Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-07
NEW STYLE OF BOAT.
One to Be Made Out of Aluminium
and TO Be Run by Electricity
THROUGH A STORAGE BATTERY.
Mr.. Cable Claims He Can Overcome All
the Obstacles in the Way.
A NEW MATERIAL FOE LIGHT YACHTS

D. j. Cable, the electrician. walked into
the Central Hotel yesterday with package
under his arm that looked like concealed
bird cage. As he laid it on the counter he
said: 81 am going p build a pleasure boat
out OF aluminium to be propelled by electri-
city for Theodore Hostetter. It is an en-
tirely new IDEA, but after q number OF e1-
| periments 1 feel sure the boat can be built
1 have in this package the storage battery,
which is an invention of my uncle, and 1t
also is made OF aluminium. 1t is strange to
me that aluminium has not been used In
making the light sculls for oarsmen.
"Up to this time no solder has been found
for aluminium, and the difficulty has been to
fasten the pieces together, but 1 have
method by burning them which will make
the pieces secure and watertight. 1propose
to put a screw on the boat which will be
worked by the new storage battery. The
ordinary battery is made out of lead, and
| would swamp canoe or boat intended for
six persons on account of its great weight.
| The battery of aluminium will not weigh
| more than two pounds, and will be strong
enough to produce 80 volts.
Possibilities of an Aluminium Battery.
SIT is an easy matter for man in taking
long canal trip. for example, to stop at
town. and have the battery recharged when it
runs down.
aluminium is one of the lightest and most
durable metals known. My idea is that this
| boat which will carry from four to six persons
| will not weigh more than from go to 70 pounds
| and any man could lift it out Of the water and
carry 1t from place to place. 1t will be as
| bright as a new silver dollar, and will make
very snowy appearance on the water If the
reflections from the sun on the metal
| are too dazzling for the eyes the in
side can be painted dark, leaving the
outside glistening. like the nm of a shark.
There Is no reason why yachts and pleasure
boats could Tot be built out of aluminium, and
| electricity used as the motive power. Alumi-
mum can be bought for 81 a pound. and such
| for Mr. Hostetter is somewhat of an expert
ment we not figuring on the price. and it
may take as much as $50 to make 1t complete.
Mr.. Hostetter is very fond of boating IN the
rivers, and he has several canoes at Lake
ChautauQua He is fascinated with the idea
of aluminum boat. and there is no telling
| where the plan may lead to.
sculls Made From the Rustless Metal.
"The possibilities of aluminium are wonderful,
and some day the metal may take the place of
iron. have long entertained the idea of max
ing such boat but the heavy storage battery
was the hardest problem to overcome when l
happened to think of this light one invented by
my uncle Captain Sam Brown intended to
try it on some of his river boats. but the Cap
tain is a busy man, and very much interested in
horse flesh. and SO the experiments were never
made"
Mr.. Gable is very enthusiastic on the subject,
and has invented number of valuable eec-
trical articles. He claims cheapness, durability
and speed for the boat. 1t will be constructed
so that four upris hit posts can be erected, bear
ing canvas covering to keep OF the rays of
the sun. These posts can be removed and laid
in the bottom Of the canoe when not in use.
Mr.. Cable has commenced work on the boat.
The battery is small and will not occupy very
much space. He expects to see the time come
when sculls will be made altogether out of
aluminium. The metal will not absorb water,
is smooth on the sides and the friction between
the scull and stream would be much reduced,
making it possible with the light weight for
the sculling record to be lowered several
notehes. 1t is also probable that even steam
boats and larger craft can be built out of the
metal.