Lot 471
Ericsson, John (1803-89) Swedish-born engineer who invented the ship propeller and designed the Union ironclad ship "Monitor" that defeated the Confederate ironclad "Merrimac" at Hampton Roads in March 1862. Autograph Letter Signed ("J. Ericsson"), 3pp, 9¾x7¾", n.p., 22 Oct. 1860. Fine; professional fold repairs. A detailed, technical letter to an unidentified correspondent regarding Ericsson's plan for a "caloric" engine for naval use. In part: "I will attend to the wheetwright matter….The fact that the engines run away with the work, not withstanding the small suction, is all sufficient. The leak of the brass lining will take up of itself….Pray tell your men to send the braces to a blacksmith to put in a stout rod in the middle pull an inch in diameter. The rods are good and strong enough….The 4380 gallons pumped up in 104 minutes by both engines proves each to have run at the rate of 21 gallons per minute….Your pumps are big enough to do the work if the pips are tight….I will send our drawings of bell cranks….The caloric…vessel will be launched Wednesday & the engines are nearly ready…." Much more content.
In 1851 Ericsson built the Caloric Ship Ericsson, a 260 foot paddle ship powered by a four cylinder caloric engine, but it was not a success. After new improvements, patented by Ericsson between 1855 and 1858, he built a new, improved Caloric Engine--an open cycle machine using a power piston and a supply piston, fitted with valves, which was an immediate success; over 3000 were sold in three years.
Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500.
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