HMCo #452s Defender

"[1894-12-09] Sun 9: At work on design for possible Cup defender [#452s Defender].
[1894-12-26] Wed 26 ... I started for N.Y. by night train [apparently to present design for #452s Defender].
[1894-12-27] Thu 27 Returned in late evening.
[1895-01-12] Sat 12: Mr. Iselin [of the #452s Defender syndicate] here. ...
[1895-01-15] Tue 15 ... Went to N.Y. & return to see Chister[sic, i.e. Chester] Greenwold [member of the regatta committee of the New York Yacht Club which had accepted Lord Dunraven's America's Cup challenge the previous day] & others. No snow on ground.
[1895-01-18] Fri 18: Syndicate formed to build Cup defender [#452s Defender]. Iselin, Morgan, & W. K. Vanderbilt.
[1895-01-22] Tue 22: Mr. Iselin [of the #452s Defender syndicate] here.
[1895-01-23] Wed 23: Mr. Iselin here; signed contract for Cup defender to be built, #452 [Defender].
[1895-01-30] Wed 30: Making lead mold for #452 [Defender] & began laying down body plan. ...
[1899-01-14] Sat 14: Calm w[ith] light air, easterly & overcast. Rain in PM. Clear & strong WNW in evening. Launched Defender [#452s] from s[outh] shop at 9AM and mooring in dock. Very high tide.
[1899-05-02] Tue 2: Mod[erate] SW to SE [wind &] warm and damp. ... Crews of Defender [#452s] & Gloriana [#411s] arrive.
[1899-05-06] Sat 6: Very fine & cool Strong SSW [wind]. Hauled Defender [#452s] out into stream ...
[1899-05-24] Wed 24: Very fine. Calm in AM. Fresh SSW [in] PM. Stepped new steel mast in Defender [#452s]. ...
[1899-06-03] Sat 3: Very fine & warm. L[igh]t NE [wind in] AM. L[igh]t SSW [wind in] PM. ... Defender [#452s] left for Newport. ...
[1899-06-05] Mon 5: Very fine in AM. Fresh SW. ... Defender [#452s] tried new steel mast in fresh breeze.
[1899-06-13] Tue 13: Very fine [with] fresh SSW [wind] in PM. Hauled out Defender [#452s] for cleaning ...
[1899-06-16] Fri 16: Very fine [with] fresh NW [wind] & clear. Launched Defender [#452s] from ways. ..." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1894 to 1895. Manuscript (excerpts). Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection. Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1899. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"Coconut Grove, Florida May 15, 1930
Wm. P. Stevens Esq. [corrected to Stephens] Lloyds Yacht Register, New York.
Dear Mr. Stevens- [corrected to Stephens] ... When DEFENDER came out, she was completely fitted for the crew and all hands to live on board, but when VALKYRIE II [should read III] arrived, it was found Dunraven had learned a lesson about having a tender, and went one better, or worse, I should say; for she was entirely empty inside. Of course DEFENDER'S fittings had to be taken out and the weight of them was a surprise to many. Lead was put aboard to compensate, after leaving Bristol and arriving in New York.
DEFENDER was hardly the type to call a modified fin keel, any more than the present Cup defenders. Her hull had a good deadrise, and the cube root of displacement was about 19 per cent of waterline. Her plating up to above the waterline was bronze. The top-sides, deck and deck beams were aluminum. She was a strong boat and in every way amply strong for the purpose, or for crossing the Atlantic. But the aluminum, as was well known at the time of building, would be short lived, and it was. But it lasted from 1895 to 1899 with a little repairing. ...
Very truly yours,
Nathanael G. Herreshoff" (Source: Letter 1. From N. G. Herreshoff to W. P. Stephens, dated May 15, 1930. In: Herreshoff, Nathanael Greene and William Picard Stephens. "Their Last Letters 1930-1938." Annotated by John W. Streeter. Bristol, R. I., ca. 1999, p. 1-5.)

"In 1894-95, the use of aluminum, as a material of construction for racing yachts was looked into very thoroughly, and the Cup Defender built that year had bulb-angle aluminum deck beams, and plating of decks and topsides was of aluminum." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "Boats and Yachts that I have been Especially Interested in by Sailing and Some of Which I Have Owned." Bristol, April 1932. In: Pinheiro, Carlton J. (ed.). Recollections and Other Writings by Nathanael G. Herreshoff. Bristol, 1998, p. 110.)

"The following fall (of 1894), a challenge for the America's Cup was received from Lord Dunraven and I was looked to [for the] design [of] another defender. ... The next craft, which was finally named DEFENDER, was owned by a syndicate headed by C. Oliver Iselin, and he took Hank Haff as skipper. The yacht had many novel features that we put on her. I insisted that she be fitted with a deep draft keel, instead of a centerboard, and [this was] very much to the opposition of all our American yachtsmen. She was the first to be framed with bulb angles, without reverse angles, and we had to pay for the mill-rolls to make them, as the sizes we needed were not in existence. We induced the rolling mill to roll the deck beam bulbs of aluminum and they made a good job of it.
The yacht was plated with Tobin bronze on the bottom and aluminum on [the] topsides and deck. She was fitted with galvanized steel wire cables, instead of chains, and had a special very light capstan, instead of [a] windlass. We were convinced cross-cut sails were best, and when asking Wilson and Silsby to make them, they absolutely refused that way, and so did [the] other makers. We, therefore, had to fit up a larger sail loft in the attic of the North Construction Shop, and we hired the Infantry Hall in Providence for laying down and cutting the canvas, which we had specially woven by the Lawrence Manufacturing Company. The sails turned out very satisfactory.
It is interesting that Mr. Iselin was very skeptical about our ability to make good sails, so he got a set of drawings from us and had Wilson and Silsby make a suit on his own hook. I never saw them, but they were bent on when the yacht was up Sound and tried only one day, then our sails put back. This was the beginning of the cross-cut sail era, and now they are made that way all over the world.
DEFENDER'S original mast was of light wood and weak and had to be replaced. (A piece cut off upper end of the timber is still in our playroom) [This piece is now on exhibit at the Herreshoff Marine Museum] The second mast was much heavier and Mr. Iselin gave us an order for making a steel mast. This was lighter and [more] satisfactory and was used in the trial and Cup races. This was the first steel mast in racing yachts.
DEFENDER never had a good chance to show her ability with Haff as skipper, but she got chosen against VIGILANT for defending the Cup. She was easily faster than VALKYRIE III, Watson's latest design. The series of races was spoiled by Lord Dunraven's singular doings [Complaints, protests, and official investigation].
After the races, Mr. Iselin moored DEFENDER in a deep creek only a mile away from his home, using her wire rope cables. It was only a short period before DEFENDER was found adrift, for electrolysis between the bronze hull and steel cables had eaten them up. DEFENDER lay in this creek for three years, [un]til after Lipton had sent another challenge for [the] America's Cup. Mr. Iselin got her out to be fitted for a trial vessel against a new defender and sailed her to Bristol under trysail. We, in the meantime, had built a new marine railway and hauling gear into our South Shop. We found much to do to her, for the aluminum, in parts, was in bad condition.
....
After the trial races [in 1899], DEFENDER went into the junk dealer's hands [In "The Fate of the Cup Defenders", Yachting, March, 1936, William Upham Swan notes that Thomas W. Lawson put in a tentative bid of several thousand dollars for DEFENDER in the spring of 1901. He needed her as a trial boat for his INDEPENDENCE. DEFENDER was too corroded and W. Butler Duncan took her from New London to City Island where she was broken up]. She had well performed her mission and that was all she was constructed for, and, from the start, durability was put aside." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "Some of the Boats I Have Sailed In." Written 1934. In: Pinheiro, Carlton J. (ed.). Recollections and Other Writings by Nathanael G. Herreshoff. Bristol, 1998, p. 62-65.)

"Oct 29 1935 {1935/10/29} N. G. HERRESHOFF 6 WALLEY STREET BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND Dear Francis, ... I was quite surprised as well as pleased at your long letter to Uffa - and of what you had said of my active life and perhaps more than I deserve. ... [p2] 2 I will offer a few comments - On p.2 My outstanding achievements, ... # 5 cross cut sails. This I consider one of the most important, and revolutionized the making of yachts the world over - insuring very much better 'set' of sails, Our first made, as experiment was in spring of 1894, and one of the Larchmont Class of `21 fin keelers - going to Butler Duncan. The next experiment was on my own 29' fin keel "Alerion" in same summer over which I became very enthusiastic. The result was, - your uncle John & I agreed that coming fall, we would have the Cup-defender, "Defender's" sails made that way. It is interesting, that Wilson & Silsby, the foremost makers, absolutly refused to make the sails as we wanted. This caused us to establish our own loft, and start sail making in earnest. Mr. Iselin doubted our ability to make good sail for Defender - and asked for a sail plan. He then contracted for a suit of sails from W&S on his own account, These were ready a few weeks after Defender [p3] 3 was deliverd, and tried at New Rochelle, being put on one morning tried out and condemed in comparison, and our sails put back in the afternoon, - the W. & S. sails never used again. We knew from the first, the weak part of such sails w'ld be in the seams. To this I gave intensive study and testing out verious stitched seams, and getting up a testing machine for the purpose = making of hundreds of tests of verious wgts of canvas, and of verious threads, to get the desired results. To get this it may be interesting, - in heavy sails we often put in 1. & 2. middle rows of stitching beside the regular edge seams of laps, and this to considerable expense. I donot remember of the seams in our sails giving out. ... Your affect - Father - " (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 11: Letter from N. G. Herreshoff to L. F. Herreshoff.)

"N. G. HERRESHOFF 6 WALLEY STREET BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND July 23, 1937. {1937/07/23} Dear Francis ... A little story may be amusing to you. It was in 1895, - One of the Trial Races to select the Cup-defender, and between 'Vigilant' managed by 'Ned' Willard and sailed by Charles Barr, and Defender, managed by C.O. Iselin and sailed by old 'Hank' Haff. The former, - (Vigilant) was much better handled, and on the homeward stretch we were only 1/4 to 1/3 mile ahead when an ugly looking squall was making up in the West. We should have got that jib stowed away below and the jib-halyards set up taught to a pendant from bow-sprit end, But we did not, - as Mr. Iselin wanted to run the risk, - However, - I prevailed on him to keep the club-topsail on and sheeted taught, - as I had experiance before then, - under such conditions, the - mainsheet a little lifted and the [p5] 3 mainsail only partly full, - the club-topsail back-winds, and perfectly behaves itself and does not endanger the vessel, if she is properly handled. As we didnot shorten sail, - Vigilant didnot. The squall struck from about W. by S. - turning the water white with caps. Our jib, - fortunatly, - immediately failed at the clue an went to rags. The fore-staysail stood o.k. and we went on, with nothing more happening, - keeping lee-gunwhale about awash but never knocked down seriously.When Vigilant realized what was coming, they immediately began taking off club-topsail and shorten sail generally, and 'got in a mess'. The wind was all over in 10 or 15 min. when we were 2-3 mi. ahead of Vigilant, and she had to make-sail, - we with our club-topsail set, and soon another jib. Let me add, Henry C. Haff, gained a great reputation in sailing the earler type of c. b. centerboard craft, and won in Mayflower and [p6] Volunteer, - by the Burgess craft being very much superior. He was no match for Carter in Britannia, when in Vigilant, - abroad, Carter getting the best of it every time, and in Defender - a modern short & deep keel craft, - he never 'got the hang of her', - and Defender' wake looked like a snakes path, and so did not show her ability. ... Your affect, Father. " (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 13: Letter from N. G. Herreshoff to L. F. Herreshoff.)

"His next sickness was typhoid fever in 1895 when the cup boat 'Defender' was being built. The severity of this sickness was probably partly the result of overwork which had put him in a run-down condition but in after years he regretted this sickness most because at the time he could not inspect the 'Defender' as she was being built, and some of the work under her mast step was not carried out properly, gave trouble, and had to be rebuilt." (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. 126.)

"... now that the ways had been changed and some dredging done around the wharves Captain Nat designed the new cup boat, which was named 'Defender,' with a draft of nineteen feet, and made her only twenty-three feet beam, so she was about five feet deeper, and three and one half feet narrower than 'Vigilant.' ... To acquire this large amount of ballast 'Defender' had to be designed very scientifically: her frames were made of bulb angles, instead of angle irons, and, although she was the first yacht to use bulb angle frames, large ocean steamers had used them previously. However, there were no rolls in this country for the smaller bulb angles suitable for yacht work so Captain Nat had to design the shapes and the Herreshoff Company paid for making the rollers.
'Defender' 's deck beams were of aluminum, and the ones in the widest part of the yacht were quite large --- about five inches by two and one half inches --- with two smaller sizes nearer the bow and stern. She was plated with Tobin bronze below the water line, had aluminum topsides, and much aluminum in the deck framing (margin plate, diagonal strapping, etc.).
'Defender,' I believe, was the last of Captain Nat's cup defenders to have a wooden deck. All later ones had metal decks covered with either a thin layer of cork or unpainted canvas. Apparently after Captain Nat's experience abroad racing on Vigilant,' he was determined to beat the Englishmen this time without any doubt. 'Defender' was a very beautiful model which has not been much improved on since although the modern yacht has less draft and more displacement to fit the various modern rules, and many, particularly the ocean racers, have considerably more freeboard. But in general balance of proportions she was a model that would perform well in any size from a model yacht to a ninety-footer. All of 'Defender' 's rigging, spars, and fittings were very much refined and she was the first cup boat to use crosscut sails although I think a crosscut mainsail was made for 'Vigilant' the same year." (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. 183, 185.)

"... the 'Defender' did not take to her element as planned for when about half way down the ways she came to a stop and could not be budged farther although one of the large steam yachts tried to start her, in fact pulled so hard that the steam yacht's towing bitts and some of her after bulwarks were torn away; but 'Defender' stuck fast. When a diver was sent down to ascertain the reason for the stoppage it was found that in building these new launching ways a bolt or lag screw had been left sticking up a few inches, and when this obstruction was removed she slid down the ways with little resistance." (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. 185.)

"'Defender's fourth trouble was that the aluminum in her construction began to disintegrate which kept all hands worried. While it is true that some torpedo boats in both France and England had been built of aluminum, and while Captain Nat had made careful strength tests with aluminum, it was not then known how quickly it disintegrated when in contact with bronze and salt water. Strange to say, the aluminum often disintegrated under the paint so that 'Defender' generally appears in photographs with streaked sides." (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. 187.)

