, 46 feet 7 inches lwl, 7 feet 6 inches beam, and 3 feet draft, with a triple-expansion engine 4 and 6 1/2 and 10 inches by 8 inches. She too showed a very high speed in her ordinary running about New York, and made a record a little later in the American Yacht Club regatta, when she covered the Larchmont-New London course in 5 hours, 22 minutes, and 14 seconds, being second to Atalanta out of a fleet of steam yachts very much larger than herself.
The owner of the Henrietta, to whose order she was built, was the late Norman L. Munro, of New York, an enthusiast in the development of the highspeed steam yacht. He had already built the Norma, a large-decked steam yacht, from which much was expected, but which proved a failure. The success of the Henrietta led to the placing of an order with the Herreshoffs for a larger craft, and in 1887 the Now Then [#142p] was launched at Bristol. She was of the regular wooden construction of the firm, 86 feet 4 inches over all, 81 feet 9 inches lwl, 10 feet beam, 5 feet 7 inches depth of hold, and 3 feet 2 inches draft, with triple-expansion engines 7 1/2, 12, and 19 inches by 10 1/2 inches, and a coil boiler 6 feet 3 inches by 5 feet 3 inches. Though a fast boat, the Now Then by no means came up to the standard of the Stiletto and Henrietta, and failed to meet the expectations of her owner. The following year she was returned to her builders in partial payment for a new and still larger yacht, from which a much higher speed was expected. The Say When [#150p], as she was named by Mr. Munro, was 138 feet overall, 115 feet lwl, 14 feet beam, and 4 feet 6 inches draft, --- an elaborately-built craft, with mahogany planking and a complete outfit of the most improved Herreshoff machinery. The Now Then was of the decked launch type, with the stern cut away on deck and broadening out just at the surface of the water, but the Say When was of the conventional steam-yacht type, with longer clipper stem and the usual yacht counter. Though a serviceable boat, she too failed to realize the speed expected of her." (Source: Stephens, W. P. "The High Speed Steam-Yacht as a Factor in Torpedo Boat Design." Van Nostrand's Engineering Magazine. August 1898, p. 786.)

"Frontenac, N.Y. August 24 [1901] --- Of the numerous steam vessels, both public and private which are daily seen plying the waters of the St. Lawrence River, the best models and the ones which elicit the most praise are the property of prominent New Yorkers summering in the Thousand Island region. ...
The Now Then is of Herreshoff build, 85 feet long, with a 12 1/2 foot beam, with flush decks and square, low stern. She was originally built for Norman Munro, the New York printer. At his death the present owner purchased her.
A peculiar incident gave the boat her name. As she was being launched she stuck in some manner on the ways and did not slide into the water. A large force of men were required to start her. As they were about to push her off some one shouted, 'Now, then, altogether!' Mr. Munro was taken with this term and applied it to his new craft. ... " (Source: Anon. "Steam Yachting on St. Lawrence River. Many Speedy Brooklyn Boats. St Lawrence River Squadron is Probably the finest Inland Fleet in the World." Brooklyn Daily Eagle, August 25, 1901, p. 11.)

"Clayton, N.Y., Aug. 29 [1903]. --- The steam yacht Stroller [#209p], belonging to Gilbert Rafferty of Pittsburg, this afternoon won the great race in which the Jean [#194p], belonging to Thomas A. Gillespie of Pittsburgh and the Now Then [#142p], belonging to Commodore Lewis Luckenbach of New York, also took part, the latter two finishing second and third, respectively.
The race was over a course of a little more than twenty miles, being from Alexandria Bay to Dark Island and return. The trophy was a silver loving cup, valued at $500, presented by Mr. Rafferty, as Commodore of the Thousand Islands Yacht Yacht Club. At the clubhouse, on Welcome Island, this evening Mr. Rafferty was presented with the cup.
The course was covered by the Stroller in fifty-three minutes, which was regarded as good time, considering the heavy wind and the high sea that was rolling. The Jean was a mile behind the Stroller at the finish, and the Now Then was two miles behind the Jean. The boats in the race were all Herreshoff models. Mr. Rafferty was so delighted with the result of the contest that he presented each of the men on his boat with a check for $200. [Note: A photo of this race appears under Jean #194p.]" (Source: Anon. "Stroller Wins Yacht Race. In the Event at Clayton Rafferty's Boat Comes in First. " New York Times, August 30, 1903, p. 2.)

