George....yes, I am aware of the history and amazing volume of work by Vic Smeed, and his contribution to the hobbyist fraternity. I have purchased a number of his Publications and Plans from 40 years back
As a retired Draftsman yourself, you will be aware in the days prior to digital scanning of original Drawings, most Drawing Offices employed a number of talented, however unqualified persons in the role of Drawings Tracer... this being the persons engaged to copy and trace original works onto a new medium suitable for the rigors and potential damage in the printing process
It was not my intention to suggest Mr Smeed [himself] made the error and clearly I should have used the word Tracer, as Mr Smeeds original work would not have shown a twin ladder
From this, it would appear that the error of the twin ladder was not picked up on review, by a qualified Draftsman
It could have been that both or either the Tracer or the Draftsman were land based
So if by innuendo your comments suggest to offend, I unreservedly apologize to the Trustees of the Publishing Estate of that Gentleman for any such suggestion of Litigation.......
Derek