Aaron Manby

The Manby was an iron river steamer. The ship is also known under the name Aaron Manby, however, was never registered under this name. The Manby is considered the first completely built of iron sea-going steamer.

Prehistory

Aaron Manby was the owner of the then largest iron foundry at Le Creusot in France and also had significant shareholdings in the passenger trip on the Seine. Therefore, he took the bold step to construct a ship with complete iron hull and this use between trading venues Paris, Rouen and Le Havre.

The ship

The Manby was built in 1821 by the Horseley Iron Works in Tipton, Staffordshire. Then it was dismantled and transported over land in the Surrey Docks Rotherhithe in London to be installed there in 1822 again. This alone was considered a pioneer.

The Manby was a 32.56 meters long, 5.23 meters wide and 2.18 meters deep side paddle steamer of 116 tons burthen ( Builder 's Old Measurement). The drive consisted of a - built by the shipyard - Oszillationsdampfmaschine two-cylinder with an output of about 30 hp and allowed a speed of about seven knots. Contemporary illustrations show an elongated, narrow hull without any superstructure other than a very tall, thin chimney, which was braced with rope and the amount accounted for about two-thirds the length of deck.

History

The ship was first registered on April 30 1822 for Aaron Manby in London, a few days later, on May 3, 1822 was registered for C. Napier and A. Manby in London. After the construction had completed its test drive between Battersea and Blackfriars on May 9, 1822, the Manby began in June on her maiden trip to France. She crossed the English Channel in the autumn of 1822 and was used there in the Seine river service between Paris and Le Havre. 1830 the ship until then inserted under the British flag was sold to French owners and 1836 used for an operator from Nantes for a service on the Loire. After 20 years of use you put the Manby in 1842 on first. In 1855, she was finally scrapped in France.