Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-09-13

was the aid rendered by consulting
engineers and motor manufacturers
who gave up their trade secrets un-
der the emergency of war needs.
Realizing that the new design would
be government design and no firm
or individual would reap selfish
benefit because of its making, the
motor manufacturers, nevertheless,
patrioticaliy revealed their trade Sc
crets and made available trade pro-
cesses of great commercial value.
These Industries have also contribut-
ed the services of approximately
two hundred of their best draughts-
men.
The two engineers locked togeth-
er in a hotel room in this city prom
fsed the government If given an op-
portunity they would design salts
factory engine before working
model could be brought from Eu-
rope.
"A remarkable American engine
was actually produced three weeks
before any model could have been
brought from Europe. 1t was prom
ised that this engine would be de-
veloped before the Fourth of July.
Twenty-eight days after the draw
ings were started the new engine
was set up. This was on July 8.
I'm order to have the engine in
Washington and in actual running
order at the nations capital on In
dependence Day, the perfected en-
gine was sent from western city in
a special express car. The journey
was made in twenty-one hours and
four young men guarded the engine
en- route to Washington and person
ally attended to its transfer from one
railroad to another.
With the need for speed as an
incentive, tools for building the first
engine were made even before the
drawings were finished, on the as
sumption that they would be correct.
Made in Many Factories
Parts of the first engine were
turned out at twelve factories, To-
Gated all the way from Connecticut
to California. When the parts were
assembled the adjustment was per-
feet and the performance of the en-
gine was wonderfully gratifying.
This in itself demonstrates the capa-
bilities of American factories when
put to the test and when thoroughly
organized for emergency work of
this sort.
"One of the chief rules outlined
at the beginning of the designing
WOl Wdb lIldI IlO eT61USeT
be permitted to introduce construc-
ton which had not been tried out.
There was no time for theorizing.
The new engine is successful because
1t embodies the best thought of en-
gineering experience to date. Not
only did this country furnish ideas
through celebrated consulting en-
gineers, but the representatives in
the United States of England. France
and Italy co-operated in the develop
ment of this motor.
Thirty days after the assembly
ing of the first engine preliminary
tests justified the government in
formally accepting the engine as the
best aircraft engine produced in any
country. The final tests confirmed
our faith in the new motor in every
degree.
Both the flying and altitude tests
of the new motor have been crafty
ing. One test was conducted at Pixies
Peak, where the United State avia-
ton engine performed satisfactorily
at this high altitude. One of the en-
gines, in an airplane, broke the
American altitude record in recent
| flying test.
while 1t is not deemed expedient
to discuss in detail the performances
and mechanics of the new motor, it
may be said that Standardization Is a
chief factor in the development of
the governments motor. Cylinders,
pistons and every other part of the
motor have been standardized. They
may be produced rapidly and eco
nomically by a great many factories
operating under government con-
| tracts. They may be as rapidly as
sembled, either by these plants or at
a central assembly plant.
| THE new engine amounts practic-
ally to an international model. 1t
embodies the best there is in Ameri-
can engineering and the best fea-
lures of European models, so far as
1T has been possible to adapt this lat
ter to American manufacturing
methods.
THE two engineers most directly
United States aviation engine had
before them not only the blueprints
and models of the most successful
| engines of war, but also every avail
able American suggestion. Men skill
ed in the invention of motor, both
automobile and airplane, advised
| these engineers, who were charged
with the duty of providing an uner-
ing motor which would embody
| every essential for wartime use. Non
essential complexities were consist
emily discarded by these engineers
The result was a composite design
of maximum power, minimum
weight. great speed capability and
4 adaptability to quick production