"... The desire among wealthy yachtsmen for high-speed steam craft developed about 1900. The Vamoose [#168p] was the pioneer in 1891, and held sway for several years, till the Yankee Doodle appeared in the field. The Javelin [#164p] followed and then the Now Then [#142p]. Each exceeded the speed of its predecessor slightly, the Now Then achieving the unheard-of record of twenty-one miles an hour.
How the mighty fall in yachting can be illustrated no better than by the fate of this quartet. The Javelin and Yankee Doodle have disappeared. Where the Javelin is none but the most dyed-in-the wool enthusiast can say. The Yankee Doodle blew up in the Raritan Canal. The Now Then is still in commission, owned by E. F. Luckenbach of this city, while the Vamoose is in the service of W. Lewisohn. Neither, if they were to be seen making twenty-odd miles on the Hudson, would attract more than a passing glance from the men among whom they once were the observed of all observers. ... [Note, that the article confuses the sequence in which these high-speed yachts were built.]" (Source: Anon. "Gen. Ives Owns the World's Fastest Steam Yacht." New York Times, June 18, 1905, p. SM6.)

"Now Then
The Now Then, with the other fast Hereshoff Steam Yachts Clover [#212p], Jean [#194p], Lotus Seeker [#171p] and Stroller [#209p] made history on the St. Lawrence River around the turn of the Century and during about 20 years thereafter. All attained speeds of approximately 20 M.EH. However, she was a number of years older and somewhat larger than any of the boats mentioned above. She was owned by Mr. Edgar F. Luckenbach of New York City. He had no Summer residence at the Thousand Islands and, while in this locality, stayed at the Frontenac Hotel. The yacht's Home Port and Port of Registry were Alexandria Bay, New York and New York City, respectively. Her Registration was 130371.
The Now Then was designed by Mr. Nathaniel G. Herreshoff and built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company at Bristol, Rhode Island in 1887. Her specifications were as follow: Net Tons, 12; Gross Tons, 25; Overall Length, 88'; Water line Length, 84'; Beam, 10' 2 "; Depth, 6' 4"; Draft, 4'. Construction was of wood. Again, in design, she differed from the boats mentioned above. She was strictly of the flush deck type and had a torpedo stern. The powerplant was a Herreshoff 3-Cylinder Triple Expansion Steam Engine, 7 1/2", 12" and 19" of bore and 10 1/2" of stroke. In 1907, the Lloyd's Register of American Yachts listed her boiler as a Roberts Water Tube. We believe, however, that the original boiler must have been a Herreshoff Water Tube.
The attached photograph, furnished by Mr. Charles F. Chapman, a former editor of Motor Boating magazine, was taken in the New York City area before the Now Then came to the Thousand Islands. It is a good profile view and illustrates her graceful clipper bow as well as her symmetrical torpedo stern. A later picture, taken while the Now Then was at the Thousand Islands Yacht Club dock (with the Nokomis), indicates that her topsides had been painted white and that alterations had been effected. The deckhouse, in which the steering wheel was located, had been considerably enlarged. A low trunk cabin covered the top of the boiler (perhaps, the Roberts Boiler previously mentioned). A wire mesh had been added to the lower sections of the railings. This made them appear more like those on the still larger yachts.
We regret that we do not have information at this time relative to the date that the Now Then ceased to operate and the disposition that was made of of her.
Reference:
Lloyd's Register of American Yachts, 1907." (Source: Mercier, Gilbart B. Pleasure Yachts of the Thousand Islands. Clayton, New York, 1981, s.v. "Now Then".)

