HMCo #183p Item

"[1896-06-30] Tue 30: Launched st[eame]r #184 Item [sic, i.e. #183p. #184p would have been the torpedo boat Porter].
[1896-07-02] Thu 2: Tried Item [#183p]. ...
[1896-08-04] Tue 4: Launched Item [#183p] after building out stern.
[1896-08-05] Wed 5: Went with family in Item [#183p] to see NYYC fleet come in.
[1896-08-09] Sun 9: Off with family & Chas. Corliss[?] in Item [#183p] all day.
[1896-08-13] Thu 13: Went to torpedo station in Item [#183p].
[1896-08-16] Sun 16: Went to Westport in Item [#183p] with family.
[1896-08-30] Sun 30: Went to Westport in Item [#183p] with family.
[1896-09-15] Tue 15: Went to Newport in Item [#183p].
[1896-09-17] Thu 17: Went to Castle Hill in Item [#183p]. ...
[1896-09-20] Sun 20: Went to Beacon Hill in Item [#183p].
[1896-09-27] Sun 27: Went to Greendale[?] and Newport in Item [#183p].
[1896-10-15] Thu 15: Hauled out Item [#183p] at cove. ...
[1897-05-05] Wed 5: Launched Item [#183p] & Vaquero III [#468s] at cove. ...
[1897-06-27] Sun 27: Off in Item [#183p] with family & around R[hode] Island & Prudence [Island].
[1897-07-04] Sun 4: Off in Item [#183p] with family." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1896 to 1897. Manuscript (excerpts). Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection.)


"My Own Boats. Except a few that will be mentioned as half-owner. ...
18
1896 ITEM #183 was completed from a 40 ft. hull begun for a duplicate of U.S.S. CHICAGO #128 launch. She was about 48'o.a. being added to aft from a square stern and fitted with a triple expansion engine. She belonged to the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, and was used by me for my own use for 1 1/2 years or until having decided to change over to #188 [Squib] and after selling ITEM. Engine 4 1/2 - 7" x 11 1/4" x 7"." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "My Own Boats. Except a few that Will be Mentioned as Half-Owner." Bristol, (originally compiled 1892 with additions in 1929). In: Pinheiro, Carlton J. (ed.). Recollections and Other Writings by Nathanael G. Herreshoff. Bristol, 1998, p. 116.)

"His next steamer was named 'Item,' built in 1896, building No. 183. She was forty-eight feet long and had a darling little triple expansion engine with bores of four and one half inches, seven inches and eleven and one-fourth inches, and stroke of seven inches. This launch had a good size cockpit aft and was the first steamer the author remembers sailing in. She ran at about fourteen miles an hour." (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. 118.)

"The new government steam launch which was put overboard at Herreshoff's yesterday, was given a trial trip in the harbor in the afternoon. James T. Robertson was the engineer, and Capt. Nat. Herreshoff was at the helm. The launch is about 45 feet overall, and 37 feet on the water line. She is built of mahogany. [The date of launch, May 21, 1896, suggests this to be #187p Hist, but note that #187p was not built for the Government nor was she 'about 45 feet overall'. On the other hand, #183p Item, which was being constructed at the time this note was published, was 45 feet long and originally intended for the government. It appears, the write confused and mixed up these two steam launches.]" (Source: Anon. "News and Notes of Local Interest." Bristol Phoenix, May 22, 1896, p. 2.)

"Item, steam yacht launch, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, RI, by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.
6.22 tons; 57.6 ft. x 8.7 ft. x 4.4 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, no mast, plain head, overhanging stern.
Surveyed and measured, June 12, 1896. [With note: Horse power nominal 60.] [With note: Readmeasured August 21, 1896.]" (Source: U.S. Customs Department, Bristol, R.I. Custom House Record Book, 1870s to 1904 (Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum), s.v. Item.)

"[License issued to vessel under 20 tons. Pos. 117:]
Item, steam yacht launch, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, 1896.
6.22 tons; 45 ft. x 8.7 ft. x 4.4 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
No specifications shown.
Lic[ensed] ([as] yacht) July 7, 1896. Owner: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol. Master: N. G. Herreshoff, Bristol. ([Record at:] C[ustom] H[ouse, Providence]).
Lic[ensed] ([as] yacht) Aug. 26, 1896 (admeasurement correction - 7.77 tons; 57.6 ft. x 8.7 ft. x 4.1 ft.). Owner: same. Master: same.
Surrendered [license] Sept. 14, 1897 at Salem. ([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. Item.)

"[Account of a match race between the Item and the steam launch Sally.]" (Source: Anon. "Sally - Item Match Race." Rudder, November, 1899, p. 431-432.)

"Herreshoff Steam Launch Sold. --- The Herreshoff-built launch Item has been sold through the agency of Huntington & Seaman to H. B. Lothrop of Detroit, Mich. The Item was built in 1899, is 60-feet long, and has a speed of 18 miles an hour." (Source: Anon. "Herreshoff Steam Launch Sold." New York Times, April 25, 1901, p. 10.)

"The undersigned offers for sale, for cash, ..., the property of the late Henry B. Lothrop.
Steam Yacht 'PALOS,' 58 feet long, 9 feet beam, 4 feet deep. Built in 1896 by the famous Herreshoffs. Triple expansion engine, new Dearing boiler. Trunk cabin with toilet room forward, open cock pit with canopy top. Furnished with acetylene gas for cabin, cock pit, engine room and signal lights. Speed 14 miles an hour. Will run 150 miles on one ton of hard coal.
These boats are fully fitted out and can be ready to be put into commission upon an hour's notice. They can be seen during the day at the boat house, foot of Holcomb Avenue. Detroit.
FRED C. HARVEY, Executor of the Will of Henry B. Lothrop,
309-10 Moffat Building, Detroit, Mich. [With photo.]" (Source: Harvey, Fred C. "For Sale." Boating Magazine (Cleveland, Ohio), June 1906, p. 55.

"N/A"

"[Item Transcription:] Handwritten (in ink and pencil) trials booklet 'Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Experiments & Trial Trips. 1890. N.G. Herreshoff'. Relevant contents:
§36: #183p ITEM Trial Run (1896-07-02)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Trials Booklet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE07_02260. Folder [no #]. 1890-01 to 1898-08.)
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"[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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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #183p Item even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Item (HMCo-made index card)
• Item (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: Item
Type: Steam
Length: 45'6"
Owner: Herreshoff Mfg. Co.

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

• Item
• Palos ex-Item
• 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: Item
Type: 57' 6" [sic, i.e. 45' 6"] steamer
Owner: Herreshoff Mfg. Co.
Year: 1896
Row No.: 314

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: 1895
E/P/S: P
No.: 183
Name: Item
OA: 45' 6"

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.

"Dimensions beam 8-8ft and draft 3-11ft from 1906 Lloyd's Register." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 24, 2015.)

"In the absence of better available data displacement was estimated by using the figure for Gross Register Tons (11) from the 1905 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (Net Register Tons were reported as 7.77) 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.