23273i. United States Life-Saving Service – Coast Guard Breeches Buoy Traveler Block c.1880.
Welcome to Kenrick A. Claflin & Son
Featured on our web site and in our monthly web catalogues are new and out-of-print books, documents, post cards, photographs, maps and charts, engravings, lithographs, uniforms and insignia, tools, lamps, lens apparatus, equipment and apparatus and much more relating to these heroic services.
We now issue most of our catalogues on line rather than by mail. This allows us to issue more catalogues and feature more items, with better photos and descriptions. Let us know your email address and we will email you monthly as our catalogues are posted.
Type in your search word. After hitting Enter you will automatically be brought back to this page. Scroll down to this spot to see the results of search. Pages containing your search word will be listed. You will be allowed to click on the pages found. When on each page, Windows Explorer will allow you to use Ctrl + F to bring up a search box for that page. Type in your search word again and hit “Enter”. You will be taken to that item.
23273i. United States Life-Saving Service – Coast Guard Breeches Buoy Traveler Block c.1880.
23273i. United States Life-Saving Service – Coast Guard Breeches Buoy Traveler Block c.1880. When a rescue was to be performed using breeches buoy or life car, it was necessary to get a hawser aboard the vessel using the Lyle gun and a shot with small line attached. The small line was pulled aboard the stricken vessel until the seamen pulled aboard the tail block with the whip or endless line rove through it. Attached to the tail block would be a tally board with directions in English on one side and in French on the other: As soon as the signal was shown, then the hawser would be bent to the whip line and then hauled aboard the vessel to be made fast to the mast. Attached to the hawser would have been this traveler block, to which the breeches buoy was hung. Block is in wonderful condition, with original natural finish, two brass sheeves and rollers and replacement reinforced rope eye. Block is not branded – most were not. This is an extremely difficult to find piece from the beach apparatus equipment. Condition is excellent and this will make an important addition to your collection. Block has been cleaned and probably a coat of polyurethane applied. The rope is a recent replacement and not spliced completely. Piece is exceptionally scarce, and simply a must if you have a Lyle gun or beach apparatus, or to complete your collection or exhibit. (VG+). $1,295.