"After Vigilant's, indefinite showing in England the year before, designer Herreshoff was determined to produce a yacht that would win without question, so, after some dredging was done, the Herreshoff Company had ways laid which could launch a much deeper vessel than the Vigilant. Mr. Herreshoff then went to work unrestricted and produced a beautiful model for this new yacht. Her bottom was polished bronze, but her topsides, deck beams, and some of her deck framing were aluminum. Defender was not the first vessel to use aluminum in her construction, for the English Navy had a couple of aluminum torpedo boats around 1893. In the trial races of 1895 Defender's principal competitor was Vigilant, and after the new yacht was straightened out she could beat Viligant quite handily, so this was another year when it was easy for the cup committee to select the fastest yacht.
The first race between Valkyrie III and Defender was on September 7 [1895]. It was intended to be a windward and leeward race, but as the wind shifted it became a beat and reach. At the start the wind was about six miles an hour from the east with a little chop. Both yachts made a magnificent start with Valkyrie a few seconds ahead but with Defender on her weather quarter. In the first part of this race Valkyrie seemed to foot the faster and many thought she was beating Defender, but evidently Defender was pointing higher, for after a few tacks she was definitely ahead, and from then on steadily sailed away from Valkyrie and rounded the weather mark three minutes and twenty-three seconds ahead. The wind was about eight miles an hour by this time and I should think that Valkyrie could have done better on the fifteen-mile reach to the finish, but she gradually dropped behind so that Defender won on corrected time by over eight and one half minutes.
Lord Dunraven was extremely chagrined at the result of this first race and thought Defender had taken on ballast and increased her waterline length since she was measured, so he demanded a remeasurement, but when both yachts were remeasured no differences from their previous measurements were found. There is no doubt that Defender had several speed-giving qualities that gave her an advantage. They were as follows:
1. Crosscut sail.
2. A high percentage of lead ballast carried very low in her bulbed keel, made possible by her aluminum topsides and aluminum deck framing.
3. Polished bronze bottom.
4. A very nice model which was narrower than the challenger and seemed to allow Defender to slip through a chop of a sea with little resistance.
...
... Defender was very foolishly laid up in the water near Mr. Iselin's summer home at New Rochelle where there was a protected cove with draft enough for her deep keel. Here she lay during the Spanish War and until she was prepared for the trial races of 1899. So she was more or less afloat for over three years with her mast stepped. Defender's plating above water was aluminum, but below the waterline it was bronze. It was not known then that these metals did not get along well when close to salt water, but the action of these large surfaces with bare bronze submerged in the salt water was considerable and caused Defender's aluminum plating to start to disintegrate even under the paint. The aluminum seemed to suffer most under her long overhanging stern and several aluminum rivets actually fell out. I speak of these things now because aluminum acquired a bad reputation in its infancy from its use on Defender, but we know today that when aluminum is kept insulated from the more noble metals, and if well painted or occasionally polished, it has its use as a nautical material. I have on my drawing board a lacquered cup that was made out of part of Defender's plating, and although it must now be sixty-five years old it looks nearly as good as new. But I have known other trinkets made from the waste of her plating that turned back to their original clay in less than ten years.
However, the modern aluminum alloys are a different matter and in the future these aluminums will probably be the principal materials for yacht construction, large and small, for aluminum has some very desirable qualities, not the least of which is that it has increased in price less than the other structural materials, so that by the year 2000 small vessels plated with aluminum and painted with some of the modern hard neutral paints may very well become standard. I hope the patient reader will excuse me for dwelling so long on aluminum but a knowledge of the past is most helpful in making advances, and few people seem to know that aluminum was used in large quantities on a cup defender some sixty-eight years ago if the defender Defender was plated up in 1894." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. An Introduction to Yachting. New York, 1963, p. 107, 109-110.)

"No time was lost by the Herreshoffs in commencing preparations for the construction of the new cup defender [#452s Defender] as soon as the order was placed by Mr. Iselin. Several of the old steel workers who were employed on the Vigilant [#437s] two years ago have been engaged, and began work in the bending room Monday morning shaping angle iron into frames for the new boat. The work will be pushed along as rapidly as possible. ...
The Herreshoffs' sentry box has been placed in position once more. It is occupied by Captain Wilcox, the same man who so faithfully guarded the Herreshoffs' works at the time of the building of the Navahoe [#429s], Colonia [#435s] and Vigilant [#437s]. Woe be to the prying newspaper reporters and others who attempt to get into the shops without a pass." (Source: Anon. "News and Notes of Local Interest." Bristol Phoenix, February 1, 1895, p. 2.)

"MAY BE A BIG FIN KEEL. ... The design is fixed on, and Henry Whitman of Taunton, Mass., and James Coggeshall of Bristol, R. I., are now laying her down. The former 'laid down' the Navahoe, Colonia, and Vigilant. Coggeshall has not had much experience. He is more of a helper, sticking awls and pinning the battens. Whitman has the offsets in a book, which has a chain on it, and he is now laying the body plan off on the scriving board. The work is being done in a new house, just in the rear of the old boiler shop. The house is about 50 feet long, and is known as the 'new boiler shop.' Whitman has the keys to this, and he locks it very time he goes out. ... " (Source: Anon. "May Be A Big Fin Keel." New York Times, February 3, 1895, p. 15.)

"BRISTOL, R. I. , Feb. 13, 1895 --- Mr. J . B. Herreshoff's new steam yacht Eugenia [#182p Eugenia II] was launched at high tide yesterday. ... The firm is desirous of getting the shop cleared so as to begin work on the new cup defender. The mould for the new ninety footer has been built, and is in the south shop, where the lead keel will be run and the yacht built. The doors of the shops which were damaged by ice in the recent storm have been repaired.
The work of bending the frames for the cup defender will be started the latter part of this week, or early next week, and as the shop is ready for the new boat, the work of getting her up will be rapidly pushed." (Source: Anon. "At The Herreshoff Works." New York Herald, February 14, 1895, p. 10.)

"BRISTOL. R. I., March 23 [1895]. --- ... Nat Herreshoff is still improving [from typhoid fever], and is daily consulted about the work on the boat. Tuesday he took the air for the first time on the veranda of his residence, and next week he may visit the shops.
The Herreshoffs will make one full suit of sails for the cup defender, and the syndicate will have one made by outside parties. This is according to the contract. The Herreshoffs have hired a room 200 feet long in the Bristol Rubber Works' new building in which to make the big mainsail. The cloths of this sail will run across the sail at right angles to the leach, instead of from boom to gaff, parallel to the leach, as is usual. The innovation is the result of Capt. Nat's experiments with a similar sail on his thirty-three-footer Alerion [#446s] last Summer. The sail will be made of ramie cloth woven from the India grass fibre from which it takes its name. It is claimed that it has extra strength and lightness over duck from Sea Island cotton. ..." (Source: Anon. "Bending The Frames." New York Times, March 24, 1895, p. 6.)

"... BRISTOL, R. I., April 8. --- ... The cup defender is now a little more than half framed, but the work of plating will soon be begun, as the firm is under forfeit by the contract to have her completed by June 1. An extension may, however, be granted by the syndicate, in view of the delay to material because of Designer 'Nat's' sickness. The most serious delay is in the bronze stem and stern posts, only one section of each having arrived. These sections are in place and frames set on them. All the frames are bent.
Some trouble has been had in bending the bow frames of the boat, because of their pronounced U section, and the difficulty of working a frame with such a strengthening bulb as these have along the inner edge of the web. The roundness of these bow sections shows a bow with an overhang like Alerion and Isolde, something different from Vigilant's. It will be of greater value in a sea way. The manganese bronze plates of the cup defender will be 5-16ths of an inch on the garboard, and 1/4 inch above." (Source: Anon. "Isolde Sails Well. Trial Trip of the Herreshoff Twenty-Rater for Prince Leopold." New York Times, April 9, 1895, p. 10.)

" 'Defender' is the suggestive name decided upon by the Vanderbilt-Iselin-Morgan syndicate for the cup defender now being built at Herreshoffs. The name was chosen from 15,000 names sent to the New York Herald, and seems to suit everybody except the other 14,999 'suggestors.' Miss Constance Cleveland Roberson, a little lady only six years of age, who lives on West Forty-ninth street, New York, will receive the $100 as a prize for first suggesting it." (Source: Anon. "News and Notes of Local Interest." Bristol Phoenix, April 19, 1895, p. 2.)

"Providence, R. I., May 19, 1895. A consignment of white pine planking for the Defender, furnished by Boston parties, was Saturday examined by Nat and John B. Herreshoff at the Bristol shops and rejected as not seasoned enough. This may cause a delay in the laying of the Defender's deck and launching.
The dredge Yankee Notion has been digging out a way for the launching and completed her work Saturday night.
Sails are being made in Boston for the Defender and are nearly finished. ..." (Source: Anon. "May Delay Defender's Launching. Consignment of White Pine Planking Rejected." Boston Herald, May 20, 1895, p. 6.)

"Defender, sloop, of [blank].
Built at Bristol, RI, by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.
108.32 tons; 104 ft. x 23.3 ft. x 19 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, one mast, overhanging head, overhanging stern.
Surveyed and measured, June 26, 1895." (Source: U.S. Customs Department, Bristol, R.I. Custom House Record Book, 1870s to 1904 (Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum), s.v. Defender.)

"Newport, R. I., June 29 [1895]. --- [Special.] --- The yacht Defender was launched from the Herreshoff works at Bristol at 12:54 p.m. today. When half way into the water the cradle carrying the new cup-defender stuck fast on the ways and all efforts to pull the boat off proved unavailing.
Bristol Harbor was filled with yachts and small craft of every description, and in the immediate vicinity of the Herreshoff works the sail and steam yachts were anchored so thick together that it would have been possible to walk half a mile out into the bay by stepping from deck to deck of the crowded fleet. About 10,000 people witnessed the launching. ..."" (Source: Anon. "Launch Of Defender Is A Failure. It Sticks on the Ways and Cannot Be Put Off." Chicago Daily Tribune, June 30, 1895, p. 4.)

"[Abstract of register or enrollment. Pos. 233:]
Defender, sloop, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, 1895.
108.32 tons; 104 ft. x 23.3 ft. x 19 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, one mast, overhanging head [bow].
Enr[olled] and Lic[ensed] ([as] yacht) July 12, 1895. Owner: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol. Master: John B. Herreshoff, Bristol.
Surrendered [license] Jan. 13, 1896 at New York, N.Y. ([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. Defender.)

"The eyes of the yachting world have been on Bristol for the past few days because Defender has been lying here waiting for her new mast. The big stick and top­mast arrived on a special train of four flat cars last Friday evening [August 23, 1895] from Boston. Before 9 o'clock the spars had been towed down to the Herreshoff shops, where men worked night and day until Sunday afternoon between 5 and 6, when the new mast was stepped. The Boston gang of riggers immediately went to work, and hustled so that; the topmast was sent up to position and the new steel gaff put on at 11.30 a.m, yesterday. At 12.30 the tug Wallace B. Flint steamed out of the harbor with Defender in tow, en route for New Rochelle. The work of rigging was not complete, and riggers have gone on to finish the work. The new mast is heavier and stiffer than the old one and Mr. Iselin is confident that there will be no more trouble with slack rigging. The steel boom was not ready to go on Defender but will be shipped in a day or two." (Source: Anon. "Defender Once More in Ship Shape." Bristol Phoenix, August 27, 1895, p. 2.)

"[Defender (Sail, K) owned by W. K. Vanderbilt, et al., Port: New York; LOA 124ft; LWL 89ft; Beam 23ft; Draft 19ft; designed by N. G. Herreshoff and built by Herreshoff Manufactur'g Co in 1895.]" (Source: Stebbins 1896 Yachtsmen's Album, p. 29.)

"Notwithstanding the published story that the Defender would be brought here today from New Rochelle, it is not probable that the famous yacht will arrive in Bristol for a week or more, as there is still a large amount of work to be done before the Herreshoff works will be ready to receive her. The pile driver and saws are at work well out towards the channel, and it is not at all an easy matter, nor can it be accomplished in very quick time, to saw off the piles at a depth of twenty feet under water near the ends of the ways. The engine which will furnish the power to haul out the large yacht has been completed, and has been set up and bolted to the cement and stone foundation in the south shop. The large windlass has also been placed in position near the engine. Workmen are engaged in getting the material ready for the large cradle, in which the yacht will be hauled out, and the cradle will be built the coming week. It will be constructed on the ways, the wheels resting on the rails on which it will be lowered and drawn up.
The cradle will be the largest ever constructed by the Herreshoff's, and will be on the same principle as that used on the marine railway at Walker's Cove, although being built especially for Defender. It will conform to the shape of the yacht which is to be hauled out.
It will be several days after the yacht's arrival before she will be ready to go on the ways. She will be stripped of her spars, rigging and sails, and also nearly everything movable on board, so that she may be made as light as possible." (Source: Anon. "Not Yet Ready for Defender." Bristol Phoenix, November 1, 1898, p. 1.)

"The champion yacht of '95 dropped anchor off her birthplace at Herreshoff's yesterday morning at 9.45, having made a successful and fast trip from New Rochelle under her own sail. Ten minutes after her start for the journey to Bristol, or about 5.20 Wednesday evening, Defender ran upon a rock. In the narrow passage between Davenport's Neck and David's Island, on Long Island Sound, and was hung up for 30 minutes before she could be pulled off by a steam tug. The big yacht was uninjured, and she sailed all night before a favoring breeze, and at a fast rate. Defender was without her topmast, gaff and boom. She had a big storm trisail for a mainsail, with a staysail and jib. During the night the staysail was taken in. When Defender was sighted down the bay, Capt. Nat Herreshoff put out in his sailboat Coquina [#404s], and meeting her was taken on board. When the Defender arrived at her moorings Capt. Nat, and Messrs. Iselin, Bereford and Thorne came ashore. They examined the ways upon which Defender will be hauled out, which will not be completed for four or five days. The yacht was in command of Capt. Charlie Barr, and had on board a crew of nine men, with Capt. Hanson, formerly skipper of the Sayonara and other yachts, as mate.
The crew of nine men and the mate has been hired for ten days. They are to receive $1.50 per day and their transportation back to New York. Capt. Barr will remain here with the yacht for some time after the crew leaves.
The Defender has on board of her at the present time the entire suit of sails made by the Herreshoffs in 1895. The same year Wilson & Silsby made a suit of sails for the Defender, but this suit was left at New Rochelle. All the sails on board will be taken ashore and stored at Herreshoffs. The topsldes of the Defender, on which are the aluminum plates, show that they have undergone considerable warping. In some places they bulge outward, particularly at the stem, while in others they look as though they had been pressed inwardly. ..." (Source: Anon. "Defender Arrives In Bristol. She Arrived Yesterday Morning at Her Native Home After an Absence of Three Years." Bristol Phoenix, November 4, 1898, p. 3.)

"The steel mast, about which there has been so much newspaper speculation, was finished at the Herreshoff shops Wednesday morning [May 24, 1899]. It was carried out to where Defender is anchored by the lighter Archer, being lifted by the steam derrick of the Archer. It was stepped in Defender without accident, the crew assisting, superintended by Capt. Nat Herreshoff and Capt. Rhodes. The mast is painted about the color of a pine mast and from shore it would be impossible to tell that it is hollow steel. [Boston rigger] Billman's men have since been rigging the Defender and she will probably ere long leave Bristol. As yet nothing definite has been given out in regard to the date of launching Columbia [#499s]." (Source: Anon. "Steel Mast in Defender." Bristol Phoenix, May 26, 1899, p. 3.)

"The old cup yacht Defender is now being broken up. The work was started on Monday last [June 3, 1906]. The yacht is at Hawkins' yard, City Island." (Source: Anon. "Yachting Notes." New York Herald, June 6, 1901, p. 7.)

"The Defender's Last Run.
One day in the early spring of 1900 I was standing on a bluff at City Island, gazing up the Sound, when a towering mass of white appeared in the distance. In the course of half an hour it was apparent that the bellying sails belonged to a ninety-foot sloop. But which sloop? Constitution was building at Bristol. Columbia was on the ways just at my elbow. As the stranger came nearer, the familiar lines of one of the grandest boats that ever sailed revealed themselves --- those of Defender. She swept into the harbor like a queen. She had made the swiftest run from New London, the swiftest eighty miles that any yacht ever logged. A week later iron workers were smashing her into a pile of junk. It was her last run, and her best. The impression of a proud and sentient sloop, realizing that for the last time she was under canvas, and leaving nothing undone to make that event a memorable one, was and still continues strong. I do not recall the exact time of the trip, but W. B. Duncan, Jr., who brought the boat to her last resting place, no doubt has the minutest details of the passage indelibly engraved on his mind. ..." (Source: Anon. "The Month in Yachting." Yachting, February 1908, p. 94.)

"My first inspection was of Defender, which I always regarded as one of [Nat Herreshoff's] great designs. She had less sail than Valkyrie II and yet she beat her easily. Her topsides and deck were of aluminum and soon corroded so badly as to resemble clay. A client asked me to inspect her with a view to purchase if I thought she could be put in shape at a reasonable expense. It was apparent that the topsides and deck would have to be replaced with some other metal, and I felt the added weight might spoil her speed, and so reported. If the Aluminum Company had developed duralumin at that time, I am sure my report would have been different." (Source: Crane, Clinton. Clinton Crane's Yachting Memories, New York, 1952, p. 101.)

