Harry Shoemaker
Encyclopedia
In the history of radio
History of radio
The early history of radio is the history of technology that produced radio instruments that use radio waves. Within the timeline of radio, many people contributed theory and inventions in what became radio. Radio development began as "wireless telegraphy"...

, Harry Shoemaker helped to further the science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...

 of radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...

. From 1901 to 1905, he received 40 patents in the radio arts. A radio pioneer, Shoemaker was recognized in early radio engineering nationally and internationally. The devices due to H. Shoemaker cover a wide range of circuits
Telecommunication circuit
A telecommunication circuit is any line, conductor, or other conduit by which information is transmitted.A dedicated circuit, private circuit, or leased line is a line that is dedicated to only one use...

 and apparatus for wireless telegraphy
Wireless telegraphy
Wireless telegraphy is a historical term used today to apply to early radio telegraph communications techniques and practices, particularly those used during the first three decades of radio before the term radio came into use....

 and radio. The United Wireless Telegraph Co. system, originated by DeForest, incorporated improvements in equipments due to H. Shoemaker, Chief Engineer. Shoemaker would later become a Research Engineer for the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company.

Career

Harry Shoemaker was born near Millville, Pennsylvania, May 11, 1879. He was educated at the Greenwood Seminary in Millville, the Normal School in Muncy, Pa., and Pennsylvania State College. In October 1899, he became associated with G. P. Gehring of Philadelphia in wireless work; in 1900 they, with others, organized the American Wireless Telephone and Telegraph Company, the first radio incorporation in the United States. The patent basis for this corporation included the Dolbear wireless patent issued in 1886 and Shoemaker applications.
Mr. Shoemaker was Chief Engineer. In 1901 that company built experimental stations in New Jersey and reported the Columbia vs. the Shamrock yacht races by wireless.
From 1902 to 1904 he was Chief Engineer of the Consolidated Wireless Telephone and Telegraph Company; 1904–1908 he was principal owner of the International Telegraph Construction Company building radio apparatus for the U. S. Government and others; 1908–1912 he was a prominent engineer with the United Wireless Telegraph Company; 1913–1918 he was a member of the engineering staff of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America; 1918-1921 he was Chief Engineer of the Liberty Electric Corporation manufacturing radio transmitters and receivers; 1921–1929 he was Chief Engineer of P. R. Mallory and Company. When the P. R. Mallory Company moved their manufacturing activities to Indiana, Mr. Shoemaker resigned to remain in the east on independent work. In May 1932 he was again employed by P. R. Mallory and Company on research work on dry plate rectifiers at the laboratory of Samuel Ruben
Samuel Ruben
Samuel Ruben was an inventor who made lasting contributions to electrochemistry and solid-state technology, including the founding of Duracell.-Early life:...

 (founded Duracell Battery) in New Rochelle, New York. On August 23, 1932, while conducting this research in that laboratory he suddenly suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and fell dead.

Wireless

Harry Shoemaker testified that in April, 1895, when he was a boy of 16, he constructed and used a complete system of wireless telegraphy, which was a complete anticipation of the patent in a court case concerning Marconi's patents. One of the earlier arrangements by Mr. Shoemaker is an oscillator consisting of two balls connected with the usual induction coil. These balls are separated by two other balls, the latter within a box containing a gas dielectric under high pressure. This arrangement, the shoemaker systems, is claimed, obviates the retardation of sparking under oil. The coherer used with this system consists of a tube in which are contained the filings. Immediately above the filings a small iron ball is placed in a suitable receptacle. Above the ball is the pole-piece of a magnet controlled by the relay in the coherer circuit. The movement of this ball within the tube when acted upon by the magnet suffices to decohere the filings.

Another device by Shoemaker consists of a receiver which comprises a plurality of plates in inductive relation to one another, and means for permanently charging such plates, together with a microphone circuit operated by the plates. Mr. Shoemaker has also designed a wireless telegraph repeater consisting of a detector aud a relay controlled thereby; a circuit controlled by the relay which insulates the coherer and simultaneously closes the circuit; also means for restoring the coherer and for the generation of retransmitted energy.

