POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Model of a ship's anchor

Object No. B1553

This is a miniature model of a traditional style anchor known as a 'stocked' anchor, an 'Admiralty pattern' anchor or a common anchor. It was in general use until the early years of the 1900s. This type of anchor was difficult and time consuming to deploy and had to be carried, dismantled and secured flat on the focsle deck. In this period the anchor worked as follows: one of the two flukes would be pulled into the bottom, as the cable was pulled taut under load. The other fluke faced upwards, the anchor being kept in this position by the action of the stock which was held at right angles to the shank. In this position the anchor was set with one fluke upright at almost right angles to the bottom. Any vessel lying to this type of anchor risked winding the cable around that upper fluke with the likelihood of lifting the whole assembly backwards out of the holding ground. Many a ship went aground and was wrecked by this means. In other cases a low tide miscalculation could have the protruding fluke piercing the ship's bottom causing it to sink. Graeme Andrews OAM, Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences volunteer under the supervision of Margaret Simpson, Curator, February 2016