HMCo #426s Edith M.

"[1892-03-25] Fri 25: Re[ceive]d order for 30f[t] racing boat #426 [Edith M] ...
[1892-05-19] Thu 19: ... Turned over #426 [Edith M.].
[1892-06-23] Thu 23: Launched #426 Edith M..
[1892-06-28] Tue 28: Rigged & tried #426 Edith M..
[1892-07-02] Sat 2: Delivered #426 Edith M. ..." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1892. Manuscript (excerpts). Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection.)

"#426.
Centreboard racing boat.
Length on deck 42' 8", water line 30'.
Beam 12'. Draft 1' 10 1/2".
Frame spaces 12.
Sheer height is to under side of deck.
Deduct in making moulds
for planking 7/8"
for timbers at head 1 1/8", at heel[?] 1 5/8"
[Total at head] 2", [at heel?] 2 1/2".
Timbers moulded 1 1/8" at head, and taper 1/8" per foot for 4ft. The lower ends 1 5/8" moulded. Sided 1 1/8" with exceptions as indicated on drawing.
Floor 5'-6"." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. [Note (in ink and pencil) in Offset Booklet HH.4.083.] Undated, ca. June 1892. Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection, MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA.)

"Bristol, R. I. April 18 [1892]. --- ... Another boat which will excite interest is the 30-foot centreboard.
The parties placing this order did not wish even the place to which the boat was to go to be known, and would probably have preferred that even the order be kept secret.
When asked as to the character of the boat, Mr. N. G. Herreshoff said that she would be of much the same type as the 21-foot centreboard [Alpha #416s, referred to above], which means low power, a comparatively small sail plan and a dependence upon model rather than immense sail-spread for speed.
Yachtsmen are hoping she will come to Boston, but New York is just as likely to claim her. ..." (Source: Anon. "Tried on all Tacks. ... Yachtsmen Anxious to See a Performance by the Fin Keel Boats." Boston Globe, April 19, 1892, p. 11.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., May 11 [1892] --- The new Herreshoff boats are getting afloat one by one, and the present outlook is for a clearing of shops early in the season, save for the steel steamer [#172p Truant] for Mrs. Newberry of Detroit, which will not be ready until late in the summer. ...
Also in the shops is the 30-foot centreboard [#426s Edith M.] whose ownership and destination are still a mystery. She is about half planked, and is a beamy boat, with the absence of all hollow in her lines so noticeable in all this year's Herreshoff productions. ..." (Source: Anon. "New Yachts Afloat." Boston Globe, May 12, 1892, p. 2.)

"Bristol, R. I., May 28 [1892]. --- The Herreshoffs are nearing the end of their season's work, and in a few weeks only the big steel steamer [#172p Truant] for Mrs. Newberry of Detroit will be left in the shops out of the many boats which have crowded them during the winter. The season has been a busy one, and now the firm are awaiting the outcome of the racing with great interest. ... The 30-foot centreboard [#426s Edith M.] is turned over and is receiving her deck. She is a boat of about 12 leet beam, and resembles the fins in the model of her hull. Her ownership is still a secret. ..." (Source: Anon. "With The Herreshoffs. Season's Work of Bristol Firm Drawing to a Close." Boston Globe, May 29, 1892, p. 1.)

"No 426 [Edith], Cutter, (30ft Water Line, Centre-Board).
Built at Bristol, RI, by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.
7 net tons; 38 ft. x 12.2 ft. x 3.4 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, one mast, plain head, transom stern.
Surveyed and measured, June 14, 1892." (Source: U.S. Customs Department, Bristol, R.I. Custom House Record Book, 1870s to 1904 (Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum), s.v. Edith M..)

"The spring work at Bristol is about finished, only the large steel steam yacht [#172p Truant] remaining. Last week the the half-rater Wee Win [#425s] was sent to New York for shipment to England, a 17ft. fin-keel [#421s Bee] was sent to Auburn, N. Y., a 16ft. cat-yawl to Lake Minnetonka, Minn. [#419 Coquina 2nd], and a 23ft. cat-yawl to Conanicut Park [#424s Wraith]; while the 30ft. centerboard Edith M. [#426s] was launched." (Source: Anon. "Yacht News Notes." Forest and Stream, June 30, 1892, p. 621.)

"At Bristol the Herreshoff works are nearly cleaned out, excepting the steel steam yacht [#172p Truant], which is fast nearing completion, the cabin finish being under way and machinery nearly all in. The 17-foot fin keel, Fin [#427s] for Mr. Stockton was taken to Buzzard's bay a week ago. The Edith M. [#426s] owned by Mr. John W. Masury, has sailed for her destination, Centre Moriches, on the great South bay, Long Island. This boat is the 30-foot centreboard about the ownership of which there has been so much speculation." (Source: Anon. "At the Herreshoff Works." Boston Globe, July 17, 1892, p. 11.)

