Beschreibung:

Title: Archive of 5 letters from George Westinghouse to J.G. Schreuder including an ALS with 3 diagram sketches, along with related materials Author: Westinghouse, George Place Publisher: Date: 1883-1913 Description: Includes: TLS from Westinghouse to Schreuder, 3 pp., relating to a device for warning a railroad engineer of excessive speed, and automatically braking the train, “…I am making some suggestions in red ink upon one of the blue prints returned herewith which I think will be self-explanatory. You will note that I have shown the rubber ring with flanges which will prevent it being thrown from its position by centrifugal force…” New York, Dec. 20, 1912. * TLS from Westinghouse to Schreuder, 1 p., relating to the same device, “…To overcome the difficulty due to the small clearance in tunnels, the arm carrying the frangible glass…can be made to withdraw this arm…” Lenox, MA, December 23, 1912. * ALS from Westinghouse to Schreuder, 3 pp. on 4-page notesheet, including 3 diagram sketches by Westinghouse, “When we were together Saturday p.m. you suggested that the mechanism (cylinders) for operating the arm & glass tubes could be turned to operate on both sides. It would be better to have a pair of cylinders & arms permanently arranged thus…” Jan. 6, 1913. * TLS from Westinghouse to Schreuder, 1 p., “…I shall be interested in knowing whether you will be able to work out the stop arrangement alongside of the locomotive instead of on the top… I hope by the time I reach Pittsburgh next week that you will be well advanced in the construction of the experimental apparatus….” New York, January 10, 1913. * TLS from Westinghouse to Schreuder, a follow-up on the braking device, “…The blue print indicates very clearly one of the great difficulties in arranging satisfactory stop mechanism…” Pittsburgh, June 4, 1913. * Two partially printed documents for financial transactions between Schreuder and H.H. Westinghouse, George’s brother, one signed by H.H. Westinghouse and his wife. 1893. * Letterbook belonging to Schreuder, with copies of some 17 letters from Schreuder to the Union Switch & Signal Co., most to C.H. Jackson. * Plus a few other items. Significant gathering of letters from one of the giants of American industry, inventor and manufacturer George Westinghouse, Jr., founder and longtime president of the Westinghouse Air Brake Company, and its spin-off, the Union Switch & Signal Company, which was founded in 1882. It was at the latter company that J.G. Schreuder, a Norwegian-born engineer, worked for many years, rising to chief engineer and vice president. The letters here were written during the final year of Westinghouse’s life (he died on March 12, 1914), and several years after he had been ousted from control of the companies he founded. It is evident from these letters, however, that he was still involved in detailed technical aspects of the work, and stayed in touch in an advisory capacity with his former employees. Of particularly interest is the handwritten letter from January 6, 1913, containing the three diagram sketches, giving indication of his inventive and detailed mind at work. Lot Amendments Condition: Copy book worn, joints cracked; some soiling to letters; very good overall. Item number: 170651