New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-13
Standardized Engine De-
clared by Baker a
Complete Success
Produced in 2S Days
By Noted Engineers
Will Be Used to Equip
Thousands of Ameri-
can Planes

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12.-The Lib
ATTY motor. the airplane engine upon
rhicb the United States is relying TO
establish definite air supremacy over
.yc Germans over the battlehelds OF
France, has passed its final test, and
4, complete and gratifying success,
secretary Baker announced to-day.
In his announcement Secretary Baker
.old how all the best brains and busi-
ness Of American motordom lad con-
.y;buted its secrets and achievements TO
the government TO produce the Liberty
,,btor. which is to carry thousands OF
American airplanes over Germany.
To s. D. Walden and +. A, Deeds, ac-
tpowledced TO be two OF the best enGi-
,ssrs in the United States, belongs the
5,s6it for producing the Liberty Motor
.hs engine which solves Americas aero
1,spe problem and makes certainty Of
Americas air supremacy. The story OF
tbs making Of the first Liberty Motor
will take its place as one Of the nations
greatest achievements.
The Liberty Motor has been designed
specifically with a view to its produc-
lion in quantities. It's various parts
are adapted to being turned out by ma
chine methods. instead Of the laborious
bsnd-tooled methods prevailing abroad.
So satisfactory have all the tests
been that large plants already have
been organized for its manufacture.
The preliminary work is going ahead
,apidly. and the first deliveries in guam
,i,y will be forthcoming shortly.
Tests Gratifying
Secretary Bakers statement follows:
"The United States aviation engine
las passed its final tests. They were
successful 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
.spid production in large numbers OF
aieh.powered battle planes Tor service
in the war. In power, speed, servicabil-
iy and minimum weight the new en-
zine invites comparison with the best
.aa. the Eurouean war has produced.
Il regard the invention and rapid de-
yelopment Of this engine as one Of the
really big accomplishments of the
United States since its entry in the
var The engine was brought about
through the cooperation Of more than
score Of engineers, who pooled their
skill and trade secrets in the war emer-
gercy, working with the encourage
meat Of the Aircraft Production Board,
the War Department and the Bureau OF
Standards.
Wars Greatest Achievement;
The story of the production Of this
ergine is a remarkable one. Probably
the war has produced no greater single
achievement.
"One Of the first problems which con-
fronted the War Department and the
Aircraft Production Board after the
declaration of hostilities was to pro-
duce quickly a dependable aviation
motor. Two courses were open. One
was to encourage manufacturers 20 de-
yeloD their own types; the other 10
bring the best Of all types together and
develop a standard.
THE necessity for speed and guam
<liy production resulted in a choice or
Inc latter course, and q standard motor
4, became our engineering objective.
Two Of the best engineers in the
country. who had never before seen
each other, were brought together at
Washington, and the problem Of pro-
duelng an all-American engine at the
earliest possible moment was presented
10 them. Their first conference, on
June 3, lasted from afternoon until 2:5O
o'clock in the morning,
Engiaeers Locked in Conference
These two engineers were. fgura-
Ne.y, locked in a room in Washing
ION hotel and charged with the dcvel-
ppment of an airplane motor for use
tE American aviators over tho battle
AeidS of Europe. For five days neither
man left the suite Of rooms engaged
Tor them. Consulting engineers and
utsitSmen from various sections OF the
country were brought 10 Washington
70 assist them. The work IN the draft
hg room proceeded continuously day
ana night. Each Of the two engineers
IN immediate charge of motor develop
Ment alternately worked q 2l-hour
shift
An inspiring feature Of this work
was the aid rendered Iy consulting
,ng'neerS and motor manufacturers.
Sho gave up their trade secrets under
sAe emergency Of war needs. Rea.lZ-
ing that the new design would be n
So'ernment design, and no firm or in
uNldual would reap selfish benefit be-
cause Of It's making. the motor manu-
.aeturers, nevertheless, practically re
Neaied their trade secrets and made
e'Silable trade processes OF great COM
merclal value. These industries have
aiso contributed the services Of ap-
9Oximately two hundred OF their best
craftsmen.
Remarkable Engine Produced
The two engineers locked together
M ni hotel room in this city promised
the government that. II given an op-
Poftunity, they would design salts.
factory engine before a working model
could be brought from Europe.
A remarkable American engine was