"... Bonnie Doon's [#430s] victory over Berkeley in the Great South Bay Yacht Club's fifth annual regatta recently, is still the talk of the South Shore sailors of both the kid glove and clam shell variety. ... In the same class with the sloops named was Mr. John W. Masury's Edith M [#426s], which outsailed her competitors, and crossed the line fifteen minutes in the lead, but she was not allowed the race, as she had no cabin, as required, and no opportunity was given the judges to get her water line measure after the race. She would, however, have been obliged to give time to the other boats. ..." (Source: Anon ("The Governor.") "Among the Clubs." Brooklyn Life, August 12, 1893, p. 20.)

"The Kildee [#460s], a 25 footer with 18 feet water line, was launched from the Herreshoff Works on Saturday [November 2, 1895]. She was built for Miss. Florence DeWolf, sister of Mrs. N.G. Herreshoff and is a pocket edition of Defender, being built on practically the same lines, even to her lead bulb. She was given a satisfactory spin on Sunday trying her speed against the Edith M. [#426s], the later being sailed by Capt. Nat Herreshoff." (Source: Anon. "Florence DeWolf's Miniature Version of Defender." Bristol Phoenix, November 8, 1895.)

"The catboat Edith M. is hauled out for the winter on the Herreshoff marine railway at Walker's Cove." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, November 8, 1895, p. 2.)

"East Moriches, L. I., July 21 [1903] --- Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Butts of Brooklyn invited a number of their friends, to witness the christening of their yacht on Saturday morning and to take a trial spin with them. The yacht was formerly the Edith M, and Mr. Butts had her re-registered and newly named after overhauling her.
Miss Emma Louise Tower, 37 Third place, Brooklyn, broke the bottle of wine in fine shape as the yacht swung off, and announced her name as Estelle B. The guests were Mr. and Mrs. George N. Tower [who would become the boat's next owners], Miss E. M. Roberts, Miss Tower Miss Metcalf, Miss Hulse, G. Nelson Tower, Cyrus Lamont, Captain Austin Raynor, the Misses Helen and Ruth Roberts, Mayhew and Stanley Tower. Captain Scott E. Raynor of this place is sailing master for Mr. Butts." (Source: Anon. "Given A New Name. The Edith M., A Moriches Flyer, Now The Estelle B." Brooklyn Daily Eagle, July 21, 1903, p. 1D.)

"No. 25550 --- For Sale --- Sloop, Estelle B, formerly Edeth [sic, i.e. Edith] M; designed and built by Herreshoff Mfg. Co. for South Bay. 42 ft. 9 in. o. a., 30 ft. w. l., 12 ft. beam, 27 in. draught; full set of Wilson & Silsby sails; Fraser hollow spars. Boat in first-class order. For price, etc, apply to H. H. Butts, 1 Maiden Lane, New York." (Source: Anon. [For Sale Ad.] Rudder, March 1908, p. 273.)

"George N. Tower of 37 Third place, a cottager here, has bought the Herreshoff built racing sloop Estelle B. Mr. Tower goes in more for comfort than for racing, but he likes to get there when he starts." (Source: Anon. "East Moriches Cottagers." Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 20, 1909, p. 4.)

"George N. Tower of Brooklyn, who has a cottage in Atlantic avenue here, has bought the Herreshoff built sloop yacht Estelle B. Mr. Tower will not race the yacht, but will use her as a pleasure and cruising boat. He has renamed her the Pastime and has enrolled in the Moriches Yaeht Club." (Source: Anon. "East Moriches Cottagers." Brooklyn Daily Eagle, July 11, 1909, p. 2.)

"[Item Description:] Ink on paper spar plan titled 'Spars for 30ft Centre Board #426 [EDITH M.]. April 4, [18]92'. With penciled annotation 'Not used. See new drawing [HH.5.05933 (080-028): Spars (1892-05-13)].'" (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. (creator). Spar Plan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0639. WRDT08, Folder 47. 1892-04-04.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled sailplan titled 'Not used - see new drawing. #426 [EDITH M]'. Undated (the final sail plan is dated May 30, 1892)." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. (creator). Penciled Sailplan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0534. WRDT08, Folder 43. No date (1892-05-30 or earlier ?).)
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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 #426s Edith M. even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Edith M (HMCo-made index card)
• Estella ex-Edith M (MIT Museum-made index card)
• Estelle B ex-Edith M (HMCo-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 M.
Type: J & M
Length: 30'
Owner: Masury, J. W.

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

• Edith M
• Edith M
• Estelle B ex-Edith M
• Pastime ex-Edith M
• 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: 30' open sloop
Owner: J. D. Masury
Year: 1892
Row No.: 180

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.

Month: Mar
Day: 25
Year: 1892
E/P/S: S
No.: 0426
Name: Edith M
LW: 30' 0"
B: 11' 0"
D: 2' 0"
Rig: J & M
CB: y
Ballast: Inside
Amount: 3000.00
Notes Constr. Record: 1904. Estelle B. H.H. Butts
Last Name: Masury
First Name: J. W.

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.

"Built in 90 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $33/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

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