The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1845-02-18
SICKELS' PATENT CUT OFF.

we nave had occasion heretofore to speak of this
valuable invention 1t seems by the following certi.
cate that an experiment has recently been made on
board the steamer Georgia, making passages to and
from Baltimore and Norfolk, which gives additional
evidence of its great importance. This steamer has
one OF the first class of engines and she is one of the
finest steam packets plying upon the American wa
ers saving in this instance appears to have been
~ 57-lOO per cent of the amount of fuel consumed
when using the ordinary cut of, beside the engine
having derived additional advantages from the use of
this invention. Although the saving of fuel in this
instance was less than that on board the steamer Po
cahontas recently referred to, which appeared to be
upwards of AZ per cent? it is attributed not to the
less efficiency of the operation of the new cut off, but
to the superiority of the engines of the Georgia:
We the undersigned do certify that on the Iltb
day of February, l845, we board the steamer
Georgia, owned by the Baltimore Steam-packet Com
pany when making her return passage from Norfolk
to Baltimore, and that Frederick E. Sickels patent
drop valve cut-off was attached the engine of said
steamer. That during said passage an experiment
was made with Sickels cutoff and the one in com
mon known as the throttle cutoff ACCORDING to
joint suggestions and under our pei sonai and d.
rect superintendent. That two piles of wood OF
equal quantity selected for the trial OF the two
cut-ofs. At 81 minutes past O'Clock, P. NJ the
trial of the throttle cut off commenced Al 81
minutes past O'Clock, P. M. one of these piles was
consumed-tme occupied in lis consumption. when
using the throttle cutoff, three hours Al Is min
utes of 10 O'clock P. NJ, the trial was Commenced OF
Sckels' cutoff, using the other pile of wood AT
minutes before two o'clock of The next morning
this pile consumed-timo occupied in i,s co.,-
sumption, using SickeIs cutoff four hour. and
twelve minutes, thus showing positively a saving in
the consumption OF fuel by the use of Sckels' cutoff
on the abovenamed steamer, Of % 57I00 Der cent;
the revolutions OF the engine, when using Sicksls
cutoff, averaging one more per minute than when
using the throttle cutoff, well az facilitating various
parts of the engine, causing it operate with much
greater equality Of motion, and very much reducing
The noise and jar apperaning to it when using the
throttle cut off,
We further cheerfully state it to be our firm con.
vction that since the feed of the boiler has been bet
regulated to suit the working of Sickelss cut off,
as well as various minute circumstances of the en-.
CINE having been better adapted to it, that the saving
must be great quantity of the fuel that would be
consumed when using the throttle cut off,
In justice to Messrs Sckles and Cook, the propre-
tors of said invention, and for the benefit of the pub
lie interested in steam cannot do otherwise than
recommend its speedy and general adoption
JAS COFFEY,
Commander steamer Georgia.
GEORGE ACKERS,
| Engineer steamer Georgia
JOSHUA SMITH,
Engineer steamboat Herald
A. G. RAMSAY,
Engineer of steamboat Jewess
CHAS. REEDER, Jr.,
Engine Manufacturer Bait
Baltimore, Feb. IA, Is45