"William U. Swan in Yachting, March 1936, says: '. . . Thomas W. Lawson put in a tentative bid of several thousand dollars in the spring of 1901. . . but [DEFENDER] was too far gone, so W. Butler Duncan . . . took her from New London to City Island where she was broken up.' (Streeter, John W., editorial note. In: Herreshoff, Nathanael Greene and William Picard Stephens. "Their Last Letters 1930-1938." Annotated by John W. Streeter. Bristol, R. I., ca. 1999, p. 4.)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.07111 (089-089). Blueprint rig detail plan titled 'Mast Truss For #435 [COLONIA] & #452 [DEFENDER]. Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Bristol, R.I. July 15, [18]93'." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item WRDT06_00460. Folder [no #]. 1893-07-15.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections titled 'Model Au[ust] 19 [18]94. 88ft w.l. 8.8 spaces. Scale 3/8in. 1st trial'. Midship section is marked 136sqft. No further notes or calculations. Size and date suggest this to be a preliminary study for an America's Cup defender. In less than half a year HMCo will contract for #452s DEFENDER." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE05_00490. Folder [no #]. 1894-08-19.)
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"[Item Description:] Two sets of penciled pantograph hull sections of an unidentified yacht with a deep bulb keel. Titled '2nd [trial]. 90ft w.l. model. Aug 31 [18]94. Scale 3/8in. Spaces 1/10 w.l. = 9.1[ft]'. With calculations arriving at a total displacement of 5488.2cuft or 354000lbs and a center of gravity of 55.9% of w.l. On verso another set of penciled pantograph hull sections sections of the same model titled 'Waterline [divided] into 9 parts by mistake. [See] over'. Size and date suggest this to be a preliminary study for an America's Cup defender. In less than half a year HMCo will contract for #452s DEFENDER (see pantograph hull sections dated December 9, 1894 where NGH measured this same model at a waterline length of 89ft and mentions these sections)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE05_00910. Folder [no #]. 1894-08-31.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Please donot make public what I am going to tell you until you see it in the newspapers.
The next boat from Old England to sail for the [America's] Cup will be 89 ft water line, this is certain. So go ahead & beat her, you can do it, this I am sure of & I want you to have all the time you can & this is why I am writing. Make her [#452s DEFENDER] a very deep keel & build her of aluminum, the rest is easy. I won't be in it this year, but I want you to feel my heart is with you." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_01640. Correspondence, Folder 1_14, formerly 235. 1894-12-06.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections with tracing marks titled 'Dec[ember] 9, [18]94. 89ft w.l. Same model at higher w.l. than measured Aug[ust 31 [1894]. Model shrunk some'. With calculations marked 'Scale 3/8in' and arriving at a displacement of 51150cuft = 329000 = 164.5 tons and 'c.g. of lead 56% of w.l. (164700lbs)'. (NGH on this day noted in his diary 'At work on design for possible Cup defender [#452s Defender]'.)" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_09850. Folder [no #]. 1894-12-09.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [On 'Somerset Club Boston' stationery.] Do you you know anything about the A1 anti-fouling boiler fluid. It is an English or German composition & is used by the Great Eastern R.R. & other big Corporations abroad. The reason I ask is because I have a nephew who is agent for it here in Boston & he would like to know something about its reputation in the world at large before starting with it. If it would interest you I could have him forward you a gallon to try & c.
You[?] been[?] kept your[?] peomin[?] about lunching with me here --- I wish you would look me up. We can have a chat together about the old race[?] of '93 & the prospects as to the future.
I suppose you have that '95 model [for #452s DEFENDER] all finished. I hope so.
Remember me to Mrs. Herreshoff & your brother. [H.C. Leeds had sailed with NGH on #437s VIGILANT.]" (Source: Leeds, Herbert C. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_01710. Correspondence, Folder 1_14, formerly 235. 1894-12-28.)
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"[Item Transcription:] I was sorry you did not call on us when you were in New York last Thursday. Hope you will come and see us and stay over night next you come this way. We hope to get back into the house by the end of next week or early in the second week of Jan. I saw Mr. Turner a week ago. He made most of the duck from which VIGILANT's [#437s] sails were made. He thinks you had better buy Texas cotton [for #452s DEFENDER]. He suggests that the duck for sails should be first completely wetted and then calendered with hot rolls. He says he would like to see you or you and Ind[?] and talk over the whole matter. Says he will go to Bristol to [sic] if you can't soon meet him in N.Y. May be you have already seen him or corresponded with him. Emilie's bro. Will is very skillful at making sketches with his pen. I had him make one, of interest to you. I inclose it wishing you a happy and successful new year. You will notice that 'Uncle Sam' is holding on to you with pride and confidence, when he looks across the ocean and implores to old England, 'bring on your boat'.
The children are all well. Emilie has a bad cold. Louise is here, but returns Tuesday. With much to all Your affect bro. ..." (Source: Herreshoff, John Brown Francis. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_01880. Correspondence, Folder 1_14, formerly 234. 1894-12-30.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled calculations with notes like 88.45 LWL, Valk [VALKYRIE?], 73 jib stay, 73.36 spi boom, 64.95 gaff, VALKYRIE LWL 88.85. Undated (probably related to #452s DEFENDER vs VALKYRIE III 1895 America's Cup race)" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Calculations. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_71330. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F06, formerly MRDE15. No date (1895 ?).)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Penciled cost estimate:] Cost 90ft racing rachr[?], Steel
147 gross tons @ $400 58800.00
Extra expenses for launching 1500
[Sum] 60300
Extra for Bronze plating to above w.l. 4644
[Sum] 64944
Less 17 tons steel @ $45 765
[Sum] 64179
Extra for Al[uminum] topsides & deck frames 9334
[Sum] 73513
Less 12 tons steel @ 50 600
[Total] $72913 [On verso more cost calculations titled Al(uminum) and arriving at a total of $9333.90.] [Unidentified vessel, undated. Found with other 1895 material and size of yacht, bronze and aluminum suggest that this concerns #452s DEFENDER.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Cost Estimate. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_04250. Folder [no #]. No date (1895 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled calculations, unidentified or rating related, concerning DEFENDER [#452s] and VAL[KYRIE] III. On verso other unidentified calculations." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Calculations. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_04310. Folder [no #]. No date (1895 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled tabulated data (dimensions, rating) comparing VIG[ILANT #437s] and DEF[ENDER #452s]. On verso other unidentified calculations." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Tabulated Data. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_04330. Folder [no #]. No date (1895 ?).)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Penciled calculations on torn out calendar page dated 'Thursday, 23':] All steel complete $58000
For T[obin] bronze [unreadable] 5000
For Al[uminum] topsides & deck fittings[?] 12000
Abt[?] 17 tons Tobin b[ronze] 5000
… [This is apparently a business estimate. Possibly for #452s DEFENDER and possibly 1895? On verso a list titled 'Number of tile left over'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Penciled Calculations. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_04350. Folder [no #]. No date (1895 ???).)
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"[Item Transcription:] Handwritten (in ink) 6-page letter beginning with 'On the UNDINE
Gloucester Mass.
N.G. Herreshoff Esq.
Bristol, R.O.
My dear Sir
I see by the papers that VALKYRIE III is to have a hollow mast of steel with braces inside. I thought I would write you my experience with hollow masts, hoping you find something in it worth noting, however against at the chances may be. ...' [Undated (the America's Cup race between #452s DEFENDER and VALKYRIE III took place in 1895)." (Source: Dean, Benjamin. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_06410. Folder [no #]. No date (1895 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled general arrangement plan sketch of a very large sailing yacht on brown paper. Untitled. One note in the forecastle reads '16ft longer than on DEFENDER [#452s]. Dimensions and frame station numbers suggest a frame spacing of 20in which in turn would suggest an overall length of some 160ft. Undated, found with other plans from the 1890s." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sketch. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item WRDT06_00520. Folder [no #]. No date (1890s ???).)
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"[Item Description:] Ink on paper profile of a large deep-draft keel yacht. Untitled, no notes, undated. Found with other material related to #452s DEFENDER but careful analysis suggests this to be a different design rather than just a different design stage." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Profile Drawing. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item WRDT06_00570. Folder [no #]. No date (1895 ???).)
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"[Item Transcription:] [On NYYC stationery] Friday eve.
My dear Nat,
Your let[ter?] re[ceive]d & I came down here to answer[?] it --- first to see if there was any gossip here to tell you & second to be sure of the letter being mailed, as I am going to Lakewood[?] to spend Sunday.
There is no one here & no news. In fact outside of my own conversations with the E. H. Brown - Oddie gang that is the 'club crowd' & Geo. Gould [owner of #437s Vigilant] I dodn't think there is any talk of new boat at all.
I think that it would be a mistake for a yacht syndicate to be formed & don't think that they could get anyone who is capable & experienced to run it --- too much boat[?] talk[?]--- If not perfectly[?] run the designer would suffer. There is not likely to be any Boston or Phila[delphia] boat. Now as to [George] Gould --- he is desirous of doing what is expected of him. I lunched with him yest[erday] & am to see him on Sunday at Lakewood[?]. He will race VIGILANT at[?] Nice[?] if I could take her or bring her over here & give her to me for season if she is needded & beside go in to a syndicate of yacht man to run it. I cannot afford to give time this year to it & don't know what to do. If a boat is much[?] I want you to get[?] it & yet[?] I want it were run. Could[?] you do the whole thing? Would Gen. Paine be a good man for it? WOuld not Cass Canfield be next? I don't know who else. It is a pity that we have a race this year. All the Nespaper gaff[?] is fake. The is no news yet. We are enjoying Florence[?] visit very much & hope that she will stay longer. Wire me to office if anyting special & they wre repeat. Regards to family ... [Undated, but this appears to be from a time after the season of 1894 when VIGILANT was still in England and before the season of 1895 when VIGILANT was brought to the USA to be used as a sparring partner for #452s DEFENDER in which role Willard would manage her during the season of 1895.]" (Source: Willard, Edward Augustus. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_22490. Correspondence, Folder 66. No date (filed with 1895 corresp.).)
① ②

"[Item Transcription:] Sunday
Dear Nat,
It occurs to me to ask you if it would be possible to put a rochu[?] lead keel under VIGILANT [#437s] & thus lower her ballast & increase her power & make her turn more quickly. Also would a horyt[?]of Tobin bronze to put around it as proposed for new one.
I would like for your sake to see the 90 [footer] as fast as possible this year. When iean[?] keep you in any way let me know from you. [Undated. The 90 appears to be a reference to #452s DEFENDER to be built for the 1895 America's Cup season when VIGILANT served as her sparring partner under the management of Ned Willard. This suggests this letter to be dated late 1894 to early 1895.]" (Source: Willard, Edward Augustus. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_22510. Correspondence, Folder 66. No date (filed with 1895 corresp.).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled (pantograph?) lead sections and calculations titled 'Lead for 452 [#452s DEFENDER] and weighing, according to one calculation, '184488lbs [or] about 92 tons'. With upside-down handwritten note in right margin 'Poekel says[?] stayed[? studied?] at the Herreshoff Mfg. Company'. [Thorvald Schogard (Theodore) Poekel had worked as draftsman at HMCo between 1892 (possibly earlier) and 1895.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Lead Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item WRDT06_00610. Folder [no #]. No date (between 1894-12 and 1895-01).)
① ② ③

"[Item Description:] Penciled displacement curve and pantograph hull sections with pinpricks and radials of an unidentified design titled '89ft w.l.'. #452s DEFENDER?" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0595. WRDT08, Folder 45. No date.)
① ② ③

"[Item Description:] if there is any chance of your building a Cup defender [#452s DEFENDER] please consider our Aluminum Bronze which is better than Tobin Bronze" (Source: Heresford, J. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_01730. Correspondence, Folder 1_14, formerly 235. 1895-01-08.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Not having heard further from you I presume that you are busy enough.
Iselin [of the syndicate for #452s DEFENDER whose contract to build will be signed in two days] telegraphed me asking if I cared to race with him this season & I answered by telegraph that I could not spare the time.
Gould [owner of #437s VIGILANT] has as you know offered VIGILANT to the cup committee & they have accepted her, so I presume will race her as they wish & whether they get most out of her or not I think that it was just the best thing that Gould could do & showed his spirit. There is no chance that I can learn[?] of any other cup defender & so yo must beat the Britisher with the new one. I sincerely hope that you will.
Please tell me if you care to sell ALERION [#446s] & if so what price you would make quietly to count[?] Sanderson, also does she in to the 30 rating class L.Y.C. [Larchmont YC]?
The MEMORY [#439s ex-ALERION I] as I understand is 32 W.L. & undoubtedly over that class --- is she not? I trust that you are all well & happy & that Miss Florence reached home safely." (Source: Willard, Edward Augustus. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_22150. Correspondence, Folder 66. 1895-01-21.)
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"[Item Description:] Two sets of penciled pantograph hull sections, dated Jan 21 [1895] No 1 [trial] and Jan 22nd '94 [sic, i.e. 1895] [No 2 trial], One set of pantograph lead sections plus calculations. Titled 'DEFENDER [#452s] 1896'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0594. WRDT08, Folder 45. 1895-01-21.)
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"[Item Description:] Would it not be well to give out we intend building of Bronze. This would drop further enquiries as regards costruction [of #452s DEFENDER]." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_13660. Correspondence, Folder 38, formerly 198. 1895-01-23.)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.07134 (089). Blueprint plating plan titled 'Expansion Plan of Plating. Sailing Yacht No. 452 [#452s DEFENDER]. Jan[uary] 25st [18]95'." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item WRDT06_00560. Folder [no #]. 1895-01-25.)
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"[Item Description:] wish to discuss sails and spars for #452s DEFENDER" (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_13760. Correspondence, Folder 38, formerly 198. 1895-01-30.)
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"N/A"

"[Item Description:] use of aluminum for #452s DEFENDER" (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_13740. Correspondence, Folder 38, formerly 198. 1895-02-01.)
① ②

"[Item Description:] use of aluminum for #452s DEFENDER" (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_13720. Correspondence, Folder 38, formerly 198. 1895-02-02.)
① ②

"[Item Transcription:] Since receiving yours of 30th I have been so much under the weather that I have delayed answering.
Hope to hear that you are all well next time you write. I have hept[?] quick all that Iselin told me about the new boat [#452s DEFENDER] & through the same man would have liked a little bit of news the other day.
You know how I feel about keel & centerboard. While I should defer to your better judgment still[?] I feel as before that VIGILANT [#437s] could beat BRITANNIA[?] for America's Cup & the Bennett model [#189401es] would beat VIGILANT surely, so that Englishmen would have to beat BRITANNIA very much to come near Bennet[?] & co[?] while in going to a keel we are not so sure.
Regarding VIGILANT I have not seen [her owner George] Gould for a week or more as he has been away. He did right in offering her to Cup Com[mittee]. Thow[?] if they choose to name some one to run her, he cannot well object. I would have nothing whatever to do with her coming from them. He may have her back cmay[?] musing. Hpeck[?]her in threats[?], then I might take her for him. I should be afraid to immense[?] her too much more gearing[?] to fund[?] her hard to more & dull perhaps a little might do. As to the large mainsail I never steered her enough to know just how she felt. I fancy that a trifle more might do.
I don't believe that she would be better for any radical changes, but probably slight ones in the direction you suggest.
When you are coming on let me know & come here..." (Source: Willard, Edward Augustus. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_22200. Correspondence, Folder 66. 1895-02-05.)
① ②

"[Item Description:] use of aluminum for #452s DEFENDER; sail order" (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_13700. Correspondence, Folder 38, formerly 198. 1895-02-06.)
① ②

"[Item Description:] use of aluminum for #452s DEFENDER; VALKYRIE III" (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_13670. Correspondence, Folder 38, formerly 198. 1895-02-14.)
① ②

"[Item Description:] Blueprint technical drawing showing various size bulb angle cross sections with dimensions and weights titled 'Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Bristol, R.I. Feb[ruary] 7th, 1895'. With penciled numbers, apparently to convert weights from steel to aluminum (which might suggest that this plan was used in preparation for the design of #452s DEFENDER which used aluminum).." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0182. WRDT08, Folder 17, formerly MRDE06. 1895-02-17.)
① ②

