Period documents describe this as the Edward Massey New Patent Frictionless Propeller Yacht Log with Improved Conical End. A rope would be woven around the grooved ring at the top of the log and connected to a longer line so the log could be thrown overboard and allowed to drag in the water to record speed over distance.

Edward Massey (about 1768-1852) of London obtained at least six British patents on logs and other nautical measuring instruments between 1802 and 1848. The first described the first successful mechanical log. Massey provided instruments by appointment to the Royal Navy and some of his instruments are in the collections of the Royal Maritime Museum Greenwich. Massey was located at 17 Chadwell Street, Clerkenwell, London.

Face Lettering: New Yacht Log, Original LLL Trade Mark, EDWd Massey, Patentee, London. The log is numbered 14,142.