The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-09-13
Passes It's Final Tests In
Most Gratifying Manner
Baker Announces
CALLS 1T "REAL
ACCOMPLISHMENT
Inventors and Manufacture
ers Pooled Most Valu-
ed Trade Secrets
(By Associated Press.)

and gratifying.
The new motor, designated by the
Signal Service as the Liberty
Motor" is now the main reliance Of
the United States in the rapid pro-
duction of a large number of high
powered battle planes for service in
the war. In power, speed, service
and ability and minimum weight the
new engine invites comparison with
the best that the European war has
produced.
II regard the invention and rapid
development of this engine as one
of the really big accomplishments Of
the United States since its entry in
to the war" the secretary says.
THE engine was brought about
through the cooperation Of
more than a score of engineers,
who pooled their skill and
trade secrets in the war emergency,
working with the announcement Of
the aircraft production board the
war department and the Bureau Of
Standards. ..-.....- .-.-.
"The story of the production of
this engine is a remarkable one.
Probably the war has pronounced
no greater single achievement.
"One of the first problems which
confronted the war department and
the aircraft production board after
the declaration of hostilities was to
produce quickly a dependable avia-
ton motor. Two courses were open.
One was to encourage manufacturers
to develop their own types, the other
to bring the best of all types togeth-
er and develop a standard.
Aimed at Standard Motor.
"The necessity for speed and
quantity production resulted in a
choice of thes latter course and a
standard motor became our engi-
neering objective.
1.-TWO of the best engineers in the
country, who had never before seen
each other, were brought together at
Washington, and the problem Of
producing an all-American engine
at the earliest possible moment was
presented to them.
These two engineers were figura-
lively locked in a room in a Wash
ington hotel and charged with the
development of an airplane motor.
For five days neither man left the
suite Of rooms engaged for them.
Consulting engineers and craftsmen
from various parts of the country
were brought to Washington to as
sist them. --. Eff. - ---.-,..s. =
"An inspiring feature of this work
was the aid rendered by consulting
engineers and motor manufacturers
who gave up their trade secrets
under the emergency of war needs.
Realizing that the new design would
be a government design and no firm
or individual would reap selfish
benefit because of it's making, the
motor manufacturers, nevertheless,
periodically revealed their trade
secrets and made available trade
processes Of great commercial value.
The industries have also contribute
ed the services of approximately 200
of their best craftsmen.
1.-The two engineers promised the
government if given an opportunity
they would design a satisfactory
engine before a working model could
be brought from Europe.
One Day Ahead of Time.
"a remarkable American engine
was actually produced three weeks
before any model could have been
brought from Europe. 1t was promis-
ed that this engine would be
developed before the Fourth of July.
Twenty eight days after the draw
ings were started the new engine
was set up on July 3.
In order to have the engine in
Washington and in actual running
order at the nations capital on
Independence day the perfected
engine was sent from a western city
in a special express car. The jour
ney was made in twenty-one hours
and four young men guarded the
engine en- route to Washington and
personally attended to its transfer
from one railroad to another.
with the need for speed as an
incentive tools for building the first
engine was made even before the
drawings were finished, on the as
sumption that they would be cor
rect.
Parts of the first engine were
turned out at twelve different fac
tories located all the way from
Connecticut to California. When the
parts were assembled and adjusts
ment was perfect and the perform
ance Of the engine was wonderfully
gratifying. This in itself demonstrate
ed the capabilities of American fac
tories when put to the test and when
thoroughly organized for emergency
work of this sort
No Time For Theories.
zone of the chief rules outlined at
the beginning of the designing work
was that no engineer should be per-
mitted to introduce construction
which had not been tried out. There
was no time for theorizing. The new
engine is successful because Il
embodies the best thought Of
engineering experience to date. Not
only did this country furnish ideas
through celebrated consulting
engineers but the representatives In
the United States of England,
France and italy co-operated in the
development Of this motor.
Thirty days after the assembling
OF the first engine preliminary tests
justified the government in formally
accepting the engine as the best air.
craft engine produced in any coun-
try. The final tests confirmed our
faith in the new motor in every
Tests Gratifying.
sBoth the flying and altitude tests
Of the new motor have been crafty
ing. One test was performed at
Pixies Peak, where the United States
aviation engine performed satisfac-
torily at this high altitude One or
the engines, in an airplane. broke the
American altitude record in a recent
dying test.
while IL Ii not deemed expedlent
to discuss In detail the performances
and mechanics Of the new motor, 1t
may be said that Standardization Is
chief factor In the development Of
piatons and every other part Of the
motor have been standardized. They
may be produced simultaneously
BY great many factories
operating under government COM
tracts. They may be as rapidly as