David Steel’s tables of dimensions of a ship of each class

David Steel’s tables of dimensions of a ship of each class…

David Steel, or more specifically: "Steel’s Navigation-Warehouse", was the most famous maritime publisher through the turn of the XIX century (1765-1819). Works by Steel’s firm are renowned for their expansive and thorough works on a wide range of maritime subjects.

There are three eras in the history of Steel’s Navigation Warehouse:

1765 – 1799: David Steel (1734-1799)

1799 – 1803: David Steel (Jr), son of David Steel (1763-1803)

1803 – 1819: Penelope Steel, wife of David Steel Jr (1768-1840)

Penelope Winde was born in Jamaica, daughter of adventurer-merchant and slave freed by him.

She married David Steel Jr in 1786, William Mason in 1806, and Stanley Goddard in 1818.

Over the course of its ownership, Steel’s firm underwent several changes to name and location:

1765-1766: D. Steel(e), London, Bible and Crown, King Street, Little Tower Hill

1766-1799: D. Steel, London, No.1 Union Row, Little Tower Hill

1799-1800: D. & E. Steel, London, No.1 Union Row, Little Tower Hill

1800-1803: D. Steel, London, No.1 Union Row, Little Tower Hill

1803-1806: P. Steel, London, No .1 Union Row, Little Tower Hill

1806-1809: P. Mason, No .1 Union Row, Little Tower Hill

1809-1810: P. Mason, London, 70 Cornhill, near the Royal Exchange

1810-1816: Steel & Co, 70 Cornhill, near the Royal Exchange

1816-1818: Steel & Goddard, 70 Cornhill, near the Royal Exchange

1818-1819: Steel, Goddard & Co, 70 Cornhill, near the Royal Exchange

In 1819 Steel’s Navigation Warehouse was sold to J. W. Norie & Co. But, even after the firm’s sale, its books continued to be published and find audience till today.

Without question, Steel’s best known publications are "The Elements and Practice of Rigging and Seamanship" and "The Elements and Practice of Naval Architecture". However, it was not these magnificent folios that gave Steel’s firm its fame, rather, it was made popular by numerous Charts, Pilots, and series of smaller works such as "Navy Lists", "Steel’s Tables of British custom and Excise Duties" etc., amongst which "Steel’s Tables of Dimensions" deserves mention.

"Steel’s Tables of Dimensions" was an extensive poster-size (34"x23") tabulation that comprehensively described the dimensions of masts, rigging, ropes, blocks, guns, anchors, and cables for ships of different classes. This work became available in 3 general editions, each of which reflects an era of Steel’s Navigation-Warehouse:

"A General View of the Dimensions of the most approved ship of each Class in the British Navy, with the exact dimensions of her Masts, Yards, Rigging, Blocks, Guns, Gun-Carriages, Anchors, and Cables, according to the Establishment in 1778. London printed for D.Steel"

"Steel’s Tables of the Dimensions of a ship of each Class in the British Navy, with the exact dimensions of her Masts, Yards, principal Rigging and Blocks, Guns, Gun-Carriages, Anchors, and Cables, according to the last Establishment. London printed for David Steel"

The title of initial issues "…according to the Establishment in 1778" is doubtful. The third and final formal Establishment of dimensions for ships to be built for the Royal Navy is dated by 1745. Also it should be noted that following issues of "Tables of Dimensions" by David Steel are titled without date of Establishment: "A GENERAL VIEW of the DIMENSIONS of the most approved SHIP of each Class in the BRITISH NAVY with the EXACT DIMENSIONS of her Masts, Rigging, Blocks, Guns, Gun-Carriages, Anchors, and Cables according to the last Establishment". These issues have no differences from early ones, except for the title.

In contrast "Tables of Dimensions" by David Steel (Jr) had the structure and content of tables modified entirely:

18 classes of ships - from 110 down to 16 guns – are listed, distinguishing large and small ships in 74 guns (in version of David Steel - 10 classes: from 100 to 14 only);

Size of blocks and ropes are aggregated in separate tables;

Acronyms of blockmaker elements had taken a place in tables of Rigging. These acronyms were introduced by publication "The Art of Rigging. London. Printed for David Steel. 1796", and became common in all late Steel’s works related to a Rigging;

Number of ropes of each kind is shown, but the length of ropes disappeared;

Tables of dimensions of Carronades and Carronade-Ports were introduced.

"Steel's Tables of Dimensions" by Penelope Steel did not differ from the David Steel Jr edition, except the small note "A new Edition, corrected to the present time".

Despite numerous reprints, not many copies of "Steel’s tables of Dimensions" have survived. Issued as paper printouts, most copies were lost not just to time, but to the wear and tear of their use. As such, today, only a few nautical museums and libraries can claim to maintain a copy of "Steel's tables of Dimensions" in their archives; to date, there are neither hard-paper reprints, nor has the work been published on the Internet.

Fans of maritime history and model shipbuilding would be interested in these transcripts of "Steel's Tables of the Dimensions…" dated 1781 and 1799 into modern electronic tables.

Online "A General View of the Dimensions... ", 1781:

dimensions.1781.htm

Online "Steel’s Tables of the Dimensions... ", 1799:

dimensions.1799.htm

Plates of Rigging and Sails of Twenty Gun Ship, 1794:

engravings.htm

Printable version:

dimensions.pdf

MS Excel workbook:

dimensions.xlsm

Bibliography

A General View of the Dimensions of the most approved ships of each Class in the British Navy, with the exact dimensions of her Masts, Yards, Rigging, Blocks, Guns, Gun-Carriages, Anchors, and Cables, according to the Establishment in 1778. London printed for D.Steel, 1781

A General View of the Dimensions of the most approved ships of each Class in the British Navy, with the exact dimensions of her Masts, Yards, Rigging, Blocks, Guns, Gun-Carriages, Anchors, and Cables, according to the last Establishment. London printed for D.Steel, 1790

Steel’s Tables of the Dimensions of a ship of each Class in the British Navy, with the exact dimensions of her Masts, Yards, principal Rigging and Blocks, Guns, Gun-Carriages, Anchors, and Cables, according to the last Establishment. London printed for David Steel, 1799

The Elements and Practice of Rigging and Seamanship illustrated with engravings. Printed for David Steel, 1794

The Art of Rigging: containing an alphabetical explanation of the terms, directions for most minute operations and the method of progressive rigging. London. Printed for David Steel, 1796

The Ship of the Line, Vol. 1: The Development of the Battlefleet 1650-1850 by Brian Lavery, 2003 ISBN 0851772528

A bibliography of the works written and published by David Steel and his successors By Mario M. Witt, 1991. ISBN 0 9517675 OX