Page 235 - The Ashley Book of Knots
P. 235
THE ASHLEY BOOK OF KNOTS
1262. (Circa 1600.) The earliest hanks and mast hoops were
grommets, and from the evidence of early prints it seems probable
that grommets were used on yards for bending square sails. The
12.02. 11.63 1'2, early grommet was a short rope with the ends short spliced together.
1263. (Circa 1625') The earliest authorities agree that "robins are
small lines rove through the eyelet holes of the sayles and made fast
on the top of the yeards."
1264. (Circa 1650.) A print of this period appears to show robins
with a seizing above the head rope.
1265. (Circa 1750.) Falconer says of robins: "Small rope or
braided cordage-of sufficient length to pass two or three times
around the yard."
1266. (Circa 1775') Du Clairbois says that "robcmds may have
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11.65' 126b
either one or two legs."
1267. (Circa 1800.) Steel (1794) and Lever (1808) describe robins
of two legs, which are put through the eyelet hole as shown. A
round turn is taken with the long end, the short end is brought up
abaft and the· two ends are reef knotted on top of the yard. Steel
gives sinnet robands and Lever illustrates rope ones.
1268. (Circa 1805.) The first intimation of the evolution of the
ROBAND HITCH from a lashing into a knot was given by Mason
( I 806). A tum was made with each of two legs and together these
formed a CLOVE HITCH.
1269. (Circa 1845. ) Young (1847) says: "Rope-bands are small
pieces of 2 yarn foxes plaited, or of sinnet or spun yarn, they are
not used with jackstays, a number of turns of a single rope yarn
being sufficient."
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Biddlecomb (1848) says: "Knittles are to bend the squaresails to
the jackstays in lieu of ropebands."
1270. (Anno 1860.) The remaining knots on this page were bent
to jackstays. This is the standard ROBAND HITCH of both the Ameri-
can and the British Navies. Admiral Nares asks the following ques-
12.1 I tion: "How are all sails bent to the jackstays?" Answer: "With a
ROBAND HITCH." To tie the knot: Make two round turns around the
jackstay and through the eyelet hole, and clove hitch the long end
around the jackstay over the turns already made.
1271. (Anno 1866.) Make a BACK-HANDED HITCH to the eyelet
hole with a short end and with the long end make two turns around
the jackstay and throu h the eyelet hole. Put a CLOVE HITCH around
the jackstay over the rst two turns.
1272. (Circa 1880.) Similar to 1li-1271 but has one less turn around
1~14 \ 2.15" the stay and through the eye.
1273. (Circa 18~0.) Middle a roband and tie a BACK-HANDED
HITCH. Make a round turn with one end and with the second end
tie a CLOVE HITCH over the first end.
1274. (Circa 1880 .. ) This is the handsomest and most shipshape of
all the ROBAND HITCHES. Follow the numbers in regular sequence.
1275. (Circa 1880.) Make fast a SHORT RUNNING EYE to the eyelet
hole, take a round tum around the jacksta and through the eyelet.
Tie a CLOVE HITCH over the turns and ad a SINGLE HITCH.
1276. (Anno 1891.) A roband with a single leg is secured with a
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running eye to the eyelet hole of the sail and finished off with a
CLOVE HITCH to the jackstay.
1277. (Anno 1860.) Alston gives this method for topgallant
, and Royal sails. The robands are bent to the sail with running eyes
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"the two nearest robands being knotted together."
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