Mike Macdonald's Transport History Pages

e-mail: macdonald.mike@planetinternet.be

e-mail: docenquiry@soas.ac.uk

These letters, written between 1870-1893, include estimates and ship specifications for ships proposed or built by A & J Inglis for the British India Steam Navigation Co. and associated companies.

Extract: 

22 February 1879. Estimate for a screw steamer 310' x 39' x 27½' (moulded depth)

"As desired by you on Wednesday, we beg to hand you our estimate for a screw steamer as follows:

"(1) For a steamer similar to that described in your last specification, length keel and fore strake 310', beam moulded 39', depth moulded 27½', 100A1 Lloyd's, three decked with water ballast to approved plan, deadweight capacity 3,500 tons on 21½' draught, speed on trial 10kn/hour ... £43,000 (Sterling)

Extract: Box 19/File 73.

6 March 1889. "Herewith I send sketch of alterations in Cornelia (yacht)"

Proposed new machinery for Java and Mecca (Inglis No. 98/1873). "The new machinery of 1,000ihp could ... be made of no greater weight than before, and with 750 tons deadweight on board, a speed of at least 12 knots could be obtained - nearly 1 knot more than before ... and more ..." ) (see also letters of 5 March & 29 March 1892).

Proposal for a "new Ramapoora" (Ramapoora, Inglis No. 198/1887; see Rasmara, letter of 31 March 1890). "We think we can improve in details both of hull and engines, and we hope for a vessel even better than before ... We have altered the stroke of the pistons to 6'6" (= 42") ... the Ramapoora's were so made, though 6' was specified ..."

24 January 1891. "I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 22 (?January), and I am sorry we cannot do better about a new Mecca (i.e., offer to build at a lower price). We made a very gross blunder at the time the old one was built ... "

Other references to performance of the new machinery on Mecca: Letters of 5 March 1892, 29 March 1892,

Other references to Ramapoora and Rasmara: Letters of 12 July 1887, 2 August 1887, 24 September 1889, 31 March 1890, 24 January 1891.

For more information about these letters, contact the School of Oriental & African Studies: e-mail: docenquiry@soas.ac.uk

Other company records of A & J Inglis are held in Glasgow City Archives, Mitchell Library, North Street, Glasgow G3 7DN: archives@gcl.glasgow.gov.uk

For comparison with other ships of the same period, see the Contract Files among the William Denny Brothers records in Glasgow University Archives:

http://www.archives.gla.ac.uk/

e-mail: dutyarch@archives.gla.ac.uk

Back to Top ½ Home ½ Ship pages

Ó Mike Macdonald, 2000-2002. Page last modified: 07 August 2001