"[Item Transcription:] At length I have agreed to sail with Geo Gould this year & try to get the old boat [#437s VIGILANT] to go without any of the responsibility of the cup defense.
I want you to help do this & I will keep you[?] are[?] new one all that I can[?].
Please make some figures on aluminum boom, gaff & topmast & consider hollow mast of metal to see if we can have all of these.
Then tell me with[?] what sort of sails you would have & where made.
The[?] will do most anything that we think advisable.
Has Iselin decided on Haff [as master for #452s DEFENDER]? Gould wants you to come on one day this week if you can, please wire me, ..." (Source: Willard, Edward Augustus. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_22170. Correspondence, Folder 66. 1895-02-19.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Yours of 20th remains unanswered because I have been away in Washington on business.
I hope that you will get the torpedo boats [contract], but at the same time you must not overtax your strength.
We are glad her at home to know of the save arrival of the little son [Clarence, born Feb. 22] & trust that all may go well --- give our kindest regards to Mrs. H.
As to VIGILANT [#437s] I do want new boat [#452s DEFENDER] to be a world beater & will help Iselin & you, but of course I want er to beat VIGILANT at her best & you must keep some[?] at that.
The best way to fence[?] all off satisfactory will[?] be for Ollie [Iselin
to tell me his plans & wishes so that I may not thwart them unknowingly.
As as to VIGILANT Mr Gould wants new boom[?] & owt[?] too[?] much lighter than old one --- we thought 25%. He will also want new sails & a shoe of bronze on lead & I want to consider lengthening her bow[?] out on the water line say then[?] feet, not on top. How would this come out? Could we not improve it? Would it chiout[?] her lateral plane out? I sense[?] that we might make her easier thus[?] if[?] not.
If nothing happens I shall go to Boston for next Monday & may manage to mass the middle of say Sunday with you if I can arrive in a.m[?] thence[?] for Boston in p.m.
Gould delayed answering yours to consult with me & wishes me to attend to these matters for him." (Source: Willard, Edward Augustus. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_22180. Correspondence, Folder 66. 1895-02-25.)
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"[Item Description:] Handwritten (in ink) list titled 'Weight of Blocks for The DEFENDER [#452s]'. Undated (DEFENDER was built in the first half of 1895.)" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Handwritten List. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_02980. Folder [no #]. No date (ca 1895-03 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Typewritten (carbon copy) list titled 'Specifications for Galvanized Wire Rope for yacht No. 452 [#452s DEFENDER]. Plow Steel' with tabulated data for wire of different sizes for standing and running rigging. Undated (DEFENDER was built in the first half of 1895.)" (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Typewritten List. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_03940. Folder [no #]. No date (ca 1895-03 ?).)
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"[Item Transcription:] I wired yesterday asking you the name of the boat ones[?] hales[?]. Wh[at?] is y[ou]r opinion w[oul]d b[?] the most suitable to send to England to race in those[?] waters. I trust you will[?] soon be able to send me information. I am sorry to hear you are laid up with the grippe & hope you will soon be all right[?] again.
I have been quite ill myself for the past two days. Otherwise I w[oul]d have gone direct to Meicop[?] on arrival. Ame[?] anxiously waiting to hear the result of the test of aluminum plates. Mr. Willard writes he intends racing VIGILANT [#437s] with Mr. Gould. As he distinctly pronounced[?] to go with me on the new boat [#452s DEFENDER] I confided to him most of our secrets. Needless to say I am much annoyed but make no further comment on Mr. Willard's treatment of me." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_13780. Correspondence, Folder 38, formerly 198. 1895-03-01.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten (in ink) letter on paper embossed with '112 Hicks Street, Brooklyn Heights':] My dear brother Nat.
We are all glad to learn from many sources that you are much better and on the road to recovery. Knowing that oranges are always a benefit when one is recovering from sickness and knowing your fondness for the same, I thought you would like some having no seeds and so sent you a box a few days since. i hope they reached you safely, and that that you have found them good ones. [p. 2] We ave all felt in common with every true American, great sympathy for you during your illness but no one, I assure you, has felt more keenly for you than I have. I hope you will gain rapidly in strength and as the weather improves soon be able to be about. I hope you will not worry wither about the great work you have in hand or of your ultimate success. You may feel assured all will go well. After seeing the model you have made [Model 703 for #452s DEFENDER] I assure you that you can recruit[?] with a feeling of quiet confidence that in the early fall your mas- [p. 3] terly work will meet with a brilliant victory. When you showed me this remarkable model, I saw at once it was a masterly piece of work and that you had made a great advance. A thrill of satisfaction passed through me. We may feel certain no one else can make such strides this year.
I am glad to learn that the new 'Washington boy' Clarence and his mother are both doing well. Be of good chaer[?], and may you soon be in your usual strength and vigor.
Emilie and i are to be in Prov[idence] on the 19th at a concert at [brother] Julian's and the 20th our mother's birthday will visit Bristol, and will hope to find you gaining rapidly in strength. With much love[?] to yourself [p. 4] and family.
Your affect[ionate] bro,
J.B.F. Herreshoff" (Source: Herreshoff, John Brown Francis. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_03100. Correspondence, Folder 1_14, formerly 230. 1895-03-15.)
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"[Item Transcription:] It gives me much pleasure to think of your being well enough to write, but you must not tax your strength or do any work [on #452s DEFENDER] until you are quite strong again. I hope to come to Bristol the last of this week or the first of next. Thi[?] one[?] edlet[?] was for a friend of mine in England. I may hear from him again later.
I am sorry to lose Willard but glad he will tune up VIGILANT [#437s]; but do think he should have refused my offer when I made it. He promised to go with me when he could & it was after that I told him all about the new boat.
Not knowing any one better or as good I felt obliged to take [Captain 'Hank'] Haff as skipper & have engaged him for the season with Terry if Mr Haff wants him. Berry sailing master of old KATRINA will act as 1s mate, I consider him very good, has lots of sand[?] & did well with KATRINA.
Crew have all been secured, mostly from Deer Island, Maine & are all Yankees. I expect to have #435s COLONIA in commission May 1st & will train & race crew on her until the new boat is finished.
AILSA seems a flyer in light airs, how can she outwind BRITANNIA in light airs with only 17ft draught & outfoot her too with 26ft beam. I think much is due to larger mainsail & small head sails, small forestaysail especially. Do make outs small & long[?] the stay well inboard. I hear the Watson boat is not set up yet.
They have two models & I am I am[?] waiting to see how AILSA would do.
Have called Mr. Vanderbilt for photos & accurate draught, beam etc of AILSA they may help us. Please don't leave any more things to chance the way you did with rolls[?] for angles. Watson says he can build & finished[?] his boat in 60 days, hope you can do the same.
Hoping this will find you much better ..." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_13800. Correspondence, Folder 38, formerly 198. 1895-03-18.)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.07066 (089-022). HMCo Plan HH.5.06936 (087-062). Blueprint rig detail plan titled 'Mast Head #452 [DEFENDER]. Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Bristol, R.I. March 20, 1895'." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item WRDT06_00600. Folder [no #]. 1895-03-20.)
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"[Item Transcription:] It pleased me very much to get a letter from you & to know that you were getting well so fast.
Last Sunday I went to Boston, we[?] found that you were not strong enough to see me & talk over things so did not stop.
If nothing happens I shall try & stop off Sunday next[?] & come to see you. There are matters in re VIGILANT [#437s]that I want to talk to you about.
Es, I have hired Chas. Barr. I waited till Iselin had his pick [for skipper of #452s DEFENDER]. Want to be careful & not interfere with him.
Regards to all ...
[P.S.] Don't think that JUBILEE will come[?] out[?]." (Source: Willard, Edward Augustus. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_22240. Correspondence, Folder 66. 1895-03-21.)
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"[Item Transcription:] I hope that you are no worse for my visit --- don't worry about things or work too hard. You must think of yourself & the future, not only of this year. Get out in the air. I[?] walk & ride & let thinks go easy.
When you have time let me know if you will agree to my raking stern post some, also if you will let me have O[?] duck for mainsail [#437s VIGILANT]. I want which is best &[?] that[?] O[?] but want you to agree with me. Also if you can make sails.
I hear that Wilson & Wilson have a French[?] patent morheuse[?] for stretching duck before using.
There is letter from VIGILANT & diagram, please telegraph me what you think now as to broken ribs as I will have general[?] cable it.
I hear that Tery[?] & Leeds are both going on new boat [#452s DEFENDER] so there is talent enough without me after trials. It will come right somehow for you just how I don't see yet.
Give my best regards to all & don't worry or work all the time." (Source: Willard, Edward Augustus. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_22220. Correspondence, Folder 66. 1895-03-26.)
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"[Item Description:] Ink on paper sailplan of a very large gaff sloop. Untitled, no dimensions. With faint penciled note in lower left corner 'Detail sail drawings made. Boom[?] staysail & club foresail March. No 1 & 2 staysails March. Working staysail[?] # 3 jib April 8. Spinnaker & Baloon jib topsail April 14. No 1 & No 2 jibs April 22. Mainsail April 30'. Overlaying of plans indicate this plan to have been made for #452s DEFENDER." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Inked Sailplan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item WRDT06_00390. Folder [no #]. No date (1895-04 ?).)
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"[Item Transcription:] I intend ordering an extra hollow boom & gaff [for #452s DEFENDER] from Piepgras, the [#437s] VIGILANT's boom was 18 1/2 in diameter, would you advise making this one larger. I gave 104ft as length of boom & 64ft for gaff, is this near enough for Piepgras? I [p. 2] will have[?] some solid wood at the ends to be taken of later when I decide to give[?] enough dimensions. VIGILANT's old gaff was 56ft 6in. Would you make this one large. How far from end of boom do you intend to part[?] things[?]? Had you out[?] Belted[?] and[?] run[?] a[?] drawing to go by?
The extra mast for VIGILANT now[?] at [p. 3] Piepgras' is a splendid stick. I do wish we could use it, why can't we[?] put it up on & tilts[?]?
You had better be very careful in the sewing of the mainsail, as I hear it is then[?] the MARIA's[?] sails went[?]. --- Are you getting mast, booms, gaff etc worked, they should be started at once. [p. 4]
When do you expect boat to be on frames?
Very truly y[ou]rs ..." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_13840. Correspondence, Folder 38, formerly 198. 1895-04-05.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten (in ink) certificate of analysis on 'The Nichols Chemical Company, Laurel Hill Laboratory' stationery:]
Certificate of Analysis No. 22917
Laurel Hill, L.I. 4/6, 1895.
This is to certify that I have analyzed a sample of Alloys marked Cup Defender [#452s]
representing for[?] Mr. Herreshoff and find it to contain:
Aluminum:
sp[ecific] gr[avity] 2.823
Copper % 5.78
Iron % 0.53
Aluminum % 93.69 (by diffusion)
Tin % none
Contains trace Carbon
Aluminum Bronze:
sp[ecific] gr[avity] 7.750
Copper % 91.70
Iron % trace
Aluminum % 7.94
Tin % none
Manganeze Bronze
sp[ecific] gr[avity] 8.329
Copper % 58.70
Iron % 1.33
Aluminum % 0.41
Lead none
Manganese none
Zinc 39.66
[signed] Analyst." (Source: Nichols Chemical Company (Laurel Hill Laboratory). Correspondence (certificate of analysis) to Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_02180. Folder [no #]. 1895-04-06.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten (in ink) letter on 'The Nichols Chemical Company, Laurel Hill Works' stationery:]
My dear bro. John,
Your letter with check for $75 was rec[eive]d. I inclosed you the analyses of alloys you gave me when in Bristol.
From the reputation and high sounding name of the alloy 'Manganese Bronze' one would infer from this that its composition was mainly copper and manganese, but we find not manganese in it. It is mainly the composition of Muntz Metal, but having Iron 1.33%, Aluminum 0.398% and Tin 0.41%.
The aluminum Bronze is light[?] in Copper 7.94% that I thought it would be it, it is a splendid metal and you will notice about 7% lighter in weight than Manganese or Tobin bronze. With its tensile strain of 100 000 to 75 000 of the Manganese Bronze you will see you could reduce from [p. 2] the manganese when using Aluminum Bronze easily 15% in thickness and add to this the gain of 7% lower weight shown by Specific Gravity, and you have a gain in weight of say 21% when both are practically of same strength. This refers to their use as plating. I am sorry you could not have obtained Aluminum Bronze. The aluminum with copper is higher in Copper 5.78% than I suppose, but it is away ahead of any other substance above water and may be under water if plates are well painted. Steel corrodes under water and must be painted. Who has shown than aluminum treated in the same way will not work. I am glad to learn the Cup defender [#452s] is progressing rapidly and that the ISOLDE's [#450s] trial was a marked success. I hope Nat is gaining constantly in strength.
Your affect[ionate] bro. [Francis]" (Source: Herreshoff, John Brown Francis (Nichols Chemical Co.). Letter to Herreshoff, J.B. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_02190. Folder [no #]. 1895-04-10.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten letter on 'All View, New Rochelle, N.Y.' stationery:] On receipt of yours about deck frames [for #452s DEFENDER] I at once wrote to Mr. M. Gwui[?] to try to hurry things up & enclose his reply. You will see that he appears quite willing to do his best for us & it appears to me if old rolls had been tested for aluminum rolling some weeks since all delay might[?] have been avoided. Thanks for information about boom & gaff.
The list of your duck appeared all right & I do hope we shall be able to knock[?] them out our[?] sails this season.
I inclose some very interesting information just received from Glasgow, it should be correct, as I particularly iota[?] my informant not to send anything he was not quite sure of; all this is of course strictly confidential, please keep the papers until I come to Bristol Sunday.
Very truly yours ..." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_13860. Correspondence, Folder 38, formerly 198. 1895-04-11.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten letter on 'All View, New Rochelle, N.Y.' stationery:] I have this a.m. received a letter from Mr. Sain[?] enclosed a copy of one to[?] you & sincerely hope this matter of aluminum angles [for #452s DEFENDER] is now straightened out. I have just received a piece of AILSA's mainsail cut off at Cannes[?] & will bring it with me.
Very truly Yrs ..." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_13880. Correspondence, Folder 38, formerly 198. 1895-04-12.)
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"[Item Transcription:] I enclose a letter recently received as I am sure it will please you to read it. I was not feeling very well yesterday so could not come to Bristol. Please send me a sail plan of DEFENDER [#452s] as soon as possible, one that Wilson [& Silby] can work from. I will see that the dimensions are kept secret.
I am having an extra spinnaker pole made. Please let me know length & size it should be made.
Kindly order at once from your Boston spar maker spare bowsprit, topmast & 2 club topsail spars. Will send you all dimensions of COLONIA's [#435s] spare mast in a few days. Please note I wish 8 deck lights on boat made of aluminum, if this material[?] can be used below decks for pumps, water closet pans, sailors trunks, anchor lights, side lights, etc etc. Please order these things at once. Of course I understand the extra expenses will be charged to me.
I should prefer setting jib flying; do you approve? I have today received some good photos of AILSA, will bring them on when I come." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_13900. Correspondence, Folder 38, formerly 199. 1895-04-18.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Thanks for your note in re VIGILANT [#437s] & I will gened[?] to cable[?]to-morrow a.m. for the sheykening[?] to VIGILANT.
Don't you worry abut her or the new boat [#452s DEFENDER]. Your first duty to yourself & family & the cup defense also is to get well & a week or two of enforced idleness of your brain & exercise of your body is the best thing that you can do. Don't use your head now, wait a little bit till your body is stronger. Willee[?] the[?] chas[?] it will we you over[?] & every others good in the end.
I won't talk shop to you again until you are strong.
Perhaps I'll come down for a sail on Sunday or the next Sunday. Now do get strong the first thing." (Source: Willard, Edward Augustus. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_22280. Correspondence, Folder 66. 1895-04-19.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Wilson & Silsby are to make a complete suit of sails for DEFENDER [#452s] so will require draft of all. I enclose letter from [Captain Henry 'Hank' Coleman] Haff about COLONIA's [#435s] spare mast & also drawing from Poillon [shipyard].
Expect to see Mr O'Gari[?] tonight about the angles.
Will be in Bristol Thursday or Wednesday." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_13960. Correspondence, Folder 38, formerly 199. 1895-04-24.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Yours of Wednesday with enclosure for Mr Garland[?] received & I delivered it.
I fear that in my haste to let you know what I ascertained that I must have 'wayled'[?] my letter, so as not to have stated the situation as it existed. Wile none of us could blame him for admiring Miss Florence, I am sure that it was far from his intention to ask either of her or her family any eneowaguat[?]in advancen[?]simply the privilege of calling until you might all know him better, & then Miss Florence could see for herself whether his visits were agreeable in sense[?] or not. However I wrote with the best intentions having the high esteem that I entertain[?] for Miss Florence & the warm friendship for Mr Garland, who regrets very much that he should have allowed me to do anything causing Miss Heroun[?] or Mrs DeWolf any annoyance when they were so kind to him?
He is off for Europe on Wednesday & we hope to have a visit from Miss Florence on her return from Washington.
By the papers I see that Iselin [managing owner of #452s DEFENDER] has come to Bristol & you are no doubt rushed & still I must get ahead with VIGILANT [#437s] & decide about the change of mast & sail plan. I want plenty of sail on her. Please wire me tomorrow if you will come Sat any[?] I will meet you at proposed [?]
With kind regards to all & regrets for any offences I have caused ..." (Source: Willard, Edward Augustus. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_22300. Correspondence, Folder 66. 1895-05-02.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Typed or mimeographed letter fragment:] We have received by express the plan of the sails which you have sent us, and as our Mr. Wilson said to you in Providence that it will be impossible for us to make any sails from any such plan as this. We want a plan with the sails arranged in the position in which they stand on the yacht, and why the people at Bristol cannot give you such a plan, we cannot understand. We wish to say this:- that we do not propose to take any responsibility if you wish us to cut sails from this plan. We mean any responsibility as to their fit. We shall be ready to cut some of the sails by the first of June [insert in ink 'in fact are ready to cut sails to day'], and wish to know if you propose to send us any different sail-plan than what we have. If not we are so much dissatisfied that we wish to say that it is impossible for us to proceed with the work. We found on the COLONIA [#435s] that a decided change was necessary in the spinnaker, and had we had a proper plan of the boat, the change would never have had to be made. Also, a dispute arose as [remainder in ink:] to how the boom was set[set], that[?] is the height from deck
wrean[?] strt[?] the jibtopsails # 3 jib # 2 foresail[?] trysail working topsail # 5 club and have[?] these[?] all right and uy[?] so as to start heavy[?] sails lyne[?] June 1st 1895. [Undated. Thought to be a letter by sailmakers Wilson & Silsby to C. Oliver Iselin as referenced by Iselin in his letter of May 14, 1895 and by NGH in his letter to Iselin dated May 16, 1895 in which he bitterly complained about Wilson & Silsby's attitude and Iselin's demand for proper sail plans for #452s DEFENDER.] " (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Iselin, C. Oliver. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_22530. Correspondence, Folder 66. No date (before 1895-05-14).)
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"[Item Transcription:] I enclose part of letter received from [sailmaker] Wilson about sail draft. It speaks for itself.
When DEFENDER [#452s] was ordered I spoke to you about sail plan as same difficulty occurred in [18]93 as[?] you assured me that you would finish a plan that no one would complain of, kindly do so now at your earliest convenience. Do you think the aluminum railway on boom will stand without paint & if painted won't it bind causing much trouble.
Has the pine[?] for deck arrived? Form[?] about the rest[?] of aluminum. Would like all wire fork for boom & gaff to be sent to Piepgras [shipyard] as soon as possible." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_14000. Correspondence, Folder 38, formerly 199. 1895-05-14.)
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"[Item Transcription:] I want to get a heavier jib topsail stay for COLONIA [#435s], kindly send me length & size of the one we have now, also size of one you intend putting on DEFENDER [#452s]. I notice on COLONIA that goose neck for spinnaker pole is so short it jams against one of the gig blocks when spinnaker pole is trimmed well aft. I would suggest more pins[?] at shrouds than on COLONIA & also several more cleats on deck for mainsheet & jib tackles.
VIGILANT [#437s] was very short of tackles & snatch blocks & sheets for balloon sails & I my bill for extra blocks was over $300. This certainly should not occur again & I would be pleased to have you send me a list of blocks ordered in order that I can look it over. I enclose a drawing just received, it is intended for VALKYRIE III, perhaps you can make it out, don't return it." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_14020. Correspondence, Folder 38, formerly 199. 1895-05-16.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Marked 'copy':] I have given you a complete plan of each sail [for #452s DEFENDER], correctly drawn, from the same figures we are making our own sails from. If Wilson & Silsby cannot cut the sails from the plans I have given, they will have to take their own measurements from the vessel, for I shall not give a commented plan at the the[sic] present time.
