Thanks, Charley. Good Morning!

To clarify, I am in total agreement that the cotton screwing songs were modeled on two coordinated exertions, and that is what I think may have transfered over to halyards work. Formally speaking, it would not matter whether those exertions were pushes or pulls.

However, I am intrigued by your statement that the screwing action used pushes. I know we have discussed this before (you and I specifically). And somewhere I remember seeing references to both pushes and pulls. Then there was one great photo you found, linked, and I believe another that you were unable to share. In the one that I saw, although I hoped it would clear up the action, I still did not get an exact sense. From it, I had tentatively concluded that the work might involve pushing AND pulling (more like twisting), depending on where a man was standing. If you imagine turning a doorknob with your right hand, it is as if your 4 fingers are pulling while the thumb is pushing (?) I may be totally wrong, but I got stuck there!

I don't mean to make you drag up all the old references and posts, but if you've got a way to show that it was probably a pushing action, I'd be grateful to see it.

Gibb