c.1892-1895 SALISBURY'S ELECTRIC BOAT PROPELLER World's First Outboard Motor

Late nineteenth century anglers fished from shore or from piers, while others waded in streams casting a line for trout or bass. Others fished from rowboats or canoes, which meant they rowed, paddled or sculled their choice of craft. 

This all began to change in 1892 when Wilbur S. Salisbury of Chicago received his patent for a "Boat-Propelling Apparatus" and went into limited production building the "Salisbury's Electric Boat Propeller." This electric motor weighed thirty-five pounds and was powered by storage batteries that weighed one hundred to two hundred seventy-five pounds! A flyer declared the motor was suitable for ten to eighteen foot wood boats and would run the boat either backward or forward at speeds of three to five miles an hour.

Within several years, Wilbur Salisbury sold out to Frank S. Allen of New York City, who continued manufacturing the electric motors in Chicago. The new company was named the Electric Boat Company of New York and offered its motor without batteries for $100. An early brochure also listed several different battery choices including four Crowdus 16-cell Double Primary Batteries, 25 pounds each, which were good for "day" service for $100. Frank Allen, not surprisingly, was also the eastern sales representative for Crowdus batteries.

OCR OF PATENT - WITH ERRORS (See photo for original):

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1. W. S. SALISBURY. BOAT PROPELLING APPARATUS.

No. 486,684. Patented Nov. 22,1892.

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2. W. S. SALISBURY.

BOAT PROPELLING APPARATUS.

No. 486,684. Patented Nov. 22, 1892.

1, A A mm? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILBER S. SALISBURY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BOAT -PROPELLING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 486,684, dated November 22, 1892. Application filed February 12,1892. Serial No. 4:21. NO del- To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILBER S. SALISBURY,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boat-Propelling Apparatus, described and claimed in the following specification.

This invention relates to improvements in boat-propelling apparatus, and embraces a propeller-wheel and a motor for propelling small boats and launches, the said device being mounted upon or attached to a tube containing a fiexible shaft connecting the motor and propeller-wheel, which is swiveled to move with perfect freedom in any direction for steering or propelling a boat.

Heretofore, so far as I am aware, the motor and screw-wheel have been dependent upon tical and useful manner independent of the rudder for steering and propelling in any direction required, thus producing a practical, useful, and novel device in navigation; This object is obtained by swiveling one end of the device to the stern of a boat, producing a combined propelling and steering mechanism, entirely taking the place and doing away with an form of rudder for steering purposes, and

is'therefore entirely independent of a rudder in its functions of propulsion.

In order that the description may be rendered more clear,I refer to the accompanying drawings, in WhICh"**- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a bent tube inclosing a flexible coiled-wire shaft, as seen at the broken sections at both ends of the tube, also showing an electric motor and gear-casing atthe upper end thereof and a screw-wheel for propelling at the lower end. Fig. 2 represents one manner of mounting said device-to the stern-post of a small boat, which is accomplished by means of the ringclasps encircling the benttube and bolting the ends to a piece of board that has been shaped on one side to conform to the curve of the tube and then swiveling the said board resents the motor coupled to the gear, said gear being shown in section as mounted upon the short shaft. Fig. i represents a top plan view of the device as attached to a square stern, showing, also, the yoke and steeringropes. Fig. 5 represents the motor mounted on the tubing, with a small and a large gearwheel for operating the shat'ting.

In said drawings, A represents the electric motor suitably monnted'on the head-frame B. The head-frame B is cast in parts and formed to flt the end of the bent tube C, and both the top and under parts have lip-extensions for the purpose of supporting the tube at the neck. The parts are bolted together, clasped around the tube, thereby giving a strong support for the motor, gear-casing, and tubing.

Inside the tube G is a flexible shaft D, of coiled wire, extending throughout its entire length. On each end of the flexible shaft are suitably mounted short shafts journaled in metal boxes that are fastened within and at each end of the tube 0.

On the projecting end of one of the short shafts is suitably attached the screw-propeller wheel E, and between the propeller-wheel and the end of the tube is placed frictionrings F to relieve the thrust of propeller-wheel of undue friction against the end of the tube when working.

