(New York: Crist, Scott & Parshall, 1901).

A COPY WITH THE AUTHOR AND COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENDANT'S MANUSCRIPT COMPLIMENTS. The likely recipient and one time owner of the book John Hays Hammond Jr., who was an American inventor known as "The Father of Radio Control". Hammond s pioneering developments in electronic remote control are the foundation for all modern radio remote control devices, including modern missile guidance systems. Also known for being the eccentric builder of Hammond Castle overlooking Gloucester Harbor in the North Shore region of Massachusetts. The guidance system for the Whitehead Torpedo was the subject of the patent suit, which would have been of considerable interest to Hammond.
The United States Navy started using the Whitehead torpedo in 1892 after an American company, E. W. Bliss, secured manufacturing rights. As manufactured for the US Navy, the Whitehead torpedo was divided into four sections: the head, the air flask, the after-body and the tail. The head contained the explosive charge of guncotton; the air flask contained compressed air at 1350 pounds per square inch, or 90 atmospheres; the after-body contained the engine and the controlling mechanism, and the propellers and rudder were in the tail. The air flask was constructed from heavy forged steel. The other parts of the shell of the torpedo were made of thin sheet steel. The interior parts were generally constructed out of bronze. The torpedo was launched above or below the waterline from a tube, using air or gunpowder discharge. Item #27898

First edition, presentation copy "compliments of J. A. Stetson" in manuscript. And with manuscript owner's inscription of John Hays Hammond Jr. With diagrams of components of compressed air powered torpedoes throughout. 8vo, original buckram lettered in black on the upper cover. ii, 16, xxi pp. A nicely preserved copy, the paper a bit age mellowed as is commonplace.