1851 Great Exhibition: Official Catalogue: Class VIII.: Royal Humane Society
15. ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY — Proprietors.
Ice-boat, presented to the Royal Humane Society by the society established at Hamburgh, constructed, for lightness, of wicker-work, and covered with raw hides; being placed upon rockers, this boat may be propelled on the ice with great facility, and in cases where a number of skaters break through in one spot, it has proved invaluable for saving lives.
Breaker ladder, a simple ladder with two air-tight barrels fixed at its broad end; being secured upon two wheels it may be used by one man with ease. On the immersion of a skater, the broad end of the ladder is pushed into the hole; the buoyant power of the barrels allows the drowning man to climb on to the machine; and to walk along it to its narrow end, which, resting upon the sound ice, affords the means of escape.
Ice sledge, composed of two canoes united by three thwarts, forming thereby a floating platform. It can be used on the ice with ease; it has great buoyant power (being capable of sustaining as many persons as could cling to it), and cannot be capsized.
Rope drag, used for dragging in deep water with a tide or running stream. When persons fall into the water from vessels or steam-boat piers, this machine can be used with greater certainty and in less time over a given space than any other kind of drag. The above apparatus is provided by the Royal Humane Society at stations on the River Thames, and on canals, docks, and places where they are most needed.
Pole drag, used in shallow water and where there is no stream. To the timely use of this machine many bathers and skaters owe their lives.
A pole drag, with an air-tight cylinder placed in its centre, to render it a floating drag. It is used for rescuing persons who have broken through the ice and have been drawn under its surface.