Single Block
Description
Wooden block, approximately tear shaped with cut out portion for pivoted pulley, base of tear-shape is flattened – as is top. There is a hole from front to back at narrow end. Also a hole for pivot pin from front to back through main body – pivot pin still in place and pullet still free moving. Pulley is concave on outer to hold rope, pulley spindle extends beyond outer edges of block - slightly.
A single block. Blocks and tackle were used on board ship to carry out a number of tasks including hoisting anchors, lifting ship's boats and controlling a gun's movement on deck. Blocks are a simple mechanical method of raising or controlling heavy loads easily. Pulley blocks would be used in key positions throughout the ship. For example, being used with ropes to run the great guns in and out of their ports. Also aloft, up in the ships running rigging where they would help raise and lower the yard arms and control the sails. There were many different types of blocks used on a square rigged ship, all designed with a specific purpose in mind. A 74-gun ship such as HMS Invincible was said to carry over nine hundred individual blocks.
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Object Detail
Width: 110mm
Depth: 130mm (5 1/8")