Shoemaker's most important practical work, however, has been done in connection with the International Wireless Telegraph Company, are the transmitting and receiving circuits. The radiant energy is primarily set up by a generator developing 110 volts, which are raised to 25,000 volts by transformer. This E. M. F. charges a capacity, which discharges into the closed oscillating circuit and thence into the aerial wires, of which there may be two or more (not joined at the top), via small arcing spaces, about .03 inch apart, similar to those shown in the De Forest system. Shoemaker founds that much depends on the form of energy transmitted, and had obtained best results with large capacity and small inductance.

A patent, , for a wireless telegraph system, granted to H. Shoemaker and International Wireless Telegraph Company contains a wireless signaling system in which an aerial conductor, an earth connection, wave-responsive devices connected in parallel with each other and connected to separate condensers between the aerial conductor and earth connection, and a local circuit including the wave- responsive devices connected in series with each other.

Shoemaker Detectors

One type of a Shoemaker Detector is the ordinary electrolytic kind, but differs from others in the fact that it is a battery itself and therefore requires no local current. The detector comprises a glass tube with the platinum point sealed in but employs a zinc strip in the solution in the place of the platinum point. This detector is very sensitive and is employed by a number of commercial companies. The amount of current set up by such a cell is of course small, yet it is sufficient to give indication in the telephone receiver.

Another of Shoemaker's detector was the steel and carbon wave-detector. It is formed from steel and carbon powder type of Popoff has been the subject of many patented inventions, one of which, by Shoemaker, consists of a number of steel balls in a horizontal line, the space between the balls being filled with carbon powder. Yet another form of this type of invention was patented in the United States, in August, 1902, by Shoemaker and Pickard.

Wireless Torpedo

The following appeared on the front page of “The Sunday World Today” January 7, 1906, and gives some additional insight to my great grandfather and his inventions. (Note: US Patent 711743)

Wireless Craft A Death-Knell to All Navies.

Small Engine of Destruction of High Speed can be started steered and stopped by operator on ship from which it is sent against an enemy.

Above surface is antenna of message collector.

Torpedo in submerged boat does not explode until signal is received by mechanism known as the “brains” - five shipped to oriental port.

The most destructive weapon know to modern warfare has recently been given to the world by a practically unknown inventor. Wireless telegraphy, heretofore considered only in its commercial aspect, is the moving force in this wonderful creation, which seemingly sounds the death-knell of the navies of the world.
In the hold of a steamship which slipped her moorings in the east river early last Thursday morning and dropped quietly down the stream with the first of ebb tide were five oblong boxes, thirty-five feet in length and about two feet square. The steamer, the name of which is withheld for obvious reasons, was bound for Oriental ports. In each of the coffin-shaped boxes packed securely in her forward hold was a contrivance constructed of steel and shaped like a cigar at the small end is a propeller made of burnished brass….
The device which is operated by wireless impulses and is called the “brains” of the invention. This delicate piece of mechanism almost thinks when influenced by the ether waves of the wireless telegraph.
These five boxes and a number of crates containing other parts of the invention are consigned to a foreign government, whose name is also withheld at the request of the inventor, but is known to The World. They were ready for delivery some time ago, but shipment was delayed because of the Russian-Japanese war.
This most deadly of all weapons is a dirigible submarine torpedo boat, absolutely controlled by wireless telegraph apparatus and is the invention of Henry Shoemaker, of Jersey City. He is only twenty-seven years of age and is known in the world of wireless telegraphy. With the exception of a few business associates who shared in the secret of his recently invented submarine torpedo boat no one knows of his wonderful creation. In his office at No. 72 York Street, Jersey City, yesterday he described this new engine of destruction to a World reporter.

Deadly Engine Described.

