Analysis
and photos courtesy Jeff Glickman, Photek Imaging. |
Mr. R. Gillespie,
Executive Director
The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery
2812 Fawkes Drive
Wilmington, Delaware 19808
VIA: EMAIL
PRELIMINARY LETTER OF OPINION
July
12, 2002
Dear Mr. Gillespie,
This letter
is my preliminary opinion regarding TIGHAR artifact 2-6-S-45 which
has been in my possession and under examination since May 4, 2002.
2-6-S-45 is commonly known as the “knob” and appears to
have multiple raised symbols on its surface. On May 8, 2002, the
JPEG image file “knobref.jpg” was created using a Nikon
5000 digital camera, diffuse lighting, and the macro lens setting.
The resulting knobref.jpg image defines 19 candidate symbol sites.
During the course of the examination of 2-6-S-45, photomicrographs
were taken of each of the symbol sites, and subsequently analyzed.
Analyses were
performed in a controlled lighting “white box” consisting
of a three-sided box of white foam core. A Celestron Microscope
with a custom-built CCD imager was placed in the center of the white
box. A 4x objective and a 10x eyepiece lens were used for the duration
of the analysis. The CCD imager was connected to a frame grabber
on an IBM-PC compatible computer. Captured images were analyzed
using proprietary software, and individual symbol reports were prepared
using Adobe Photoshop™. The illuminator used was a Mole-Richardson
Co. Mini-Mole Type 2801 S/N 32375 with a Type 280108 Mole Focal-Spot
collimator. The illuminator was mounted on a Matthews Studio Equipment
(MSE) C-STD 2xR, FL 20.
Each symbol
site was examined using “Optical Tomography.” This method
uses an intense and highly collimated broad-spectrum illuminator
which is rotated through 360 degrees in the XY plane around the artifact.
After each rotation, the angle of the illuminator is increased by
5 degrees in the YZ plane. The resulting series of shadows reveal
the detailed surface topography of an individual symbol on the artifact.
As previously
reported, symbols 1 through 9 are PATENTED: ; symbols 10,
11 and 19 are NO., which account for 12 of the 19 symbols.
Seven of the
19 symbols remain. Given the context “PATENTED:” and “NO.”
it is presumed the remaining 7 symbols are numeric, representing
a United States utility patent number. These 7 symbols contain more
contamination and damage than the initial 12, which resulted in ambiguity
for some symbols. Information regarding each symbol can be found
in the corresponding email for each individual symbol. This opinion
letter shall summarize the findings of these 7 emails.
For each symbol numbered 12 through 18, the visible features of
the symbol were compared with the features required for each number
“0” through “9.” Each number “0” through
“9” was either excluded or included on the basis of the
visible features as a candidate symbol for the site. For some sites,
this meant the symbol could be one of N possible numbers. The process
of eliminating numbers at each site reduces the search space from
10 million possible patents. The following summarizes the numbers
by site:
Symbol 12: 1
|
Symbol 13: 8
|
Symbol 14: 2, 9
|
Symbol 15: 1, 4
|
Symbol 16: 2, 3, 8
|
Symbol 17: 2, 9
|
Symbol 18: 5, 6
|
The number
of possible combinations is computed by multiplying the number of
possible values at each site together: 1 x 1 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 2 x 2
= 48. These 48 combinations are enumerated below in numerically
ascending order. Each of these 48 combinations constitute a US patent
number, each of which was retrieved using the online repository
at the US Patent and Trademark office located at www.uspto.gov.
The following information is summarized below for each patent: Patent
Number, Patent Title, Award Date, Inventor, and Assignee, and are
separated by commas. While all of these patents deserve careful
scrutiny, two of them are of immediate interest.
PATENT NO. |
TITLE |
AWARD DATE |
INVENTOR |
ASSIGNEE |
1821225 |
Coat |
9/1/1931 |
C.J. Lubin |
N/A |
1821226 |
Automatic Discharging Toaster |
9/1/1931 |
C.W. Mabey |
Mabey Electric Manufacturing Co. |
1821295 |
Pipe Anchor and Clamp |
9/1/1931 |
P.W. Dieter |
N/A |
1821296 |
Truck Bolster with Spring Supported Side Bearings |
9/1/1931 |
P.R. Drenning |
“T.H. Symington and Son, Inc.” |
1821325 |
Rail Coupling |
9/1/1931 |
A.A. Schaubut |
Lawrence H. Pugh |
1821326 |
Process for Heating Decomposable Materials |
9/1/1931 |
J.R. Schonberg |
Standard Oil Development Corporation |
1821395 |
Vehicle |
9/1/1931 |
C.E. Musslewhite |
N/A |
1821396 |
Fuel Valve |
9/1/1931 |
C.F. Nardin |
N/A |
1821825 |
Safety Razor |
9/1/1931 |
J.M. Zumwalt |
N/A |
1821826 |
Portable Moving Racing Apparatus |
9/1/1931 |
E.L. Ballew |
N/A |
1821895 |
Fluid Handling Apparatus |
9/1/1931 |
R.H. Owens |
International Stacey Corporation |
1821896 |
Combination Sled and Wagon |
9/1/1931 |
T.J. Phillips |
Wilbur F. Orr |
1824225 |
Method of Packing Livestock for Conveyance in Transport Vehicles |
9/22/1931 |
E.F. Mitchell |
N/A |
1824226 |
Powder Buff |
