The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1901-1903, 1902-07-27
S. c. LITTLEFlELD HAS PATENT
ED A NEW PROPELLER
WHICH STOOD ALL
TESTS.
He Stands Good Showing of Becom-
ing a Millionaire On An lnven-
vention That Promises to
RevoIutionize the Cues
ton of Space.

After negotiations covering a peri
Cd + eighteen moAths, there has Just
huen closed here a contract between
the Morse Iron Works and Dry Dock
Co, of New York, and Mr.. Sylvanus
c. Littlefeld, Jr., bookkeeper for the
Hilton Dodge Lumber Co, through
which the propelling Of steam vessels
the world over promises to be reyolu-
tpnized in the way of getting tncreas-
ed speed. This promises to come
about through the invention by Mr.
Littlefeld of a propeller, the blades OF
wnich are based on lew lines of math
ematical and engineering science, and
wnich he had patented in 1899, bu,
which mas not been placed on the
market, due to the fact that the pat
ent mas been under the most patient
investigation for many months while
propeller wheels made on the lines
OF the model furnished by Mr. Lit
tleheld have been on vessels of all
sizes, undergoing the most rigorous
test. 49,
10 illustrate in manner what this
means, the Cramps stated, when the
matter as laid before them: IF thai
wheel will do what is claimed for It
in the way ofsinereasing the speed of
vessels the patent is worth millions
of dollars.'
This statement was made to Col 70.
G. Machin, of the Brunswick & Bir-
ningham railroad, who presented the
mat to he Cramps but ii was
ourin t.l.a period of the Spausn-A
merican war, and the company was
exceeding busy with war orders, and
haJ Ia 10 oil
investigation of the patent as they
wanted to do before investing,
MIR. Littlefield continued his efforts
to interest ship builders, and some
eighteen months ago induced the
Morse people to take it. up, with tne
result that they have contracted with
Mr. Littlefeld for ne exclusive rtgnt
to manufacture; they pay all ex-
penses, and pay him a royalty on The
gross receipts. In addition to the
fact That the Morst people will han
die the propeller wheel patent, hey
are now negotiating with Mr.. Little
field to manufacture blowers, exhaust
fans, etc. from the same model
The idea on which Mr.. Littlefield's
propeller wheel is based is the result
or mis- observations one day While en-
route to Cumberland island on
an excursion boat, and he gives an
interesting account of IL.
It seems that Mr.. Littletield waa
sitting in the bow of the excursion
seamer, watching the porpoise swim
ming ahead. 1t occurred to him that
the fastest swimming fish in the sea
of which the porpoise is one specie)
fish That prey on the other of the
tribe, always have the largest part
Of their tail (Which is their propeller)
hearest the body. Then why could
Iot this principle be applied to a pro
Jeler wheel and thus produce great,
er speed to the vessel carrying it?
for Instance, let a propeller wheel be
made with the largest part of the
blades nearest the shaft (the pro-
oeller's body). Was it not reasona-
bic to presume that the speed OF the
snip it would be attached to would be
greater?
For year or more he worked on
this idea, and finally built a model
which concurred with his views. Then
ne nad one wheel manufactured, and
after much delay secured the privf-
fege of placing it on the steam yacnt
of the Jekyl Island club. The re-
suit justified his ideas, and from that
time on he worked day anu night to
perfect his plans and get capital in
terested to back him. The patent
was finally secured, and then came
months of patient but never-ceaslng
toll to get some one to help in put
ting up money enough to test it. Not
less tnan 100000 was required to test
Ii thoroughly, for all sizes of ships
had to be taken out of the water,
wheels fitted on, delays to vessels
while this was going on to be paid
TOR. and other expenses incidental to
this, to be met. The Morse people
saw the opportunity and seized It,,
and after a year and a nalf of the
most thorough test, they have closed
for the exclusive privilege of manu-
featuring It in this country, while
Mr.. Littlefeld mas now a representa-
tive in Great Britain comforting with
the ship building industries there for
It's use on vessels in the waters of the
United Kingdom.
This is a brief story of what one
mans brains have done, and the finan-
cial results to him can hardly be
Ioyerestimated.