6. Hardware

6.66 EARLY SHIP’s BLOCK.  Particularly nice example of a mid-19th century ship’s rope-stropped block as used on sailing ships of the era.  This handsome example has cheeks of oak and a lignum vitae sheave.  The heavy hemp rope is bound over an iron eye attached to a hand-forged iron hook.  The hook is served in a seamanlike manner with a becket at the bottom for attachment.  18 inches long overall.  The block itself is 6 ¾ inches long by 2 7/8ths inches thick.  With the rope covering it is 4 ¾ inches thick.  Outstanding original condition in all respects.  The body of the block is painted in its traditional, very desirable New England Robin’s egg blue.  This is a rare, excellent example of American seamanship from the days of sail.  279

6.61  PUMP FOG HORN.  Early 1900’s ocean-going ship’s auxiliary fog horn used in a seaway under conditions of limited visibility.  This all brass instrument is Swedish-made with the maker’s badge reading “Kockums MLK Verstad Trade TYFON Mark Malmo, Sweden” riveted to the side of the horn.  The dual action plunger has a wooden handle necessitated by the region’s cold climes.  Pushing OR pulling the plunger elicits a deep, clear, high decibel tone.  The top of the horn assembly has an open fret air inlet with the reticulated words “TYPHON PATENT” in brass.  The body of the horn rests on a wooden pedestal for straddling feet, much like a bicycle pump.  Attached to the pedestal is a property tag reading “MGM Studio Property Culver City CAL” indicating this horn was once a movie prop.  If only we knew which one!  The overall height is 23 ½ inches.  Extended it measures 30 inches tall.  The length of the horn is 16 inches and it is 5 ¼ inches in diameter at the bell.  The wooden base is 11 ½ inches wide with a breadth of 6 ½ inches.  Excellent original condition and still very functional. 749

6.59  FOG WHISTLE.  Absolutely charming late 19th century ship’s fog whistle of American manufacture.  This solid all brass device was used by crewmen on the ship’s foc’sle to alert nearby ships in heavy fog.  It consists of a cylindrical brass body containing a hand ‘tire pump-like” plunger with wooden handle.  When pushed by hand it blows air into its side-mounted classic steamship whistle with handsome acorn finial.  The result is a resounding, loud toot which can be heard from a long distance!  It is mounted to a very handsome custom-made African mahogany base of exceptional quality.  The whistle itself is 15 ¼ inches tall and 4 ½ inches in diameter.  It is 5 ¾ inches wide at its bottom “feet.”  Including the base it is 16 1/4 inches tall overall and 10 ¾ inches in diameter.  Excellent original condition showing actual use in a high polished lacquered finish.  A real charmer with a demonstrable feature in addition to its beauty, sure to delight listeners!  789

6.56 BULLET BLOCKS. Excellent matched pair of scarce 19th century rigging pulleys known as “bullet blocks” because of their sculpted oval shape. These early blocks have shaped cheeks formed of carved solid mahogany. The internal sheaves are made of dense lignum vitae wood secured on pivots rove through both sides of each block. These identical blocks measure 4 inches long by 2 ½ inches in diameter. Outstanding original condition. Very rare to find a matched pair of working ship’s tackle surviving in such remarkable original condition. 149/pr

6.51  MASSIVE FLARE GUN.  Impressive World War II flare gun with a very heavy solid bronze chamber and grip.  This authentic signaling device is embossed on the handle "INTERNATIONAL FLARE SIGNAL CO. TIPPECANOE CITY OHIO."   The body is stamped "D 67" on both sides.  The handle is cross hatched to assure a firm grip.  The large trigger activates the firing pin properly.  There is a suspension loop on the butt which attaches to a sailor-made cotton lanyard.  The barrel tips forward for breech loading by means of a spring-loaded lever just forward of the hammer.  The steel barrel has a bore of 1 3/8 inches.  The action is tight and smooth.  Approximately 11 ½ inches long by 8 ½ inches high.  Excellent original condition.  495