9/22/1931 |
C.A. Mureau |
N/A |
1824295 |
Overload Vehicle Spring |
9/22/1931 |
“A.M.J. Pohl , Et. Al.” |
N/A |
1824296 |
Vehicle and Trailer Brake |
9/22/1931 |
“G.I. Rawson, Et. Al.” |
N/A |
1824325 |
Propelling System for Aircraft |
9/22/1931 |
L. Breguet |
Societe Anonyme Des Ateliers D'Aviation |
1824326 |
Production of Coke |
9/22/1931 |
“W. Broadbrige, Et. Al.” |
Minerals Separation North American Corp. |
1824395 |
Apparatus for the Measurement of Stiffness of Flexible Materials |
9/22/1931 |
“T. Dantzig, Et. Al.” |
US
Government |
1824396 |
Bathtub Seat |
9/22/1931 |
“J.W. Erhard, Et. Al.” |
N/A |
1824825 |
Molded Laminated Gear Bank |
9/29/1931 |
G.H. Mains |
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co. |
1824826 |
Engine Starter |
9/29/1931 |
Charles Marcus |
Eclipse Machine Company |
1824895 |
Hood Latch |
9/29/1931 |
D.P. Hynes |
Chicago Forging & Manufacturing Co. |
1824896 |
Process of Producing Reduction Components of Carbon Monoxide |
9/29/1931 |
A.O. Jaeger |
Selden Company |
1891225 |
Motion Picture Film Treating Apparatus |
12/20/1932 |
R.G. Fear |
N/A |
1891226 |
Motor Control System |
12/20/1932 |
G. Fox |
Freyn Engineering Co. |
1891295 |
Cotton Tramper |
12/20/1932 |
J.J. Wallace |
Gullet Gin Company |
1891296 |
Vault Lock |
12/20/1932 |
C.J. Wegner |
Perfection Burial Vault Company |
1891325 |
Sprayer Device |
12/20/1932 |
J. Fitch |
William Martin Vogel |
1891326 |
Internal Combustion Motor |
12/20/1932 |
D. Head |
N/A |
1891395 |
Gun Sight |
12/20/1932 |
G.O.C. Probert |
N/A |
1891396 |
Filter Press |
12/20/1932 |
P.W. Prutzman |
N/A |
1891825 |
Gas Speed Toaster |
12/20/1932 |
“P.J. Martell, Et. Al.” |
N/A |
1891826 |
Spout
and Closure |
12/20/1932 |
E.L.
McGinnis |
Consolidated
Fruit Jar Company |
1891895 |
Drive Screw |
12/20/1932 |
C.E. Nagel |
Shake Proof Lock Washer Company |
1891896 |
Suction Gathering Forming Machine |
12/20/1932 |
K.E. Peiler |
Hartford-Empire Company |
1894225 |
Electric Switch |
1/10/1933 |
J.G.Peterson |
N/A |
1894226 |
Folding Box |
1/10/1933 |
L. Ross |
Beatrice R. Somach |
1894295 |
Container Construction |
1/17/1933 |
N. Scandore |
N/A |
1894296 |
Die Head |
1/17/1933 |
“H.T. Shearer, Et. Al.” |
Landis Machine Company |
1894325 |
Fire Extinguisher |
1/17/1933 |
“W. Richter, Et. Al.” |
N/A |
1894326 |
Unloading Apparatus |
1/17/1933 |
J. Satterquist |
Mill Engineering and Supply Company |
1894395 |
Dowel Bar Device |
1/17/1933 |
W.C. Burrell |
Robert R. Robertson |
1894396 |
Cutter Package |
1/17/1933 |
G.H. Gardner |
Menasha Products Company |
1894825 |
Annealing Process |
1/17/1933 |
F.C. Kelley |
General Electric Company |
1894826 |
Safety Ticket |
1/17/1933 |
F. Magidson |
Pittsburgh Tag Company |
1894895 |
Detachable Suspension or Gripping Device |
1/17/1933 |
“A.B. Steele, Et. Al.” |
A.B. Steele |
1894896 |
“Wall Shield, Shelf and Ventilator” |
1/17/1933 |
T.J. Sullivan |
N/A |
The first
of the two patents of immediate interest is:
1891395 |
Gun Sight |
12/20/1932 |
G.O.C. Probert |
N/A |
The diagram
in this patent shows a knob similar to 2-6-S-45; however, the gun
sight is for field artillery. Perhaps one could argue that during
WWII field artillery might have been stationed on Nikumaroro, but
there is currently no historical evidence to support this. Note
that Probert was a British citizen seeking protection for his invention
in the United States. This suggests that if 2-6-S-45 originated
from a gun sight, that it might have been of British origin or manufacture,
and possibly brought to Nikumaroro by an Australian, New Zealander,
or Briton.
The second of two patents of immediate interest is:
1824826 |
Engine Starter |
9/29/1931 |
Charles Marcus |
Eclipse Machine Company |
This is interesting
because William Bendix invented the automatic starter drive to eliminate
hand cranking of automobile engines in 1911 and 1912. Bendix successfully
licensed his design to Eclipse Manufacturing Company in 1913. Presumably
over the next 15 to 20 years, Eclipse developed this technology,
culminating in this patent which is a direct connect automatic electric
starter specifically for aircraft engines. What is most interesting
is that when I inquired with about how Earhart’s engine was started,
I was told that the Lockheed
10E had an Eclipse direct electric starter, type E-160. While possibly
coincidental, this is interesting enough to warrant research into
the specific installation of the 10E’s E-160 to determine if
there are any components which resemble the knob.
I recommend a review of all 48 patents, and detailed investigations
into the above two patents with the intent of provably including
or excluding them as matches to 2-6-S-45.
Ric, thank you for the opportunity to work with you again, and I
look forward to our next project together. Please call me with any
questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Jeff
Glickman
Photek
Board Certified Forensic Examiner
Fellow, American College of Forensic Examiners
glickman@PhotekImaging.com
503-949-6200
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