Plunger Propulsion, Patent Model
date: label: Date made
content: 1876
label: patent date
content: 1876-07-04
name: label: patentee
content: Eckhardt, Jacob
notes: label: Description
content: This patent model accompanied Jacob Eckhardt’s application for a new method in the propulsion of vessels that received patent number 179,407 on July 4, 1876. The model comprises a black-painted hull enclosing an internal mechanism of rods and gears. The bottom of the hull is wood; the sides are metal. The model represents a system for propelling vessels though water using oscillating plungers. Eckhardt’s plan was to propel a steamship by the action of oscillating plungers. Pairs of plungers were to be placed in recesses built into a ship’s hull. By positioning two plunger boxes at each end of the vessel, and by making the vessel pointed at both ends, Eckhardt claimed that the ship would “be able to run in either direction without turning around.”
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: Associated Place
content: United States: Missouri, Saint Louis
topic: label: Subject
content: Patent Models
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Maritime
label: See more items in
content: America on the Move
label: See more items in
content: Transportation
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Arthur E. Denu
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1990.0114.01
label: catalog number
content: 1990.0114.01
label: accession number
content: 1990.0114
label: patent number
content: 179407
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Patent Model, Propelling Vessels
label: Object Type
content: Patent Model
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (part material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 12 1/8 in x 5 1/8 in x 4 1/2 in; 30.7975 cm x 13.0175 cm x 11.43 cm