What responsibility can W.&S. take as to fit? They are not responsible for the spars or the staying of the mast. It is all a foolish whim of the sailmakers, and I have had enough of it.
You say I assured I would furnish plans that no one would complain of. I have not the recollection of it, but if I did I was fool for doing so. I have made the sail plans to the best of my ability, and for the purpose they are to be used.
I do recollect however, that when you were here after we had decided to make our own sails that we agreed that our sails should be tried, --- or more properly, the vessels should be tried with our sails --- before any others were made as it might be found advisable to change the sail plan.
There is a possibility of trouble of the al[uminum] sail slides grinding on an al. sail track. I have been trying one on a strip of al. and find when dry it moves very hard, grinding away the metal. When oiled it runs fairly well but soon turns the oil dark, which w[ou]ld dirty the sail if it got against it. There is very little grinding of the al slide on a strip of bronze.
The test made of the cast al. sail slides was satisfactory in strength, two broke at over 1800 lbs and with a slight change I should make, w[ou]ld be still stronger.
We are expecting the decking daily and expect the rest of aluminum ext Wednesday.
We will make iron work for boom & gaff soon as possible, after getting our own work for the DEFENDER sufficiently advanced.
Very truly yours,
Nath. G. Herreshoff
P.S. In looking this over I find that I have written rather harshly. I feel irritated by the letter of W.&S. which you inclosed. Every one have their moments of speaking plain, so please excuse.
By experiance[sic] I had had, I determined a year and a half ago not to send out any more complete plans of the rig of racing yachts to sail makers, or models to yacht clubs.
A designer should have some protection, and these things should not be required of him.
N.G.H." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter (copy) to Iselin, C. Oliver. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_14060. Correspondence, Folder 38, formerly 199. 1895-05-16.)
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"[Item Transcription:] I should prefer to have the bilge pumps on the DEFENDER [#452s] work from the deck same as VIGILANT's [#437s]. I note was[?] you say about pine[?] for deck & it seems a great pity we[?] should use 15ft length, as so many last[?] look badly besides causing many leaks; the bats[?] on COLONIA [#435s] cross[?] believe[?] the frames, about many of them do & we are much troubled with leaks at these points. Caulker from Piepgras is here today & caulking these places & many others.
The caulker states that Piepgras has a large quantity of well seasoned deck[?] stuff & you can no doubt get it if willing to pay for it.
I do think we should be entitled to a first class deck, so please communicate with Piepgras as soon as possible.
Your reply to my request for a sail plan as ordered for by Wilson or any other sail maker, has been submitted to Mr. Morgan & Mr. Vanderbilt. I will write you on[?] this subject when I hear from them." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_13980. Correspondence, Folder 38, formerly 199. 1895-05-20.)
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"[Item Description:] Blueprint rigging list with penciled additions / corrections titled 'Wire rope rigging. Section C. No 452 [#452s DEFENDER]. May 21, 1895'. Not in MIT Collection." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Rigging List. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item WRDT06_00440. Folder [no #]. 1895-05-21.)
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"[Item Description:] Blueprint rigging list with penciled additions / corrections titled 'Wire Rope Rigging. No 452 [#452s DEFENDER]. Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Bristol, R.I. May 22, 1895'. Not in MIT Collection." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Rigging List. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item WRDT06_00450. Folder [no #]. 1895-05-22.)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.07131 (089-110). Colored ink and pencil on paper construction and framing plan titled '#452 [DEFENDER] Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Bristol R.I. May 22, 1895'. (Blueprint at MIT is marked 'Original Lost'.)" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Construction Plan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item WRDT06_00510. Folder [no #]. 1895-05-22.)
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"[Item Transcription:] We [#437s VIGILANT] are afloat again & I think tight enough for all our purposes. It will take some time to go in shop before I can bring her to Bristol for board & c.
Please write & tell me when you are sure to have the gear, also for long it will take to put board in her.
What are the legs for on the strudk[?] guys?
Are you going to rig jib stay on new boat [#452s DEFENDER] same as ours was or shall you have any way to setting up it or bobstay, do you advise me to?
Can I not save in weight of blocks aloft." (Source: Willard, Edward Augustus. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_22340. Correspondence, Folder 66. 1895-05-24.)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.07072 A (089-048). Blueprint with rig details titled 'Boom Spreader for #452 [DEFENDER]. Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Bristol, R.I. May 29, 1895'." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item WRDT06_00470. Folder [no #]. 1895-05-29.)
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"[Item Description:] Two sets of penciled pantograph hull sections from different models, marked 'May 31' and 'June 3rd [1895]', respectively. With calculations marked '15ft w.l. model made May 31 [18]95 [Model 1313]' arriving at a displacement of 16.95cuft =1090lbs and marked 'June 3 [1895]. 16ft w.l. model [Model 223]' arriving at a displacement of 16.592cuft = 1065[lbs]. With five displacement curves marked '1/2 area. .78. 19ft w.l. #472 [GNOME from 1896]', '1/2 area. 1.98. 21 1/2ft w.l. #473 [ALFRIDA from 1896]', 1/2 area. 1.05', '1090lbs [Model 1313]', '1065lbs [Model 223]. Dotted line', respectively. Also an unrelated penciled lead section marked 'Trial 89ft [i.e. #452s DEFENDER and not OLITA]. Jun 5 [1895]'. (Note that these sections are dated later than OLITA's construction plan and that overlaying them with those on the construction plan did not result in a definitive match. Furthermore, the Construction Record states that OLITA was 15ft lwl while the Model 223 from which OLITA is said to have been built was for a 16ft boat.)" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_06350. Folder [no #]. 1895-05-31.)
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"[Item Description:] Sending 10 photos; can send photos of VALKYRIE III keel; would like approval to have artist photograph #452s DEFENDER" (Source: Manley, West & Son. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_03770. Correspondence, Folder 1_14, formerly 227. 1895-06-04.)
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"[Item Transcription:] I made several unsuccessful attempts yesterday to get you on the telephone to ask if you had fixed a date for the launch of DEFENDER [#452s]. I met Mr. Vanderbilt after his visit to Bristol & his export[?] as to progress of boat & number of workers at work was so discouraging to me, that I decided it would be best for all concerned that I should not visit Bristol again.
I only ask the privilege of knowing the date when it will suit your convenience to launch the boat as I would like to be present.
When striking[?] the water line please remember that I coant[?] as much as possible of the bronze to remain unpainted.
The topsides are to be painted white, the bottom of the boat I wish to have made as smooth as human skill & car can make it & polished before launching. Should you for some reason unknown to me not consider this a reasonable thing to ask kindly have the work performed as requested & report as to the cost of same. I put it thus[?] as when I come to Bristol I should prefer not to be told that my orders were not carried out because your contract does not specify that the bottom should be smooth.
I am glad to see that NIAGARA [#451s] appears to have won a good race yesterday. [Maitland] Kersey [the American representative of Lord Dunraven, owner of VALKYRIE III] told a friend of mine the other day that he had received a letter from Watson giving VALKYRIE's beam at less than 23ft.
We may yet have a surprise party." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_14080. Correspondence, Folder 38, formerly 199. 1895-06-09.)
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"[Item Transcription:] The date of launching of the DEFENDER [#452s] has not yet been fixed upon, but the moment it is, I will see that you are notified. Work on the yacht is fully a week behind what I expected it would be, and I too naturally feel disappointed, but it has been my desire to have more time and is a loss to us.
I note what you say about the waterline, and will have it placed as high as possible and not intersect any of the aluminum plating. --- Above w.l. to be white.
In regard to the bottom we will certainly do all we can to get it smooth and in a measure polished,- as much or more so than the VIGILANT [#437s].
The manganese bronze seems to be a metal of fine texture, is capable of a fine polish and to get[?] a fine polish, or as you say 'as smooth and polished as human skill and care can make it' would take a considerable amount of time with skilled laborers in that kind of work, which is quite out of our line of business.
There is a large surface to go over, and when you consider that the Clarks of Cambridge will work a year or two in polishing a bronze[?] of 4 or 5 sq ft surface and that in the corser[?] material in question a man of skill might spend several days on a sq ft in giving it a fine polish, it would be rather difficult to attain a degree of polish 'that human skill is capable of' in so short a time before launching.
My brother John is now away, but immediately upon his return I will put the matter before him, as well as that of fixing the time of launching, and we will endeavor to carry out your orders to the extent of out ability.
The carpenters are now at work putting down the cabin floor beams and will begin on the floor tomorrow. Laying deck will begin Thursday. Riveting is nearly finished on the deck frame and there is thilt[?] some to be done on the outside near stern and bow. The chain plates have yet to be fitted and fastened, as well as the moving[?] chunks[?] in rail. Riggers are here fitting the standing rigging, and the work is progressing well. The outer section of the launching ways is being put down. Sailmakers have been in our own loft about a week, Mainsail was finished before they moved, and they are now doing the finishing work on the trysail,- jib topsails and club topsails. One section of the rudder framing had to be condemned and we are waiting for a new casting which is delaying that work some, the steering gear is progressing well and will be finished in good time.
The manilla for running rigging is here, and part of the blocks are expected her for testing tomorrow. There is not very much more blacksmiths' work to be done. Pattern work for capstand[sic] is nearly done, and patters will be in foundry in 1 or 2 days.
I think the spars will all be extra good ones." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Iselin, C. Oliver. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_14120. Correspondence, Folder 38, formerly 199. 1895-06-11.)
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"[Item Transcription:] I enclose some photos of VALKYRIE for you to[?] figure on, from what I can see our boat will in my opinion come out on top. Please have some distinct[?] marks made on both bow & stem to indicate the exact length at water line. Willard wants to sell me a main sheet, do you advise me to buy it? I expect to go to Mr. Goddard's [his father in-law] at East Greenwich about Friday to remain there until DEFENDER [#452s] is finished & would like the use of a good launch from 40 to 60ft in length to take me to & from Bristol. Have you one I can use for a few weeks?
I cannot tell you how very disappointing it is to learn of all the delays on our boat." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_14140. Correspondence, Folder 38, formerly 199. 1895-06-17.)
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"[Item Description:] German-made colorized Litho-Chrome postcard titled 'Launching of a Cup Defender, Bristol, R.I.'. (This is #452s DEFENDER, launched, and stuck on the ways, on June 29, 1895.)" (Source: Rhode Island News Company (creator). Postcard. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Item LIB_2160. HMM Library Rare Books Room (Box 1), Folder [no #], formerly 178?. No date (1895-06-29).)
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"[Item Description:] I have been thinking toes[?] cutting the gaff-topsail & also the club topsail [for #452s DEFENDER] if the latter is also too big to bend with sertchmew[?] as they now are. I am decided that both should be cut at once, if they are no[?] use afterwards. Do push everything as fast as possible; you have certainly designed & built a great boat & if you only give me the time I am sure we can show the world a wonder & keep the blue ribbon of the sea where it belongs." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_14180. Correspondence, Folder 39, formerly 200. 1895-07-08.)
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"[Item Description:] congratulations on maiden sail of #452s DEFENDER" (Source: Herreshoff, J. B. Francis. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_03080. Correspondence, Folder 1_14, formerly 230. 1895-07-08.)
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"[Item Transcription:] How soon can I expect the new jib [for #437s VIGILANT]? Please advise.
The mainsail & staysail gone[?] on me & I think are in pennig[?] every day.
The hoist is too much --- what do you advise?
DEFENDER [#452s] reached[?] my[?] port[?] & I think is a speedy boat.
When shall I see you?" (Source: Willard, Edward Augustus. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_22420. Correspondence, Folder 66. 1895-07-11.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [On 'New York Yacht Club, Station No. 6, Newport, R.I.' stationery.] Sorry not to see you before leaving Bristol. Of course you must know I want you on board Saturday and will expect you to be at New Rochelle Friday morning. I trust you will also be able to go on DEFENDER [#452s] for the [NYYC] Cruise & all her races.
If you have the duck start another large jib at once.
Yr ... [Undated. This appears to be a reference to DEFENDER's first trial race against #437s VIGILANT on Saturday July 20, 1895 at Bay Ridge, N.Y. She had been towed there from Iselin's home at New Rochelle on Friday, July 19, 1895 and the New York Times had reported on July 18, 1895 that NGH was expected to be on board on Saturday. DEFENDER had left from Bristol on July 13, 1895. All this might suggest that this note was written on about July 17, 1895.]" (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_14640. Correspondence, Folder 40, formerly 201. No date (1895-07-17 ?).)
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"[Item Transcription:] First I wish to thank you for taking the trouble of coming from Bristol for yesterday's race & I want also to congratulate you upon the complete success of DEFENDER [#452s], still I feel there is much more to be gotten out of the boat & this in the opinion of our syndicate can only be done with your help; of course we know how valuable your time is & how much you have to do at Bristol; still you ought certainly to be here a good deal to look after your sails & also the hull[,] rigging etc. To compensate you for the loss of time we would be glad to present you personally at the end of the races with $2000. If you do not consider this sufficient compensation, our syndicate will be pleased to entertain any proposition you may wish to make.
You will know how much time you devoted to VIGILANT [#437s] two years ago & I suppose it would be about the same this season.
If you accept our proposition I would very much like to have you come to Erie basin Thursday morning as there is a a leak around bostay plate & I don't want to touch it without your advice.
--- Hoping to see you Thursday,
Believe me,
Sincerely ..." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_14230. Correspondence, Folder 39, formerly 200. 1895-07-23.)
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"[Item Description:] [Telegram from New Rochelle:] Join DEFENDER [#452s] New London Tuesday [stop] Want boom next Friday sure[?] and sail also [stop] if necessary work day & night [stop] C.O. Iselin" (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Telegram to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_14200. Correspondence, Folder 39, formerly 200. 1895-07-27.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Since seeing in papers that VALKYRIE is to have steel mast etc I have been talking to your foreman & he appears confident that steel spars [for #452s DEFENDER] can be constructed better & lighter than of wood.
Please look into this matter & report when you join me at New London Thursday." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_14210. Correspondence, Folder 39, formerly 200. 1895-07-28.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled rig details sketch . Blueprint spar plan titled '2nd Boom for #452 DEFENDER. July 28th, [18]95'. This is the preliminary sketch for HMCo Plan HH.5.07088 A (089-065)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sketch. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item WRDT06_00420. Folder [no #]. 1895-07-28.)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.07088 A (089-065). Blueprint spar plan titled '2nd Boom for 452 [#452s DEFENDER]. Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Bristol, R.I. July 29, 1895'." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item WRDT06_00480. Folder [no #]. 1895-07-29.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled dimensioned sail plan titled '2nd Working Topsail. #452 [DEFENDER]'. On verso penciled sketch (of a bollard?) and penciled notes beginning with 'Billman [the rigger] & gang Thursday morn[ing]. Archr [derrick scow ?] Thursday morn[ing]. New Upper shrouds. Lengthen [unreadable]. Runner shrouds at mast head? ...'. Undated (compare with HMCo plan HH.5.09879.04 127-011 titled '2nd Working Gaff Topsail #452 from August 16, 1895)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Sail Plan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_01440. Folder [no #]. No date (ca 1895-08-16).)
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"[Item Description:] Ink on linen technical drawing of an unidentified hexagonal section with wall thickness of 3/16in and a stated diameter of 22in. Untitled. (Most every plan drawin in August 1895 at HMCo was related to #452s DEFENDER.)" (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (?) (creator). Technical Drawing. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item WRDT06_00410. Folder [no #]. 1895-08-24.)
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"[Item Description:] Cup congratulations; #452s DEFENDER" (Source: Eaton, Charles. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_03660. Correspondence, Folder 1_14, formerly 228. 1895-09-09.)
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"[Item Description:] Sending #452s DEFENDER print painted by James Gale Tyler and printed by Prang [possibly the chromolithograph Flying Defender by Tyler/Prang]." (Source: Prang, L. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_03680. Correspondence, Folder 1_14, formerly 228. 1895-09-09.)
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"[Item Description:] Table titled 'Examples of the Application of Proposed Measurement Rule for the the New York Yacht Club' providing data for Rig, Type under Water, Load waterline, Draft, Displacement, Sail area, Racing length and others for #435s COLONIA, #437s VIGILANT, #452s DEFENDER, JUBILEE, QUEEN MAB, HURON, #414s WASP, #451s NIAGARA, UVIRA, #422s HANDSEL, #449s ANOATOK, #409s GANNET, #408s PELICAN, #446s ALERION, #416s ALPHA, #406s IRIS, and #461s COCK ROBIN. With note 'Blueprint 2. Sept 20, 1895.'" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_70900. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F06, formerly MRDE15. 1895-09-20.)
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"[Item Description:] Untitled table providing data for Rig, Kind of c.b. or keel, Waterline, Draft, Displacement, Sail area, Racing length and others for #435s COLONIA, #437s VIGILANT, #452s DEFENDER, JUBILEE, QUEEN MAB, HURON, #414s WASP, #451s NIAGARA, UVIRA, #422s HANDSEL, #449s ANOATOK, #409s GANNET, #408s PELICAN, #446s ALERION, #416s ALPHA, and #406s IRIS. Much appears to be the same data as that provided in the table titled 'Examples of the Application of Proposed Measurement Rule for the the New York Yacht Club' and dated September 20, 1895, suggesting this to be the draft also dated similar. With envelope labeled in pencil 'Original N.G.H.'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_70920. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F06, formerly MRDE15. No date (ca1895-09-20).)
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"[Item Transcription:] The Secretary has this morning awarded the contract for building two (2) of the torpedo boats [#184p PORTER and #185p DUPONT] to your firm, substantially in accordance with the plans and specifications submitted, the only modifications being some which Mr. J.B. [JBH] readily agreed to.
A very unusual departure from ordinary custom prevailing in awarding contracts has been made in the present case. As the designs, plans, etc. are prepared by you, many of the restrictions imposed, contemplated by the original proposals have been removed and these boats will be constructed under circumstances similar to those which existed when the CUSHING [#152p] was built.
I am detailed as the Inspector and will probably have an assistant, as was the case of the CUSHING.
In awarding the contract, the Secretary has based his reasons for so doing solely on the remarkably good record made by the CUSHING and the belief that other boats made by by your firm, if unhampered, would be equally successful. I sincerely trust that you will join in doing all in your power to accomplish the results desired, feeling sure that there is an opportunity now for you to make a reputation in steamers equal to that you have made in the 'Cup Defender' [#452s]. Secretary has awarded contract for 2 torpedo boats [#184p PORTER and #185p DUPONT]; restrictions to the builder have been removed based on good experiences with #152p CUSHING; Converse will be inspector" (Source: Converse, George Albert (USN inspector) . Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_03140. Correspondence, Folder 1_14, formerly 230. 1895-09-27.)
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"[Item Transcription:] I take great pleasure in sending you the enclosed with the sincere thanks of our syndicate for the priceless advice & services rendered to our great boat the DEFENDER [#452s]. As usual you succeeded in producing the fastest vessel in the world & although we were robbed of a glorious victory, we certainly accomplished what we started out to do & the America's Cup is still ours, thanks to your genius.
I must also thank you personally for all the assistance you gave me & trust you will forgive my impatience & nervousness during the past months; my only excuse is my anxiety to win.
I do not expect to go into this thing next year & am anxious to sell out my interest in DEFENDER if I can find any one big enough good[?] to[?] pay[?]. Hoping[?] soon to see you & with renewed[?] thanks, ..." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_21150. Correspondence, Folder 62, formerly 78. 1895-10-08.)
① ② ③ ④

