13298a. (glass plate negative) Surfside Life-Saving Station, Nantucket c.1870’s. This extremely rare view provides great detail as station Keeper, probably Capt. Joseph Winslow, stands near the boat ramp demonstrating their new Merriman rubber life-saving suit while other surfman pose around the beach apparatus cart and the surfboat. Probably dates in the 1870’s as the crew is not uniformed. In the background we can see the charming 1874-Type station as another surfman looks out from the second floor bunkroom window. The Merriman rubber life-saving suit was an innovation of the time. The inventor, Clark S. Merriman, in a bid to help sea-rescue, designed this life preserving suit, which was made from India rubber and was inflatable. This suit had been tested by Captain Boyton of the New Jersey Life Saving Service, when he was dropped over the side of a steamer into the Irish sea, in a gale. Soon suits were issued to some other stations as warranted, including the Surfside Life Saving station on Nantucket. The suit did see some use including at the well known wreck of the Metropolis near the Poyners Hill station in North Carolina in 1878. There, after a number of unsuccessful attempts to get a shot line aboard the stricken vessel, Keeper Chappell then donned the Merriman life-saving dress and made two valiant attempts to carry a line out to the vessel. There are very few views in existence of the equipment and boatroom at Surfside, and even fewer of the Merriman suit. Note too the man by the Lyle gun with keeper’s haversack on his waist. Large clear image measures 5” x 8” and is clear and close, but does have numerous spots from moisture. Still, great detail and an important view. Includes one print made from this glass plate negative. Rare image. (VG). $254.

13298b. (glass plate negative) Surfside Life-Saving Station, Nantucket c.1870’s. This extremely rare view provides great detail as station Keeper, probably Capt. Joseph Winslow, stands near the boat ramp demonstrating their new Merriman rubber life-saving suit while other surfman pose around the beach apparatus cart and the surfboat. Probably dates in the 1870’s as the crew is not uniformed. In the background we can see the charming 1874-Type station as another surfman looks out from the second floor bunkroom window. The Merriman rubber life-saving suit was an innovation of the time. The inventor, Clark S. Merriman, in a bid to help sea-rescue, designed this life preserving suit, which was made from India rubber and was inflatable. This suit had been tested by Captain Boyton of the New Jersey Life Saving Service, when he was dropped over the side of a steamer into the Irish sea, in a gale. Soon suits were issued to some other stations as warranted, including the Surfside Life Saving station on Nantucket. The suit did see some use including at the well known wreck of the Metropolis near the Poyners Hill station in North Carolina in 1878. There, after a number of unsuccessful attempts to get a shot line aboard the stricken vessel, Keeper Chappell then donned the Merriman life-saving dress and made two valiant attempts to carry a line out to the vessel. There are very few views in existence of the equipment and boatroom at Surfside, and even fewer of the Merriman suit. Note too the man by the Lyle gun with keeper’s haversack on his waist. Large clear image measures 5” x 8” and is clear and close, but does have numerous spots from moisture. Still, great detail and an important view. Includes one print made from this glass plate negative. Rare image. (VG). $254.