"[Item Description:] Casting Book # 4, steamers #40p, #54p, #57p, #63p, #67p, #70p, #79p, #89p, #92p, #99p, #100p, #101p, #102p, #103p, #104p, #105p, #106p, #107p, #108p, #109p, #110p, #111p, #112p, #113p, #114p, #115p, #116p, #117p, #118p, #119p, #120p, #121p, #122p, #123p, #124p, #125p, #126p, #127p, #128p, #129p, #130p, #131p, #132p, #133p, #134p, #135p, #136p, #137p, #138p, #139p, #140p, #141p, #142p, #143p, #144p, #145p, #146p, #147p [castings by hull number; front page shows summary size and engine and boiler data for steamers 99 thru 146 as well as repair data for steamers #40p, #54p, #57p, #63p, #67p, #70p, #79p, #89p, #92p, #118p, and #128p]. Undated, vessels mentioned were built between 1878 and 1887. Dates mentioned for repairs range from 1885 to 1887. Note considerable informational overlap with Casting Book # 1, which as in this book also contains data for #99p through #116p, although it appears (!) that Book # 4 lists more patterns per boat than Book # 1. Likewise, considerable overlap with Casting Books # 2 and # 3 which also contain data for boats that are also listed in book # 4. It may well be that information in Book # 4 was copied from books # 1, # 2 and 3." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.120-07. Castings Book 4. Box HAFH.6.4B, Folder Casting Record Books Vessel Castings Book 4. No date (1878 to 1887).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled technical drawing of a steam engine titled '7 1/2 - 12 & 19 x 10 1/2, as built 1885 - 86'. (This engine is known to have been built for #140p CLARA, #142p NOW THEN and #162p JUDY between between 1887 and 1890)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Technical Drawing. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE11_02230. Folder [no #]. No date (ca 1887 ??).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled sketched general arrangement plan with half-breadth plan and inboard profile. Untitled (this is #142p NOW THEN). With notes such as 'Boiler moved forward 16in' and Bulkhead moved aft one bay' suggesting alterations." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled General Arrangement Plan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0376. WRDT04, Folder O.S. 3, formerly MRDE08. No date (1887 ??).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled side-by-side half-sections with profile and displacement curve of the forward half of what is quite certainly #142p NOW THEN. Compare with 2004.0001.0586 which shows the aft half of this design. Untitled, no notes, undated (NOW THEN was designed and built in the spring of 1887)." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. (creator). Side-by-side Half-Sections and Displacement Curves. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0585. WRDT08, Folder 45. No date (1887-04 ??).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled side-by-side half-sections with profile and displacement curve of the aft half of what is quite certainly #142p NOW THEN. Compare with 2004.0001.0585 which shows the forward half of this design. Untitled, no notes, undated (NOW THEN was designed and built in the spring of 1887)." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. (creator). Side-by-side Half-Sections and Displacement Curves. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0586. WRDT08, Folder 45. No date (1887-04 ??).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled note marked 'Mr. Nat' in upper margin and titled 'From Newport - July 12th 1887. Steam Yacht NOW THEN [#142p]' followed by times along the course from Newport to New York (in 7h 4m). Filed with this note is a typewritten transcription of it dated December 28, 1931." (Source: Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE14_00920. Penciled Note. Folder [no #]. 1887-07-12.)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.09740 (119-022). Photostat construction plan with plan view, sections and inboard profile titled 'NOW THEN. St[eame]r 142 [#142p]. Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Bristol, R.I., 19 July [18]87'." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Photostat Construction Plan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0202. WRDT08, Folder 19, formerly MRDW00. 1887-07-19.)
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"[Item Description:] Fragment of HMCo Plan HH.5.09740 (119-022). Photostat construction plan (fragment) with plan view, sections and inboard profile. Original is titled 'NOW THEN. St[eame]r 142 [#142p]. Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Bristol, R.I., 19 July [18]87'." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Photostat Construction Plan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0207. WRDT08, Folder 19, formerly MRDW00. 1887-07-19.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Handwritten (in ink and pencil) experiments and trials booklet titled 'Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Experiments 1884 to 1889. N.G. Herreshoff'. Relevant contents:
§30: #142p NOW THEN Trial Runs '23.002miles = 19.972knots' (1887-07-02 & 1887-07-11)
§30: #142p NOW THEN Newport to New York (1887-07-12)
§39: #142p NOW THEN Trial Run 'mean … 18.05kn … Swinging for compass error' (1889-06-03)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Trials Booklet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE07_03520. Folder [no #]. 1884-05 to 1890-05.)
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ ⑯ ⑰ ⑱ ⑲ ⑳ ㉑ ㉒ ㉓ ㉔ ㉕ ㉖ ㉗ ㉘ ㉙ ㉚ ㉛ ㉜ ㉝ ㉞ ㉟ ㊱ ㊲ ㊳ ㊴ ㊵ ㊶ ㊷ ㊸

