a large detail sketch of whitby's improved life bouy by h e Gould.
the pen and ink with watercolour wash engineering drawing was started by h e Gould on the 2nd October 1903 and was completed on 12th January 1904. it shows in detail the design for an improved life saving system likely to have been designed for launching from shore to rescue those in peril in the sea.
Life rings like this one were used as emergency life preservers for situations when anyone ended up in the water and needed rescuing. They were designed to be thrown out to a person in the water, and had a line attached so that rescuers could pull the person back to the shore. Historic life rings were often made of cork, but from about 1920 they were also made of balsa wood wrapped in oiled or painted canvas. These lightweight materials would float, allowing the overboard victim to keep their head above water until rescued. The ring design was first suggested in a drawing by Leonardo DaVinci circa 1500, and would be worn around the midriff giving rise to the name lifebelt.
Size..H 59 cm x W 100cm
unframed.
condition is very good considering the age of the drawing, with slight foxing and some areas of discolouration, this does not detract from the drawing but adds historical value and originality.
