Each log writer is likely to have a peculiar writing style and spelling system. In the most exaggerated cases the spelling of one word may vary even in the entry for one day.
If you find oddities please do post them here to help other viewers working with this project.
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Handwriting Help and Spelling
Moderator: arboggs
Re: Handwriting Help and Spelling
Here is a sample of handwriting from the Navarch log with a couple of helpful tips.
Click here to see the full log page this example is taken from.
This is from Mar 30th. In the second sentence you'll see NW where he is describing wind direction. Note his N will have a bottom left hook on it and his W will have a scroll mark at the top left.
Second item to note is his timekeeping. In general this log keeper uses 'Com' short for Commence to start his log entries. Some days have a 'later part' but many do not. He does at times insert specific times as you see above. The above reads:
11=H. This instance he is indicating 11 Hour with no minutes and then specifies AM. He will indicate an hour with minutes as ex: 6=30. These markings are the way Thomas Birnbaum denotes time.
A few other items you will find are variations in spelling:
o glach - also means o'clock
Bodom - bottom
Suttarday - Saturday
Remember - Always type WHAT YOU SEE, just as they wrote it. If you are unsure of a word, you can post a question to this page and ask for help, or if just a letter you can insert ~ on your worksheet in place of a single letter.
Click here to see the full log page this example is taken from.
This is from Mar 30th. In the second sentence you'll see NW where he is describing wind direction. Note his N will have a bottom left hook on it and his W will have a scroll mark at the top left.
Second item to note is his timekeeping. In general this log keeper uses 'Com' short for Commence to start his log entries. Some days have a 'later part' but many do not. He does at times insert specific times as you see above. The above reads:
11=H. This instance he is indicating 11 Hour with no minutes and then specifies AM. He will indicate an hour with minutes as ex: 6=30. These markings are the way Thomas Birnbaum denotes time.
A few other items you will find are variations in spelling:
o glach - also means o'clock
Bodom - bottom
Suttarday - Saturday
Remember - Always type WHAT YOU SEE, just as they wrote it. If you are unsure of a word, you can post a question to this page and ask for help, or if just a letter you can insert ~ on your worksheet in place of a single letter.
Re: Handwriting Help and Spelling
March 21st 1897
What appears to be something like 'boiling' is 'backing'. The lower case 'k' is very open in form.
Backing winds
From NOAA's weather service:
Winds which shift in a counterclockwise direction with time at a given location (e.g. from southerly to southeasterly), or change direction in a counterclockwise sense with height (e.g. westerly at the surface but becoming more southerly aloft). The opposite of veering winds.
In storm spotting, a backing wind usually refers to the turning of a south or southwest surface wind with time to a more east or southeasterly direction. Backing of the surface wind can increase the potential for tornado development by increasing the directional shear at low levels.
What appears to be something like 'boiling' is 'backing'. The lower case 'k' is very open in form.
Backing winds
From NOAA's weather service:
Winds which shift in a counterclockwise direction with time at a given location (e.g. from southerly to southeasterly), or change direction in a counterclockwise sense with height (e.g. westerly at the surface but becoming more southerly aloft). The opposite of veering winds.
In storm spotting, a backing wind usually refers to the turning of a south or southwest surface wind with time to a more east or southeasterly direction. Backing of the surface wind can increase the potential for tornado development by increasing the directional shear at low levels.
One of the Navarch fans here!
Re: Handwriting Help and Spelling
There are not log entries for the 4th to the 11th August 1897 inclusive.
The handwriting in the log book changes dramatically on August 12th 1897.
The new keeper uses 'o glack' (shortened to o gl) for 'o'clock':
The handwriting in the log book changes dramatically on August 12th 1897.
The new keeper uses 'o glack' (shortened to o gl) for 'o'clock':
Re: Handwriting Help and Spelling
October the 4th
Wind is noted as 'N,O, wind'
October the 8th
Wind is noted as 'N.O.'
Theo Birnbaum, log keeper, appears to be German so 'O' will be for 'Oste' i.e. 'East'
Notes made in transcription workbook, Primary and Start sheets.
Wind is noted as 'N,O, wind'
October the 8th
Wind is noted as 'N.O.'
Theo Birnbaum, log keeper, appears to be German so 'O' will be for 'Oste' i.e. 'East'
Notes made in transcription workbook, Primary and Start sheets.