"[Item Transcription:] I think we should have a better & larger model of DEFENDER [#452s] at the N.Y.Y.C. & trust you will send one there as soon as possible.
Kindly send me about 1/2 doz[en] small pieces of bronze. I wish to make some experiments with paints on aluminum & hope[?] you will try to solve this difficulty.
I took DEFENDER in our little harbor & she lies in 24ft water low tide. When you have time give some thought to an aluminum or bronze mast." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_21130. Correspondence, Folder 62, formerly 78. 1895-10-09.)
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"[Item Description:] Kindly send me a blue print of DEFENDER's [#452s] sail plan. I wish to use it in having a sailing model made for my boy." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_14250. Correspondence, Folder 39, formerly 200. 1895-10-12.)
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"[Item Transcription:] as the time has arrived when I find it necessary to make a statement regarding the accusations made by this[?] blackguard[?] bumann[?] I wish to be very accurate in all I state, so wish to you for the following information. Dunraven[?] states that DEFENDER [#452s] sailed the first races[?] immersed from 3 to 4 inches more than when measured. How much weight would it require to immerse her hill the first inch & how much for the second inch & fourth inches; kindly make this calculation as nearly correct as it is possible for you to do so; to be conservative figure the weight required rather under than over so that your figures may be beyond criticism to any expert.
The chain cables I asked you to order for DEFENDER have not arrived, when can I expect them?
Sincerely ...
P.S. Please also state how much each inch of immersion would increase the water line length." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_14260. Correspondence, Folder 39, formerly 200. 1895-11-09.)
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"[Item Description:] please give models of #437s VIGILANT and #452s DEFENDER to Rhode Island Historical Society" (Source: Eaton, Amasa M. (cousin and lawyer). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_02230. Correspondence, Folder 1_14, formerly 233. 1895-11-18.)
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"[Item Transcription:] The chain [for #452s DEFENDER] arrived all right. How much loose[?] lead to your knowledge was there in DEFENDER when measured at Erie Basin Sept 6th? How much was the upper side of bilge pump pipes submerged Sept 6th?
How do you account for DEFENDER increasing 40/100 of a foot[?]. Should[?] on W.L. on Sept 6th than Aug. 21st cohen[?] increased for trial races. We took out about 7000 lbs & fecct[?] back 6000 lbs in lead. 1000 lbs would not account for difference in length. Boom was lighter, also mast, what else can you think of.
If you have any suggestions to make about how to trip up Dunraven, please let me know." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_14280. Correspondence, Folder 39, formerly 200. 1895-11-19.)
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"[Item Description:] Mr. Depew requests model of #452s DEFENDER; NGH: we never make models of designs to send away to any one and more over the request for the model of an unbeaten yacht into the hands of an adversary at the present time ... seems unloyal and I know would not meet the sanction of the owners or interested yachtsmen" (Source: Duval. Letter to Latham A. Fish (incl. Herreshoff, N.G. reply to Duval). Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_02510. Correspondence, Folder 1_14, formerly 232. 1895-11-26.)
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"[Item Description:] re model of #452s DEFENDER for Mr. Depew" (Source: Fish, Latham A. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_02500. Correspondence, Folder 1_14, formerly 232. 1895-11-27.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Penciled notes:] DEFENDER [#452s] notes
New mast stepped Aug 25 [1895] was only 160lbs heavier than old, although larger and longer. Will probably be a little lighter when dry.
Painted w.l. is t 1/2in higher than intended w.l. of 89ft length. Intended free board to top of deck forward 7ft 4in; at [mid-section symbol] 4ft 6in, lowest 4ft 3 1/2in; aft 4ft 11in.
To[sic, i.e. two?] days previous to Cup races cabin and galley were nearly all removed, as well as water tank, waste tank & ice box, amounting by actual weight to 7000lbs+. In place of this 4000lbs of lead was stowed in keel, at New Rochelle, and 1000 more at Erie Basin, just before measuring on Sept 6th [1895]. This last lead was not stowed at time of measuring and was cut and stowed the evening of 6th after yacht was towed to Horse Shoe.
Yacht measured 88.45ft on w.l. and by calculation would take 5800lbs to settle her to 89ft w.l.
To immerse yacht 1in w[ou]ld take 7227 lbs, 3.22 tons, d[it]o 2in 14554, d[it]o 3in 21990[lbs], 4in 28541lbs, 12.7 [tons]. Each inch immersion increases w.l. 8in.
Amount of water keel part would contain without running into lee builge when gunwhale too[?] 19500lbs = 8.34 tons gross. Surface w[ou]ld be above 5ft below[?] floor.
To heel one inch w[ou]ld take 13 men on gunwhale, 2in 27 men, 3in 41 men. [Undated, probably prepared in preparation to NGH's testimony at the Dunraven hearings on December 27, 1895 at the New York Yacht Club.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Notes. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_04120. Folder [no #]. No date (1895-12-27 or earlier ?).)
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"[Item Transcription:] I wired you this morning I would like to see you in New Yok Monday morning. My counsel Mr. Joseph Choate wishes very much to have a talk with you as he considers you an important witness, & thinks it[?] is very important that he & you & hmeds[?] meet before you appear before the investigating Committee [to consider the Earl of Dunraven's charges concerning #452s DEFENDER]; please bring all the data[?] you may consider useful.
Sincerely yr ..." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_14330. Correspondence, Folder 39, formerly 200. 1895-12-12.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten penciled telegram notice:] N.G. Herreshoff
Important you should meet me New York Y.C. Monday morning.
Joseph Choate, my counsel requests interview [probably about #452s DEFENDER].. Answer New Rochelle.
C.O. Iselin
XII-12-95
10.15 a.m." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_14320. Correspondence, Folder 39, formerly 200. 1895-12-12.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Telegram notice.] New Rochelle 13.
N. G. Herreshoff. 10 O'Clock Monday.
N.Y.Y.C. If not convenient, were and I will change hour.
C.O. Iselin. [Probably about #452s DEFENDER]." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Correspondence (telegram notice) to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_14350. Correspondence, Folder 39, formerly 200. (1895-12)-13.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten letter on 'All View, New Rochelle, N.Y.' stationery:] Please let me have your calculations on weights required to heel[?] DEFENDER [#452s] 1, 2 & 3 inches; also the alteration in fore & aft trim with 20, 30 & 40 men in the bow & stern or[?] on end of bowsprit.
How much water does it take to fill[?] the fri[?] ?
Sincerely Yrs, ..." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_14360. Correspondence, Folder 39, formerly 200. 1895-12-18.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten letter on 'All View, New Rochelle, N.Y.' stationery:] Have you fequird[?] on weight required to immerse DEFENDER [#452s] from 99.45ft L.W.L. to 89ft L.W.L.
You will be required to appear before this Committee on Friday Dec. 27th [1895] at. 10 a.m. at New York Yacht Club.
Sincerely Yrs ..." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_14310. Correspondence, Folder 39, formerly 200. 1895-12-20.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten letter on 'All View, New Rochelle, N.Y.' stationery:] Please tell [sail maker Asa] Hathaway he will probably be wanted to testify [about #452s DEFENDER] on Friday Dec 27th. I will notify him later in the mean time he can be refreshing his memory. Please let me have the weather reports for Friday Sept. 6th & Sat. Sept 27th.
Very truly yrs, ...
[P.S.] A very merry Xmas & Happy New Year to you & yours." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_14380. Correspondence, Folder 39, formerly 200. 1895-12-21.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Telegram notice.] N. G. Herreshoff.
Expect you & [Asa] Hathaway at Y.C. tomorrow Friday 10. a.m. [possibly to discuss #452s DEFENDER]
C.O. Iselin.
XII-26-[18]95
4.12 PM " (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Correspondence (telegram notice) to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_14300. Correspondence, Folder 39, formerly 200. 1895-12-26.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Sorry to trouble you, but please be kind enough tosend me receipt of mixture for preventing mildew on sails. I wish to try it on some awnings. Do you think it will take out the color.
Hope this will find you & your family well.
I expect to come to Bristol about June 10th & am looking forward to seeing you then. DEFENDER [#452s] is in first class condition & I only wish we could get some racing this summer." (Source: Iselin, C. Oliver. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_14430. Correspondence, Folder 40, formerly 201. 1896-05-18.)
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"[Item Description:] don't hurry about your estimate for fin [for #468s VAQUERO III?] as nothing can be done before next spring, confidential: my idea was to get #452s DEFENDER, if it can be managed, take her abroad & race in England, seems a shame to do nothing with her, don't know if Vanderbilt would let her go, before doing anything want to get your ideas, get Watson as skipper, need to be secret to prevent competitors from building new boat, METEOR would be competitor, [aluminum] topsides would have to be taken off and replaced with bronze, how expensive?, only a vague scheme at present, could she go over safely and stand a hard season there?, personally I know nothing about the boat, undated but penciled NGH note 'ans[wered] Oct 7'" (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19150. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. No date (1896-10 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled notes by NGH with calculations comparing #452s DEFENDER, SATANITA, AILSA (1896 & 1897), BRITTANIA, METEOR, VALKYRIE, and BUNA[?] and referring to the English Yacht Racing Association measurement rule. Undated, ca. 1897?" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Note. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_71040. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F06, formerly MRDE15. No date (1897 ?).)
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"[Item Transcription:] Yours of 23rd rec[eive]d. It will be quite an interesting experiment in the matter of fins & I am very keen to see what will happen in the first race. I am sure I won't[?] have as good a boat for general utility[?], but I got her to race, I cannot go against your judgement in the mater so will have the deck covered with canvas & painted a putty color, as to the use of the work I will let you know a little later --- I was in Newport for 5 hrs a short time since & spent some of it looking at, I think, the COCKATOO [#483s] w[hic]h was tied to the NYYC dock. I thought she was very nice indeed. On account of Mr. Moran's illness and death our plans have been indefinite all winter so I have done nothing about any won[?] of a boat there[?] the PUCK [#465s] & I am not at all sure I shall, notwithstanding my longing[?] for almost any kind of a salt water spree. We have had a most beautiful season so far despite its lateness the country new[?] to me, looked so fine & with generally good health as am Enjoying it very much. We will probably go to Newport later part of June & I am looking forward most of all to some of our chats & a walk thru' the shop & the model room. Mr. Iselin thinks some of taking out the DEFENDER [#452s] but had not, a few days since, definitely decided. I am sending you a circular w[hic]h you have probably seen, but I should think[?] it would pay you to get the right to use these boilers (oil fuel) in some of y[ou]r launches or larger boats. I have seen several & they seem drier[?] boats with inferior models quite fast.
No 6 [#184p PORTER] seems to have been very successful & generally admired. I hope I may get [a] ride or a sail or a steamer on the Sislu[?] boat. I am most anxious to hear result of trials of some of the new torpedo boats or rival builders. I believe they will be interesting, in a way. When I have a little time I can waste it always for myself the pleasure of dreaming about the 145ft WL schooner w[hich] would be so unpracticable[?] but delightful. Mrs Morgan joins me in kindest remembrances to all the family, ... [Part of group of letters in envelope marked 'Letters from E.D. Morgan' which is included with this item.]" (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_37500. Correspondence, Folder 73, formerly 77. 1897-05-25.)
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"[Item Transcription:] The clubbook did not get here as promptly[?] as your letter. After getting a little help in translating [see letter by Katherine K. deWolf dated October 5, 1897] I am able to give you a comparison of DEFENDER [#452s] with BRITANNIA, SATANITA and AILSA, taking the ratings from the reports of the Winter racing[?], given in the Yachtsman, which I presume is correct. I have not the elements required for the French rules, of any of the foreign yachts so cannot peruse[?] them. I don't see much good common sense in the French rule but I do not think it handicaps the DEFENDER and see no reason why she would not do well in the Medderanna[sic, i.e. Mediterranean] if it were not that[?] there will probably be a half dozen against one if the DEFENDER goes over. Under those conditions I think it will be mighty hard work to lick the Englishmen, as they will give you no fair ground if they can help it.
By the French rule I make DEFENDER length 27.06 m, girth 23.09, sq-rt(sail area) 114, and her rating 132 tons. From Yachtsman BRITANNIA is 111, SATANITA 125, AILSA 121 in 1896 and 119 in 1897.
Over a 30 mile course DEFENDER would have to allow SATANITA 45 sec, AILSA 1897 1m-2s's, BRITTANIA 2-22.
With the large mainsail DEFENDER would rate 134 and would have to allow each of the others 12 1/2 sec more in 30 miles. From what I know of last summers yachting, it appears as if the BUNA[?] is the best boat, and in English waters it would not be well to tackle her with the abnormal time allowance the Y.R.A. is now using. But with this French rule I think the allowance would be rather moderate.
Supposing BUNA to be 52 tons DEFENDER would have to give her 13-57 sec in 30 miles, perhaps 2/3 of which it would be by the English Y.R.A. rules.
I hardly know who you could[?] select[?] for sailing master for such a trip. That is of course a most important consideration for with our continued lack of racing in the larger class nothing has been developed. In the 30ft class last year and in handling the CONSTELLATION, Watson, Bayard Thayer's man was excellent.
I will hold the club book two or three days, so in case you want me to work over anything more, and if I donot hear from you I will return it." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Iselin, C. Oliver. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_71230. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F06, formerly MRDE15. 1897-10-06.)
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"[Item Description:] Building model of #452s DEFENDER for Iselin for NYYC, requesting info about anchor winch and carrying of anchors" (Source: Grahn, Gustav. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_23540. Correspondence, Folder 68. 1898-09-29.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled diagram titled 'Stability Curves. Oct 1898'. Labeled 'Foot Tons' on the y-axis and 'Degrees, angle of heel' on the x-axis. With stability curves for VIGILANT [#437s], DEFENDER [#452s], and [Model] No 1 and [Model] No 2 [for #499s COLUMBIA] plus a penciled curve, added later for the #711 class [NY50]." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. (creator). Stability Curves. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0600. WRDT08, Folder 45. 1898-10.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Thank you for your kind note. We are all very well here but somewhat restricted in our movements in anticipation of a deshufmshun[?] stranger.
I wish[?] included[?] & c[oul]d[?] be with you now & hear all about the plans and make irrelevant criticisms.
What a pity they did not make it 70 footers [for the America's Cup] that the International matches might have a direct and useful bearing upon yachting & not be a 'thing apart' as it is now. If I had been home I should have made a very strong pleas for 70's.
I have a very busy autumn before me but if I am East & there is any chance I will stop in and see you for a few hours. I had a very pleasant trip abroad but being lonesome was very glad to get home. I considered the matter of taking the DEFENDER [#452s] but decided it was not what I wanted to do. Mrs Morgan joins[?] me in kindest wished for Mrs Herreshoff & all the family.
Your sincere friend ...
P.S. I understand you are not to build any of the new torpedo boats & I am greatly disappointed." (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_37620. Correspondence, Folder 74, formerly 77. 1898-10-15.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Handwritten (in ink) memorandum stamped 'Feb[ruary] 25 1899:] Memo.
Sails ordered.
1898 Oct[ober] 25. Mainsail. [For yacht] CORNELIA.
1899 Jan[uary] 21. Mainsail. [For yacht] 15ft boat built for C.M. Baker [#488s ALPHA] or King [#489s OMEGA].
1899 Feb[ruar]y 3. Mainsail. Racing Staysail. Racing jib. [For yacht] DEFENDER. [#452s]
1899 Feb[ruar]y 3. Mainsail. # 1 Staysail. # 1 Jib. # 2 Jib topsail. # 3 jib topsail. Making topsail ? [For yacht] #499 [COLUMBIA]
1899 Feb[ruar]y 25. Mainsail. Jib. [For yacht] JILT [#493s]." (Source: Hereshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Memorandum. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_01310. Folder [no #]. 1899-02-25.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten certificate of analysis on 'The Nichols Chemical Company, Laurel Hill Laboratory' stationery:]
Certificate of Analysis No. 50543
Laurel Hill, L.I. July 6, 1899.
This is to certify that a sample of Aluminum Alloy
has been submitted to this Laboratory for analysis marked from Herreshoff Mfg. Co. said to represent [blank and penciled in by NGH: Aluminum alloy used by Bloomer[?], Pawtuxest, in sheaves for DEFENDER [#452s] and COLUMBIA [#499s]. N.G.H.
Sampled and found to contain:-
Aluminium 85.70%
Silicon .59%
Lead .18%
Zinc 12.16%
Magnesium .024%
Iron .25%
Copper 1.45%
Carbon present
Arsenic none
Antimony none
Manganese none
Nickel & Cobalt none
Calcium none
Phosphorous none
Bismuth none
[signed] Chemist." (Source: Nichols Chemical Company (Laurel Hill Laboratory). Correspondence (certificate of analysis) to Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_02160. Folder [no #]. 1899-07-06.)
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"[Item Description:] Re use of mercury in fin keel of SHAMROCK, light construction of her hull, Fife knew what the AILSA wanted and what the DEFENDER [#452s] did and that the SHAMROCK has to us some hidden advantage is patent, I sailed in the AMERICA on her trial, my son the Captain had command of her at Annapolis when he was at the Naval School, ..., I trust you will pardon my presumption in thus giving my views, but my tuition in boat sailing commenced at a very early age and I have enjoyed the reputation of an expert and if I ever should meet you I would like to give my views on quick and short and long or fore reaching staying as I have a very decided conviction in the matter, triangular mast" (Source: Haswell, Charles H. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_33850. Subject Files, Folder 40, formerly 28-30. 1899-09-06.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Allow me to congratulate you upon your complete success with 'COLUMBIA' [#499s].
There never was a doubt in my mind when I saw the two boats together on the first day, but that COLUMBIA was the better of the two, but I did not expect such a tremendous difference.
I had supposed one of three[?] to four[?] minutes of[?] Mot[?] at the finish. It was the same old procession.
You deserve great credit and there are very many who have already told you so already[sic].
SHAMROCK was hardly in COLUMBIA's class, nor in DEFENDER's [#452s]." (Source: Schuyler, Philip. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_52930. Subject Files, Folder 46, formerly 60. 1899-10-21.)
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"[Item Description:] congratulations on success of #499s COLUMBIA, pleased to witness COLUMBIA was handled better than SHAMROCK, you completely subdued the press and their followers who in the early days of the race found fault with the COLUMBIA's management, COLUMBIA's mainsail set better than SHAMROCK's in the last race, #452s DEFENDER would have beaten SHAMROCK easily, Fife, poor fellow is so far behind you, I don't see how he can ever catch up, Francis has typhoid fever" (Source: Herreshoff, J. B. Francis. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_52980. Subject Files, Folder 46, formerly 60. 1899-10-24.)
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"N/A"

