Research Note

Chain (or Yard) Pumps

Bruce Nielsen

The following references provide overview historical and design data on chain pumps in naval applications. Other books contain information on chain pumps, but these references are the best information I have located through my research effort, but not intended to be all-encompassing.

While building the model of the USS CONSTITUTION, that included detailing the Gun Deck, I found the details for the chain pump housing lacking necessary detail to build. According to one source, the only existing chain pumps are on the HMS VICTORY and that the chain pumps on the USS CONSTITUTION were similar. Even with this information, additional research was required to establish a plausible design.

The Construction and Fitting of the English Man of War: 1650-1850
Conway Maritime Press (UK) and Naval Institute Press (USA) 1987
ISBN-10: 0870210165
ISBN-13: 978-0870210167 Chapter 5, The 'Machinery' of the Ship, contains the best and most comprehensive data covering chain pumps, which includes orientation, configuration and dimensions for the pumps, cistern and crank handles.
A Universal Dictionary of the Marine: Or, A Copious Explanation of the Technical Terms and Phrases Employed in the Construction, Equipment, Furniture, Machinery, Movements, and Military Operations of a Ship
Authors: William Falconer, Will. Falconer, Marion Vernon Brewington, William L. Welsh, Walter Gould
Published by Printed for T. Cadell, 1780 See Pages 998, 999, and Plate VIII here.
Ships' Bilge Pumps: A History of Their Development, 1500-1900
Author: Thomas James Oertling
Published by Texas A&M University Press, 1996
ISBN-10: 0890967229,
ISBN-13: 9780890967225 Chapter 5 provides a nautical archeology of chain pumps.
The Arming and Fitting of English Ships of War, 1600-1815
Author: Brian Lavery
Published by Naval Institute Press, 1989
ISBN-10: 0870210092
ISBN-13: 9780870210099 Chapter 12 and 13 cover the history and specifics on the description and use of chain pumps, but is light on dimensional information.
The 44-Gun Frigate USS Constitution: "Old Ironsides"
Author: Karl Heinz Marquardt
Edition: illustrated
Published by Naval Institute Press, 2005
ISBN-10: 1591142504
ISBN-13: 9781591142508 Page 79 shows a very detailed drawing of a chain pump, but lacks dimensional data. According to the curator at the USS CONSTITUTION Museum, the inside diameter (ID) of the wooden pipe for the chain pump was 6 inches. Dimensional data is possible through extrapolating the dimension data using the 6-inch ID of the wooden pipe. Using a proportional divider makes the conversion effort easier, also see here.

{Bruce Nielsen}

Back?

The Construction and Fitting of the English Man of War: 1650-1850 Conway Maritime Press (UK) and Naval Institute Press (USA) 1987 ISBN-10: 0870210165 ISBN-13: 978-0870210167	Chapter 5, The 'Machinery' of the Ship, contains the best and most comprehensive data covering chain pumps, which includes orientation, configuration and dimensions for the pumps, cistern and crank handles.
A Universal Dictionary of the Marine: Or, A Copious Explanation of the Technical Terms and Phrases Employed in the Construction, Equipment, Furniture, Machinery, Movements, and Military Operations of a Ship Authors: William Falconer, Will. Falconer, Marion Vernon Brewington, William L. Welsh, Walter Gould Published by Printed for T. Cadell, 1780	See Pages 998, 999, and Plate VIII here.
Ships' Bilge Pumps: A History of Their Development, 1500-1900 Author: Thomas James Oertling Published by Texas A&M University Press, 1996 ISBN-10: 0890967229, ISBN-13: 9780890967225	Chapter 5 provides a nautical archeology of chain pumps.
The Arming and Fitting of English Ships of War, 1600-1815 Author: Brian Lavery Published by Naval Institute Press, 1989 ISBN-10: 0870210092 ISBN-13: 9780870210099	Chapter 12 and 13 cover the history and specifics on the description and use of chain pumps, but is light on dimensional information.
The 44-Gun Frigate USS Constitution: "Old Ironsides" Author: Karl Heinz Marquardt Edition: illustrated Published by Naval Institute Press, 2005 ISBN-10: 1591142504 ISBN-13: 9781591142508	Page 79 shows a very detailed drawing of a chain pump, but lacks dimensional data. According to the curator at the USS CONSTITUTION Museum, the inside diameter (ID) of the wooden pipe for the chain pump was 6 inches. Dimensional data is possible through extrapolating the dimension data using the 6-inch ID of the wooden pipe. Using a proportional divider makes the conversion effort easier, also see here.