Tar Brush Handle
Description
Cheap and freely available, tar was used as a preservative in all areas of the ship. For example, being brushed on to cover all the ropes that made up the ship’s standing rigging. Preserving the ship against an extreme marine environment was an ongoing task, using either paint or tar, and either for the dockyards at refitting time or for the Boatswain and ship’s company when away from home. Brushes were used to apply a mix of organic products such as tar to coat the hull. The theory was that it slowed the growth of marine organisms both into and onto the planking. Once this growth took hold, the ships sailing efficiency became more and more affected and the structure would start to weaken. To recoat the hull below the waterline the vessel would be laid on its beam to expose each side in turn, the old material was then heated with fire to soften it so it could be scraped off. Any repairs were made to the hull and then the new protective coating painted on.
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Object Detail
Width: 30mm
Depth: 30mm (1 3/16")