"[Item Description:] One page with penciled calculations and formulas on recto, apparently related to a rating or measurement formula (L * sq-rt(S)) / (4 * cube-rt(wl ox)) which is calculated for #452s DEFENDER, #499s COLUMBIA, #529s MINEOLA, #510s PETREL, #411s GLORIANA, #414s WASP, #539s ALTAIR, #545s PLEASURE, #538s COUNTESS, #530s ELECTRA and Newport 30 Class. Another formula L * sq-rt(S)) / (7 1/2 * sq-rt([W.L.]ox) which is calculated for PETREL, GLORIANA, ALTAIR, ELECTRA and Newport 30 Class [Undated. 1900 or later given the building numbers]." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Calculations. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_72140. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F08, formerly MRDE15. No date (1900 or later).)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Penciled paper:] French Rule - T + ((L-P/4)*P*S) / (1000 * sq-rt(M))
T = tonnage
L = Length w.l. in meters without crew but all sails * sailing equipment
P = Perimeter in meters
S = Sail area as per Y.R.A. but in sq meters
M = Area of ox = in sq meters
Examples
JILT [#493s] [Numbers]
SWANHILD II [#517s] [Numbers]
Newport 30 footers [Numbers]
DEFENDER [#452s] @ 1/3 division [Numbers]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Measurement Rule. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_72840. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 2), Folder B2F05, formerly MRDE15. 1900-09-02.)
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"[Item Description:] I see in newspapers you have 85 frames bent [for #551s CONSTITUTION], Tams saw the Boston boat's lines, they do not know how much ballast she will take and plan to just try it out, why did COLUMBIA [#499s] have trouble with her blocks when DEFENDER [#452s] did not?, Deer Islanders seem to be not anxious to be crew this year, measurement rule for topsails will probably be changed" (Source: Duncan, W. Butler, Jr. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_21740. Correspondence, Folder 65, formerly 87. 1901-01-30.)
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"[Item Description:] have just seen INDEPENDENCE's sail plain and the principal dimensions are as follows, [dimensions], her rigging is patterned after #452s DEFENDER and she has the mainsheet span of the NY70s" (Source: Duncan, W. Butler, Jr. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_21910. Correspondence, Folder 65, formerly 87. (1901)-04-10.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten signed letter on W.B. Duncan, Jr.' stationery:] I was on SHAMROCK yesterday [in the first, aborted America's Cup race against #499s COLUMBIA] & thought you would like to hear about her. Her construction is very light & very similar to COLUMBIA [#499s] only they have used aluminum liners & they have corroded in the same way as they did on DEFENDER [#452s] & with the same result to the rivets, she had 600 rivets replaced in the dock last week, the rigging is very light, she only has four shrouds, two to the hounds & two to the masthead & it is all copied exactly from yours & she has all Coleman blocks. The running rigging is very light, jib & staysail sheets are only 3in & the main sheet about the same, all hemp. The mainsail a beautifull piece of work, but very flat, no draft in it at all. She is logy in very light breezes & is slow turning, but in the few minutes just after the start yesterday when we had a good breeze she seemed to me to move very fast & ran away from Columbia though we may have had a stronger wind & we were not at it long enough to see how she pointed. Afterwards in the light weather & sea she acted very much like INDEPENDENCE but I think she will travel very fast in a breeze. Jameson is a keen [p. 2] one & knows his business & the crew work very well, they only keep about 25 men on deck in light weather just enough to work the sheets.
CONSTITUTION [#551s which had not been chosen as defender] would have cleaned them both out yesterday just about the same weight as the day we beat COLUMBIA 30 minutes but there was more sea yesterday. [Duncan who had previously been manager of CONSTITUTION had sailed as observer on SHAMROCK II.]
I shall be up in Providence after all this is over & will run down to see you. Yours sincerely ..." (Source: Duncan, W. Butler, Jr. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_21790. Correspondence, Folder 65, formerly 87. 1901-09-27.)
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"[Item Description:] Page (on the back of Brooklyn Warehouse and Dry Dock Company' invitation to a stockholders meeting on June 10, 1902) with densely penciled table and calculations marked by NGH in right margin 'sent in letter to Mr Cormack, June 16, 1902'. The table shows rating numbers and intermediate numbers for exisiting and proposed rating rules for HMCo-built boats (#499s COLUMBIA, #452s DEFENDER, #529s MINEOLA Class, #510s PETREL (yawl), #411s GLORIANA, #414s WASP, #539s ALTAIR, #545s PLEASURE, #538s COUNTESS, #530s ELECTRA, Newport 30 Class, Buzzards Bay 30 Class, #578s AZOR)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Correspondence (table) to Cormack, George A. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_72260. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F08, formerly MRDE15. 1902-06-16.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Since writing you last I have received a letter from Mr. A. Cary Smith, a copy of which, I enclose to you herewith.
I have also had a talk with Mr. Gardner and he has acquiesced in the recommendation of M.Q.B.L. for L with LWL eliminated from the rule.
I have prepared a measurement rule in harmony as far as possible with your own views and the views of Mr. Smith and Mr. Gardner and enclose to you herewith a copy of the same.
The classification suggested, reduces the number of the present classes and seems to me to fit the measurements as far as practicable of the present racing boats.
I have appended a few examples giving the approximate ratings of the racing boats which though not strictly accurate are near enough for our purposes.
I would esteem it a very great favor if you would furnish me the exact measurements under the rule, of the MINEOLA [#529s], HUMMA [#553s] OR ALTAIR [#539s], EFFORT [#552s], LEDA [#541s] or COUNTESS [#538s].
The measurement of sail as you know by the present system reduces the ratings of all the boats to lower figures than if the sail were measured by the English method, and as I desire to make up a correct table under the rule suggested I would like to have the accurate measurement of these boats under the suggested rule as figured by you.
I would also like to know if the suggested rule comes near enough to your ideas to be recommended by you for adoption.
I regret the necessity of troubling you further in this matter but I am very anxious that whatever is recommended by our Committee shall go before the Club with your approval. [Incl NGH draft reply:] I have yours of 16th inst and am glad to know that you as well as Mr Smith and Mr Gardner have looked into the 'MQBL' again and approve of it as I recommended it.
As to the matter of measuring sails, I cannot agree with Mr Smith, that it cannot be improved upon. I certainly think it can be and be improved, but the bad results of the present method are not so important as other things under consideration are. Yawls are very unfairly measured under the present method. In the English method they are correctly measured and in the English method there is no occasion to monkey with throat or peak halyard blocks to give all possible sail spread for the measurement. They (the Englishman) can put in as long or short mast head as they please and have all the drift they want on the throat halyards, or as much doubling to the masts as is necessary to hold them, without affecting the measurement of the sails. There is one thing, however, I think your committee should do if they do not think it wise to change the present method of measuring sails, and that is to add the excess of area of club topsails over the maximum size of the working topsail and not rule club topsails out when racing.
In using 5. as a constant in the formula (L*sq-rt(S)) / (5*cube-rt(D)), the resulting racing length is larger than we are accustomed to, and I would suggest using instead 5.5 for the present measurement, or 5.5 (possibly 6) for the Y.R.A. measurement or the NYYC with clubtopsail added as an illustration I present the following calculations for some of our one-stickers: [Table with data for DEFENDER [#452s], COLUMBIA [#499s], MINEOLA [#529s], (NEOLA), ALTAIR [#539s], WASP [#414s], GLORIANA [#411s], EFFORT [#552s], COUNTESS [#538s], Newport 30s, Buzzards Bay 30s follows.]
In closing I hope your committee will not overlook the importance of changing the time allowance tables to the full theoretical amount as I have already suggested. You[?] it is very important that the present idea that the largest boat in the class is the best one should be exploded." (Source: Lawton, N.D. (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_71670. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F07, formerly MRDE15. 1902-09-16.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Four-page typed letter on HMCo stationery:] I have yours of the 16th, and am glad to know that you as well as Mr. Smith and Mr. Gardiner[sic, i.e. Gardner], have looked into the M. Q. B. L. again and approve of it as I recommend it.
As to the method of measuring sails I cannot agree with Mr. Smith that it cannot be improved upon. I certainly think it can be and should be improved, but the bad results of the present method are not so important as other things under consideration are. Yawls are very unfairly measured under the present method. In the English method they are correctly measured, and in the English method there is no occasion to monkey with the throat and peak halyard blocks to get all possible sail spread for the measurement. They (the Englishman) can put in as long or short mast head as they please and have all the drift they want on the throat halyards, or as much doubling to the masts as is necessary to hold them, without affecting the measurement of the sails. There is one thing, however, I think your committee should do if they do not think it wise to change the present method of measuring sails, and that is to add the excess of area of club topsails over the maximum size of the working topsails and not rule club topsails out when racing.
In using 5. as a constant in the formula (L*sq-rt(S)) / (5*cube-rt(D)) the resulting racing length is larger than we are accustomed to and I would suggest using instead 5.5 for the present measurement or 5.75 (possibly 6) for Y.R.A. measurement or the N.Y.Y.C. with club topsail added. As an illustration I present the following calculations from some of our one-stickers.
[Table with data for DEFENDER [#452s], COLUMBIA [#499s], MINEOLA [#529s], (NEOLA), ALTAIR [#539s], WASP [#414s], GLORIANA [#411s], EFFORT [#552s], COUNTESS [#538s], Newport 30s, Buzzards Bay 30s follows.]
It would be a mistake to limit sail area to 5% excess of racing length instead of by M.Q.B.L. The object of limiting it at all is to prevent rigging small hulls with big sails which would be suitable for light weather racing only and worthless for cruising.
As an example suppose we take the formula (M.Q.B.L.)*sq-rt(S) / (5.5 * cube-rt(D)) and substitute for sq-rt(S) its equivalent 1.05 R[acing]L[ength] as per your recommendation, then RL / (1.05*RL) = MQBL/(5.5*cube-rt(D))
Now suppose RL is fixed, then M.Q.B.L. can be made as large or small as you please as long as D is changed so that cube-rt(D)is always a certain ratio of M.Q.B.L. Or in other words, having racing length and sail area fixed you are at liberty to choose any size hull you think best suited to the weather conditions.
The possible limit of speed of any vessel having no great propelling force than can be obtained from the wind by the sail she can carry, is governed by the speed of the wave she can generate and this is never longer than her body. The speed of a wave is depended on its length in the well known law S=sq-rt(L). Now the length of vessel for generating the wave is measured very fairly by M.Q.R.L., and this factor is the ruling one in the formula, which perhaps would be better understood if written RL=(MQBL)* (sq-rt(S)/(5.5*cube-rt(D)). In this way you may consider that sq-rt(S) / (5.5*cube-rt(D)) is only a correction of M.Q.B.L. for the amount of sail carried in relation to the displacement. It is very obvious that sq-rt(S) should be limited to the (M.Q.B.L.) and also that the classification should be by M.Q.B.L. and not by RL. as has been the popular way for the last few years.
I am still of the conviction that it would be wiser; better for the present generation and the coming one to make the class limits in ratio 5 to 4 (nearly) as I proposed in scale 100-80-64-50-40, both for schooners and sloops and based on W.Q.B.L.
In closing I hope your committee will not overlook the importance of changing the time allowance tables to the full theoretical amount, as I have already suggested. It is very important that the present idea that the largest boat in the class is the best one should be exploded." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Lawton, N.D. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_71530. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F07, formerly MRDE15. 1902-09-19.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Penciled unsigned draft letter:] I beg to acknowledge receipt of your very interesting letter and thank you for the same.
Your experiments coincide very clearly with mine and I did have quite the same view of it as you.
Several years ago when I was asked to build some steel spars for the canhin[?] Cup defender I designed, I studied the subject rather thoroughly and then came to the conclusion it was impossible to make a steel spar that would be as strong for its weight as a first class timber one, and that if sound hollow spars could be obtained they would be far superior. But owing to the lack of rigidity of the large Oregon pine spars, it was deemed advisable to make some steel ones as an experiment, and in the summer of 1895, we built a steel gaff and boom for DEFENDER [#452s], which were not only lighter but stiffer than the timber ones. probably they were not as strong at ultimate strength but stiffness and lightness was what we were after, and the steel ones proved [p. 2] best for the purposes. In 1899 we made some steel masts, both for DEFENDER and for COLUMBIA [#499s] that were lighter & stiffer than the timber ones, although I have always had doubts about them standing as great load as the Oregon pine. We have had two steel masts break, due to the spreader for the shrouds giving away. Under the same circumstances I think the wood spars would have broken too.
In the last few years we have been able to get a more satisfactory glue, and have built up a number of small and moderate sized spars which are lighter and stronger than steel ones and nearly as stiff, but they are not as durable, as the glue often fails or a check in the wood develops.
I wish to thank you for your offer to make tests, and possibly later on after confirming with Mr. Iselin will be very glad to avail our selves of it. [Undated, this is in response to or responding to the letter by John W. Butler dated January 2, 1903.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to John W. Butler. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_09960. Correspondence, Folder 29, formerly 148. No date (1903-01).)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Master model builder Gustav] Grahn is at work on a rigged model of the 'COLUMBIA' [#499s] for Mr. [J.P.] Morgan. Will you kindly send me a plan of the deck with hatches, cleats, etc.? The model is to be on the same scale and to be a corresponding ornament to that of the DEFENDER [#452s] in the New York Yacht Club Room. So far I am inclined to think there is very little probability of anything being done with the 'COLUMBIA' [#499s] with a view to going abroad. You know that the Club are expecting to give a picture of the 'COLUMBIA' to Mr. Morgan. I went to see the first study which was very good and [George] Cormack and I tried to impress the artist that a reproduction of that in full size would be acceptable. I understand to-day, however, from Cormack that he has had some of his artistic friends assisting him and the effect is not as good, which is very disappointing. However, let us hope that it will turn out right in the end.
I told Mrs. Morgan that I was going to write to you to-day and she asked me to remember her kindly to Mrs. Herreshoff and joins with me in sending you best wishes with all the compliments of the season." (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_38360. Correspondence, Folder 75, formerly 61. 1903-12-17.)
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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:] Typewritten copy of letter: 'I have been much interested in reading your paper in the Sportsman on the match for the America Cup. I often see some strange statements made by the ordinary reporters on yachting, concerning the products that originated in the Bristol shops, of which I take no notice. But when a paper is published by such an authority as yourself, it is supposed to be reliable. But in this paper you have made some statements that are entirely false, and as it should become standard in the History of Yachting, I hope you will put aside any prejudices you have against the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company and make corrections that will give a just chronicle of the Cup defense.', #437s VIGILANT, #429s NAVAHOE, VALKYRIE II, VALKYRIE III, #435s COLONIA, #452s DEFENDER, GENESTA, BRITANNIA, PILGRIM, JUBILEE, #551s CONSTITUTION, #605s RELIANCE, #725s RESOLUTE; [This letter published as 'Letter One' in Herreshoff, Stephens. Their Last Letters 1930-1938. Annotated by John W. Streeter. Bristol, RI, 1988, p. 1.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter (copy) to Stephens, William P. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_20570. Correspondence, Folder 59. 1930-05-13.)
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"[Item Description:] Handwritten letter: 'I have been much interested in reading your paper in the Sportsman on the match for the America Cup. I often see some strange statements made by the ordinary reporters on yachting, concerning the products that originated in the Bristol shops, of which I take no notice. But when a paper is published by such an authority as yourself, it is supposed to be reliable. But in this paper you have made some statements that are entirely false, and as it should become standard in the History of Yachting, I hope you will put aside any prejudices you have against the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company and make corrections that will give a just chronicle of the Cup defense.', #437s VIGILANT, #429s NAVAHOE, VALKYRIE II, VALKYRIE III, #435s COLONIA, #452s DEFENDER, GENESTA, BRITANNIA, PILGRIM, JUBILEE, #551s CONSTITUTION, #605s RELIANCE, #725s RESOLUTE; [This letter published as 'Letter One' in Herreshoff, Stephens. Their Last Letters 1930-1938. Annotated by John W. Streeter. Bristol, RI, 1988, p. 1.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Stephens, William P. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_20500. Correspondence, Folder 59. 1930-05-13.)
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"[Item Description:] Alte's [E. D. Morgan's] death was a shock coming so soon after Butler's [Duncan], everyone connected with #437s VIGILANT, #452s DEFENDER, #499s COLUMBIA, #551s CONSTITUTION and #605s RELIANCE have passed away, as a matter of fact you and I are the only ones left that have been connected with the Cup since 1885, you before that date, yachting is slim, George Nichols telephoned that VANITIE beat #1147s WEETAMOE handily" (Source: Cormack, George A. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_18200. Correspondence, Folder 49, formerly 76. 1933-06-19.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Third of January Nineteen thirty-four
Dear Nat:-
I was glad to get your letter. I am fairly well but more or less twisted up with rheumatism - I hope that you are in good health.
Once again I am on an America's Cup Committee and it certainly furnishes an abundant amount of occupation.
We are the only ones left of those who participated so successfully in the defense of the Gup years ago - as you say others now have the work that was allotted to you in the past. I too trust they will have the same success but they never can produce such boats as you did - you stand alone in that and if it had not been for your designs of VIGILANT [#437s], DEFENDER [#452s], COLUMBIA [#499s], CONSTITUTION [#551s], RELIANCE [#605s], AND RESOLUTE [#725s], we would have had no success to-day.
When the new boat progresses and takes some definite form, weather permitting, I shall journey down to Bristol and we can have a long talk over the good old days.
With all best wishes and hoping that you will have the best of New Year's, ..." (Source: Cormack, George. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_04060. Correspondence, Folder 15, formerly 107. 1934-01-03.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten (in ink) letter with 'Frank G. Smith, 73 Woodside Ave., Waterbury, Conn.' letterhead marked in pencil by NGH 'Ans. Mch. 11 and inclosed 2 photos of model yachts (probably #192901es ROBIE or #193001es TRILLIUM):] I cannot resist enclosing this personal letter along with the answer to your inquiry [to the American Brass Company].
Although I was born in Torrington, Ct. I have been interested in yachts since I was about 5 years old. I have the first 'model' of a schooner about 5in long with match sticks for masts which made when I was 5.
When the DEFENDER [#452s] won the America's Cup I was so enthusiastic about yachts as youngsters are about airplane models today. I was almost 8 then, and I knew you designed her as well as the others which followed. i am 49 now and a metallurgist by chance for the past 20 years. Would have preferred to be a naval architect if I could have left high school to go to college to follow my natural interests, but I had to [p. 2] go to work for 4 years and so worked in the American Brass Co. mills at Torrington.
After leaving High School I built 2 canoes and a sailing dory all of which I designed. Nothing has been done about boats since except to read about them and admire them, until a few years ago I built 2 models. 25in w.l. There are photos enclosed. The gaff rigged model was designed by C.D. Mower. The staysail rig I designed myself (an 'R' class). When finished it floated as I had designed it. It is 39 1/2in o.a., 25in w.l., Disp[lacement] 6 1/4lbs, lead 4lbs 2oz, s.a. about 600sq in. The half model of a schooner was made for one of our Vice Presidents.
I think nothing is prettier or perhaps grander than a fine sailing yacht. Always your name has been something to think about. Today I don't know much about yachts but I have had about years with the A.B.Co. Pipes and tubes [p. 3] [verso not imaged]. [Accompanied by three photos.]" (Source: Smith, Frank G. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE02_03290. Folder [no #]. 1934-03-08.)
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"[Item Description:] Photograph of the East side of NGH's model room at Love Rocks. NGH's recording anemoter installed in front of the fireplace. [America's] Cup Defenders from top to bottom shown: DEFENDER [#452s], COLUMBIA [#499s], CONSTITUTION [#551s], RESOLUTE [#725s], RELIANCE [#605s], KATOURA [#722s], possibly one designed for Kaiser Wilhelm. [The list of models is correct, the photo does not show a model designed for Kaiser Wilhelm. Visible in the backgrond is also #187504es Amaryllis Model Yacht (made from paper mache).]" (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.206. Photograph. Box HAFH.6.7B, Folder Photograph. No date (after 1938 ???).)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #452s Defender even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Chevalier, Francois and Jacques Taglang. America's Cup Yacht Designs 1851-1986. Paris, 1987.
  Vessel biographies, large-scale sail and lines plans.
• Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. [Contract for #452s Defender, America's Cup Defender.] Mystic Seaport Museum Collection, Charles Oliver Iselin Papers, 1893-1903 Coll. 85 – Box 1, Folder 8. Bristol, RI, January 1, 1895. (1,072 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: No known copyright restrictions. Copyright holder: Mystic Seaport Museum. Original building/sales contract. Vessel description, scantlings, payment terms, delivery date, specifications.

