Thanks Mike.
I don't know when cheap manufactured chain became available, maybe around the civil war.
The Charles Morgan (1830) has chain on the spanker gaff but who knows if she was
built that way, she has been modified a lot.
Many of the clippers had chain topsail and top-gallant sheets.
The Conrad (1880) has wire rope for most of the standing rigging.
It seems that wire rope replaced chain around the 1890-1900 period.
Lighter, stronger and easier to work with I guess.
cheers Jim
|