"[Item Description:] Yachting editor The World and editor of new yachting weekly 'Burgee & Pennant': has excellent photo of #446s ALERION II by Child; will publish in 'Burgee & Pennant; please send a description of her and of her excellect suit of [crosscut] sails; story of [Larchmont] 21-footers and fine picture of #444s VAQUERO & #442s HOURI in the paper; could someone please write #437s VIGILANT in England article; is it true you have order from [James Gordon] Bennett for a 85-ft sloop [#189401es]; #168p VAMOOSE race challenge; #142p NOW THEN" (Source: Summers, James. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_01320. Correspondence, Folder 1_14, formerly 237. 1894-09-07.)
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"[Item Description:] Photograph. [Backside of Trophy Cup shown in HH.6.208:] ANEMONE [#4p] 1870, LIGHTNING [#20p] 1876, STILLETO [#118p] 1885, HENRIETTA [#133p] 1886, NOW THEN [#142p] 1887, BALLYMENA [#151p] 1888, CUSHING [#152p] 1890, VAMOOSE [#168p] 1891, PORTER [#184p] 1896, MORRIS 1897 [#190p]." (Source: Anderström (creator). Photograph. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.209. Box HAFH.6.7B, Folder Photograph. No date (1899 ?).)
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"N/A"

"[Item Transcription:] I have within a few days returned from Mexico, and yesterday received from Mr. Belmont copies of correspondence between you, 14th and 19th April inclusive.
Mr. Belmont's present understanding as to the capability of the 'SCOUT' [#203p] is as received originally from me and confirmed by you in his presence in your model room ---a speed of more than 20 miles on trial, an average of 17 miles in ordinary use. I am thus definite because I was most careful to convey to Messrs. Belmont and Vanderbilt [#207p MIRAGE] the impression of the boats I received from you as nearly as possible word for word, and I furthermore told them that as the matter was an exact science with you, there was no guess work about it, quoting the performances of 'NOW THEN' [#142p] 'DAISY' [#133p ex-HENRIETTA], 'ITEM' [#183p] 'VANISH' [#177p] &c between Newport and Sound Harbors as well as elsewhere. The question of our using the launches [#203p SCOUT and #207p MIRAGE] between Newport and the vicinity of New York came up frequently in conversation and was included as among the ordinary uses. However, the point is, what can the SCOUT do between Newport and Roslyn? and there is only one way to answer this question satisfactorily between Mr. Belmont and yourself, that is for you personally to make the run from Newport to Roslyn in her. This only will demonstrate the point at issue, the water tank capacity. You are involved in nothing more serious than a pleasant Sunday trip down the Sound with no expense for return trip, as I am sure Mr. Belmont would gladly assume such incidentals. Once the boat has demonstrated under your supervision exactly what she can do, the whole matter will assume a much more tangible form. At present all appear to be at cross purposes. I am taking this trouble with the single purpose of bringing about a termination to this question which shall be satisfactory to the principals. As to my own feelings in the matter, I note what you say about Mr. Belmont having been misinformed as to the capacity of the SCOUT, and also your scathing criticisms of my agent, Mr. Taylor, who was sent by me for the purpose and with the order to make the best possible showing for the boat." (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_37870. Correspondence, Folder 74, formerly 77. 1900-05-09.)
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"[Item Description:] Four handwritten (in ink) pages with tabulated data listing 'Shop No', 'Name', '[Tons] Gross' and '[Tons] Net' for a total of 100 HMCo-built boats and classes. Tonnage data is usually precise to two digits behind the decimal. Random comparisons suggest source of tonnage data to be official Custom House data. Boats mentioned are: #664s, #663s, #625s, #665s, #634s, #658s, #657s, #646s, #641s, #617s, #626s Class, #624s, #621s, #616s, #619s, #590s, #591s, #586s, #592 Class, #618s, #605s, #578s, #560s Class, #580s, #553s, #551s, #552s, #546s, #541s, #545s, #538s, #534s, #533s, #532s, #529s, #534s, #530s, #531s, #435s, #437s, #452s, #499s, #429s, #426s, #424s, #481s, #422s, #417s, #414s, #451s, #215p, #213p, #222p, #235p, #230p, #229p, #236p, #224p, #244p, #247p, #249p, #231p, #232p, #228p, #252p, #250p, #251p, #248p, #168p, #164p, #118p, #142p, #174p, #173p, #194p, #189p, #193p, #183p, #178p, #179p, #181p, #182p, #175p, #163p, #148p, #149p, #172p, #155p, #170p, #186p, #188p, #206p, #207p, #205p, #208p, #209p, #210p, #211p, #212p, #216p. Undated (the latest boat listed, WINSOME, was launched in 1907)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Handwritten List. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00220. Folder [no #]. No date (1907 or later).)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.08166 (097-043). Blueprint technical drawing of a triple expansion steam engine. Untitled (original plan in Hart Nautical Collections is titled '4 1/2in x 6 1/4in x 10in x 5 1/2in Engine'). No notes (this engine was used for #142p BREEZE in 1904 and is believed to have been fitted to #299p HELIANTHUS II in 1919). Undated (the original plan is also undated but, judging from sequence of plan numbers, believed to be from 1904 or, more likely from the winter of 1918/1919 when NGH re-designed the machinery for HELIANTHUS II)." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0060. WRDT08, Folder 6, formerly MRDE10. No date (winter of 1918/1919 ??).)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #142p Now Then even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Now Then (HMCo-made index card)
• Now Then (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: Now Then
Type: Steam
Length: 84'
Owner: Monroe, Norman L.

