bellows nozzle

[Branson]

"The nozzle, of sheet iron, is inserted into the crosshead above the middle plank." 

That's all the instructions there are for the nozzle.  The snout is not tapered, so the nozzle isn't attached to a funnel like piece that goes around the crosshead.  I'm wondering what gauge iron should the nozzle be made of.  Any ideas? 

[rusty]

The army didn't believe in superfluous instruction LOL

Not an answer to your question, but..
I did find this rather interesting thing....
I wonder how many army officers blew themselves up doing this?

http://books.google.com/books?id=f-FKAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA18#v=onepage&q&f=false

Elsewhere it menbtions something about 920  nails...yeash ;P
(See page 39)

[Branson]

The army didn't believe in superfluous instruction LOL

Elsewhere it menbtions something about 920  nails...yeash ;P
(See page 39)

That's 920 bellows nails to secure the leather to the paddles and ribs of the bellows, whatever
a bellows nail is.  The leather has to be air tight where it is nailed to the paddles.   That's about
one nail with a wide head (5/8 inch, about) almost every inch.

[john k]

To me that sounds like a big headed upholstery nail, with a round head that would have shown.    Or more like an oversize tack.    The nozzle could have been any zinc plated  iron in a gauge that was easily worked. 

[rusty]

One reference I found says 'nails for bellows' are 'scupper nails'.

-The Sailor's Word - 1867-

SCUPPER-HOSE. A canvas leathern pipe or tube nailed round the
outside of the scuppers of the lower decks, which prevents the water from
discolouring the ship's sides.
SCUPPER-LEATHER. A flap-valve nailed over a scupper-hole, serving
to keep water from getting in, yet letting it out.
SCUPPER-NAILS. Short nails with very broad flat heads, used to nail
the flaps of the scuppers, so as to retain the hose under them: they are
also used for battening tarpaulins and other general purposes.
SCUPPER-PLUGS. Are used to close the scuppers inboard.
SCUPPERS. Round apertures cut through the water ways and sides of a
ship at proper distances, and lined with metal, in order to carry the water
off the deck into the sea.

[Branson]

LOL!  Oh great -- another obsolete nail!  Looking at the size of the heads in the drawings, roofing nails look like they'll do the job of looking right.