This torpedo boat, as the name implies, is called the Simms-Shoemaker dirigible submarine torpedo. It is thirty-two feet over all and twenty-three inches in diameter at its widest park. It is divided into three main sections the blunt end is the bow containing a war head, which carries a charge of 500 pounds of nitro-gelatin, the highest explosive known. This charge is capable of sinking the biggest battle-ship afloat, even if exploded within a radius of 500 feet (152.4 m). Coming in contact with a man-of-war, experts say the torpedo would blow the most powerful 18,000 tomcatted-ship into atoms. Incidentally the torpedo is also destroyed.

In its nose the torpedo carries a concussion primer which cannot be exploded until the boat has traveled a certain distance from the launching place. The control primer, which is set off by wireless is also constructed that it cannot be fired until the boat has gone a certain distance. Next to the war head is a section which carries the ‘brains,” of the torpedo, called the selector. This device is connected with the antenna or collecting wire, eighteen feet above the water line. It is this selector, or “brains” that receives the wireless impulses and directs every action and movement of the boat. This mechanism is partly composed of electro-magnetic valves for starting, stopping, steering, reducing or increasing the speed of the boat and also exploding the charge.

In the next compartment aft is the battery of steel tubes containing compressed air at a pressure of 2,500 pounds to the square inch. These tubes have a combined capacity of 40000 cubic feet (1,132.7 m³) of free air which will drive the boat at a top speed at the rate of more than twenty-five miles an hour for about fifteen minutes; at two-thirds speed, or about eighteen miles (29 km)@d@x per hour for thirty minutes, or at on-third speed, 7 miles (11.3 km) an hour, for ninety minutes. Next to the air tubes is the section containing the dry batteries and also the electro-pneumatic valves which control the speed of the engine. In this compartment is also the reducing valve for reducing the pressure from 2,500 pounds to 400 pounds, the pressure used on the engine and control valves for regulating the speed.

Can Develop 50-Horse Power

In the third or last principal compartment, is the engine which is of rotary form and is capable of developing fifty horse-power at full speed. This extraordinary power-giving device is inclosed in a casing only 21 inches in diameter and 27 inches long, and in itself is really a section of the boat, as the outside casing is an integral part of the hull. It has six pistons working toward common centre, and is so well balanced that when turning at the rate of … revolutions per minute there is no …..
Aft of this is the “engine-room” …. sub-section containing the steering and rudder supports. This gear… operated by compressed air and instruments controlled by electro-magnets. At the end of this section the propeller-shaft…. through a ‘stuffing-box.” The propeller is of special design and carries two blades.

When under way this boat is submerged to a depth of seven feet and is supported by a float, as the above picture shows. This float is constructed of steel and is filled with cellulose, and is practically indestructible from rifle fire. If penetrated by shots the cellulose immediately swells up and closes the punctures. Two wireless masts surmount this float, the forward one being twenty feet high and the aft stick about ten. To the longer mast is attached the antenna, or collecting wire which is carried into the torpedo proper, where it is connected with the “brains.” These masts are also used to aid in the steering the boat and regulating its speed. Should the torpedo be used for night attack acetylene gas -lamps, equipped with flash shutters, are attached to the masts.

The boat is so constructed that it may be launched from the deck of a vessel or from shore and thereafter to be controlled at will by the operator on the boat or from shore and from which the boat may be launched. At the point from which the boat is to be controlled there is a complete wireless apparatus consisting of a wireless transmitter, the usual masts, generators and other appliances. This transmitter is so constructed that electro-magnetic waves of any length from 50 to 1,000 meters may be sent out. The wave length can be changed in a very short time by simple adjustment.

Twelfth Key Explodes Charge.