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

• Now Then
• 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: Now Then
Type: 88' steam
Owner: Norman L. Munroe
Year: 1887
Row No.: 486

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: 1887
E/P/S: P
No.: 142
Name: Now Then
OA: 84'

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.

"Norman L. Munro, born in Picton Co., N. 8., in 1844, died February 24,1894. Mr. Munro was the son of John and Mary Ann Munro, being of Scotch descent. Until he was twenty-five years old he was a farmer. He then came to New York to enter the employ of his brother George, who was already established as a publisher. Later, with a very meagre capital, he started a publishing business of his own, which was a success from the first. In the twenty-seven years in which he worked as a publisher he accumulated a fortune of more than $1,000,000. The extent of his enterprise may be inferred from the fact that when he brought suit in 1886 for an infringement of a patent he made affidavit that he had spent $350,000 the year previous for advertising alone. During all his life Mr. Munro was an enthusiast on the subject of fast steam yachts. He has owned Norma, Now Then, Say When [#150p], Henrietta [#133p] and at the time of his death was the owner of Norwood [designed in 1890 by C.D. Mosher] and Vamoose [#168p]. ..." (Source: Mott, Henry Augustus. The Yachts and Yachtsmen of America. New York, 1894, p. 677.)

"Norman L Munro [1844 - February 24, 1894], the New York publisher who recently died, was at one time a resident of this town [Bristol]. Several years ago he had two steam yachts built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., which bore the peculiar names of the 'Say When,' [#150p] and 'Now Then' [#142p]. [He had also been the owner of #133p Henrietta, #148p Our Mary, and #149p Jersey Lily]." (Source: Anon. "Local Affairs." Bristol Phoenix, March 3, 1894, p. 2.)

"... Str. #142 - 85Ft. long. 7 1/2-12+19x10 1/2 Eng[ine]. 75in. x 63in. [Boiler]. ... " (Source: Anon. [Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. (N. G. Herreshoff?)] No Title. [Handwritten Notes on Outer Cover of Notebook.] No date [ca. late 1880s.] Notebook in the Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection, The Francis Russel Hart Nautical Collections, M.I.T. Museum, Cambridge, Mass., obj. no. HH.6.120.)

Sail area from Chevalier, Francois and Jacques Taglang. American and British Yacht Designs 1870-1887. Paris, 1991. Vol. II, p. 330.

Displacement (18.9 tons) from Chevalier, Francois and Jacques Taglang. American and British Yacht Designs 1870-1887. Paris, 1991. Vol. II, p. 330.

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