• Defender (HMCo-made index card)
• Defender (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: Defender
Type: Cutter
Length: 89'
Owner: Iselin, C. O., Syndicate

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

• Defender
• 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: Defender
Type: 89' sloop
Owner: W. K. Vanderbilt, E. D. Morgan and C. O. Iselin
Year: 1895
Row No.: 153

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: Jan
Day: 23
Year: 1895
E/P/S: S
No.: 0451 [sic, i.e. 452]
Name: Defender
LW: 89'
B: 23'
D: 19'
Rig: Cutter
K: K
Ballast: Lead
Amount: $75000.00
Notes Constr. Record: Morng. bronze (Cromp.)?
Last Name: Iselin Sydicate
First Name: C. O.

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.

"As per HMCo Memorandum dated September 16, 1898 (Mystic Seaport Museum Collection, Charles Oliver Iselin Papers, 1893-1903 Coll. 85 – Box 1, Folder 4), the original contract for Defender had been for $75.000. Following changes in materials and specifications, it was then raised to $98,050 (of which $89,377.11 had been paid by the date of the moemorandum)." (Source:van der Linde, Claas. March 11, 2017.)

"Built in 157 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $625/day, 2127 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"N/A"

"[Sail area 12602 sq. ft.]" (Source: Chevalier, Francois and Jacques Taglang. America's Cup Yacht Designs 1851-1986, Paris, 1987, p. 227.)

"[Displacement (151.5 tons).]" (Source: Chevalier, Francois and Jacques Taglang. America's Cup Yacht Designs 1851-1986, Paris, 1987, p. 227.)

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