The waves sent out by this transmitter are controlled by a key board which has twelve keys set in a horizontal row, each key representing a control in the torpedo-boat, the last key being the one which explodes the charge. When pressed these keys cause a definite number of impulses, separated by spaces automatically sent out by the transmitter and the last impulse is automatically prolonged until the key is released. For instance if the fourth key is pressed the transmitter sends out four impulses separated by spaces, and the last impulse continues until the key is released by the operator. This operates the mechanism in the boat causing a switch to move four points and then lock on the fourth point until the impulse ceases. The long impulse causes a time switch to close a local circuit, which will not close on the short impulses. The long impulse causes the control to take place in the torpedo-boat and short impulses cause the switch to take definite position, according to the key pressed at the controlling station. The method of operating is for one man to watch the boat and direct its movements by giving instruction to another man at the keyboard. The effective range is as far as the operator can see and there is absolutely no connection between the torpedo boat and the control, except the natural media through which the electro-magnetic waves are transmitted.
In the event of at warship, equipped with wireless discovering the approach of the submarine and attempting to ward off its attack by interrupting the ether waves, the torpedo’s instruments are so “tuned” that it would take the man-of-war an hour to find the “key” and it is highly improbable that it would be found if at all. In that time the torpedo would have accomplished its deadly purpose.
This marvelous new engine of destruction can be steered by ether waves with far more deadly accuracy than if piloted by the most courageous skipper. Torpedo nets used by war vessels to guard against night attacks of this new invention, as it would penetrate them like so much paper. No fleet of battle-ships and cruisers ever faced so formidable an antagonist as this new missile of war undoubtedly is.

Five boats Sold and Shipped.

Exhaustive tests have proved its practicability. Representatives of the foreign government to which five of the boats have been shipped, witnessed several tests a short time ago, and were so favorably impressed with the new creation that they at once paid for the five boats already alluded to. Each boat cost in the neighborhood of $15,000 to construct, the engine alone costing $3,000. The hull of the torpedo and its engine were designed by W. Scott Simms. The boat complete weighs six tons, and is of the best construction. Efficiency of power and equipment has been one of the greatest considerations. Since a small boy Henry Shoemaker has been interested in electricity and electric appliances. About ten years ago he began working and experimenting in wireless telegraphy. It was while thus engaged that the idea of a wireless submarine torpedo-boat occurred to him. He confided his thoughts to no one., but constructed a small laboratory at his home, and in his spare hours, which were few , he worked on his new idea. He realized that the possibilities of such a boat were practically unlimited. By burning much midnight oil he at last perfected the “brains” of the boat.
This was about five years ago. He next produced the other internal parts of the torpedo. A model was then constructed, and after many changes and improvements, suggested by tests, had been made and the practicability of the boat proved, the invention was patented. Mr. Shoemaker had little trouble in interesting influential persons and the necessary money was raised for building the first full-sized boat. Representatives of a foreign government stationed in Washington heard of the marvelous new engine of destruction and , after witnessing several severe tests ordered five of the boats.
While working on the crowning achievement of his inventive mind, Mr. Shoemaker was employed with a wireless telegraph firm. During this time he also invented a wireless telegraph system at present used by the United States Navy with excellent results. The young man’s work attracted the attention of several capitalists who formed the International Telegraph Construction Company of which Mr. Shoemaker was made vice-president and technical director. A plant was installed at No. 72 York street, Jersey City, where the submarines and wireless apparatus are manufactured. The greatest secrecy is maintained in producing the various parts of the torpedo. The sections pass through the hands of a score of men so that it would be impossible for any one man or number of men to produce a complete machine without knowing the secret which is only in the possession of the inventor. The steel shell of the torpedo ….. Iron works in New York City.
The United States ships Maryland, Pennsylvania, Charleston, Idaho, Maine, and Brooklyn are equipped with Mr. Shoemaker’s wireless system. On her trip with Paul Jones’s body the Brooklyn received messages 1278 miles (2,056.7 km) at sea. The company has two land stations, one at St. Augustine, and the other at Jupiter Inlet, Fla. Messages are continually exchanged between coast and also between inland stations.
While in Hampton Roads the Maryland has received communications from St Augustine and while at the Brooklyn Navy Yard she has transacted official business with Newport, R.I. She has also worked with the Government station at St. Elizabeth on the Maine coast from the Brooklyn Navy Yard, a distance of more than 1100 miles (1,770.3 km). All the apparatus is constructed to fulfill the contracts for a maximum distance of only 250 knots (490 km/h).
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