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John Ericsson Dsigner of the Ironclad, ALS John Ericsson (1803-1889), engineer, designer of the iron

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John Ericsson Dsigner of the Ironclad, ALS John Ericsson (1803-1889), engineer, designer of the iron
<B>John Ericsson (1803-1889), engineer, designer of the ironclad</B></I> <I>Monitor,</B></I> <B>good engineering content Autograph Letter Signed,</B></I> "<I>J. Ericsson</B></I>" one page, 8" x 10", no place given, June 16, 1859 discussing designs for a ship. He writes: "<I>I have carefully read the enclosed specifications and find that the displacement of the purposed boat, compete for navigation and with 130 men on board, it so great that our 32 inch double engine has not power enough to propel it at any thing like satisfactory speed. As I have neither time nor inclination to make out a new set of plans for larger engines, and as more than five months would be required for making a new set of patterns and build larger engines you have better decline entertaining the subject further. It will be well to give your friends a positive refusal at once. As to the small boat for carrying invalids, ask for specific dimensions and specs before you make an offer. Unless the Kay engine can propel this boat, you will of course refuse entertaining the matter at all.</B></I>" By this point, Ericsson was already an established naval engineer with an important resume including the invention of the screw propeller. He had also presented drawings of iron-clad battle ships with dome shaped gun towers to emperor Napoleon III of France in 1854. At the outset of the Civil War, the Confederacy began outfitting an ironclad from the hull of the burned out ship <I>Merrimack.</B></I> In August 1861, Congress recommended the construction of armored ships, and Ericsson presented drawings of what would become the U.S.S. <I>Monitor.</B></I> Though in 1862 it battled the <I>Merrimack</B></I> to a stalemate, it managed to save the wooden Union fleet from destruction and prove the utility of such construction. Light toning at margins, else near fine. From the Henry E. Luhrs Collection. Accompanied by LOA from PSA/DNA.