To the lower end of the tube are fins G G, made from sheet'metal and brazed on the .center of tube at top and under side to assist =in steering, but are not. wholly essential to the successful working of the device for the purpose of guiding the direction of the boat, as'the boat can be steered by the working ofthe wheel when the tube is thrown from port to starboard by' means of the yoke K, said yoke passing through the elongated opening in the under part of head-casting B. Projecting forward from the under side of the head B is a lug by which the casing lI, containing the gear-wheels, is bolted thereto. The armature-shaft and pinion-shaftare connected by the flange-couplings I.

I have shown in Fig. 3 one plan of gearing by double reduction for power purpose and in Fig. 5 I have shown a single-reduction gearing. Those two methods are for small high-speed motors; but when using a slowspeed motor of larger type I couple direct to the upper shaft J, thereby dispensing with the gear-wheels. Therefore I do not wish to limit myself to any one form of gearing, neither do I desire to limit myself to any one method of attaching my device to the stern of a boat, as I have already illustrated by Figs. 2 and 3 two plans.

By constructing and arranging the electric motor on the tube and connecting it by gearing With the propeller-wheel, as set forth, an adequate amount of flexibility will be attained between said motor and propellerwheel, whereby the wear on the parts will be reduced to a minimum, and all jerking or vibratory motion is taken up by the flexible shaft, thus insuring easy running, also a higher rate of speed, with maximum current rate of discharge, owing to the spring action of the shaft in the line of rotation.

\Vhen the circuit is closed, in starting, the spring action of the shaft enables the motor to get up its counter electro-motive force more speedily and with less danger of overheating the armature. Therefore there is the same advantage gained in constant runningviz., less heating of the armature. By this method of construction great advantages are gained in permitting the same form of construction being easily applied to the various forms of row-boats, canoes and hunting-boats, or even to small launches.

The use of the tubing partially filled with oil and inelosing the flexible shaft permits, of constant and copious lubrication of the shaft and journal bearings, reducing the friction and wear to a minimum, and prevents the access of dirt to the working parts. The spring of the flexible shaft relieves the motor and propeller-wheel of any sudden strain due to rapid starting or stoppingof the motor. A very important feature is prod need by the use of the flexible shaft in the tune, whereby the thrust of the wheel is borne by the tube, thereby relieving the motor from the evil effects that otherwise would occur. from the thrust of the screw-wheel when in motion.

Numerous slight changes might be made in the details of construction of my invention without departing from the spirit of my invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself flexible shaft and giving motion therethrough to the propeller-wheel, substantially as de scribed.

52. Boat-propelling apparatus comprising a tube arranged and adapted to be pivotally connected with the stern of a boat, a flexible shaft within said tube carrying at its lower end apropeller-wheel, and a motor connected with said flexible shaft adapted to give motion thereto and to the propeller-wheel, substantially as described.

Boat-propelling apparatus comprising a suitably-ineased flexible shaft adapted to be pivotally connected with the stern of a boat and provided at its lower end with a propeller-wheel, and a motor having connection with the upper end of said shaft operative to give motion thereto and to the propellerwheel, substantially as described.

4. Boat-propelling apparatus comprising a rotary flexible shaft contained within a ing arranged and adapted to be pivotally connected with the stern of a boat, a propeller-wheel fixed to the lower end of said shaft, and a motor having gear connection with the upper end of said shaft, arranged and adapted to give motion thereto and to the propeller-wheel, substantially as described.

5. Boat-propelling apparatus comprising a tube arranged and adapted for pivotal connection with the stern of a boat and provided at its lower end with steering-fins, a flexible shaft within said tube provided at its lower end with a propeller-wheel, and an electric motor having operative connections with the upper end of said shaft adapted to give motion to the propeller-wheel, substantially as described.

6. Boat-propelling apparatus comprising a flexible rotary shaft, a casing surrounding said shaft, apropeller-wheel fixed to the lower end of said shaft, and means connected with the upper end of said shaft adapted to give motion to the propeller-wheel, substantially as described. 7

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

WILBER S. SALISBURY.

\Vitnesses:

E. F. GALPIN, G. M. LIscoM.

AOMCI Text:

c.1892-1895 SALISBURY’S ELECTRIC BOAT PROPELLER, The World’s First Outboard Motor

There was some interest generated by my initial post about this motor on the AOMCI website last October ( http://aomci.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9204 ). The admins have been gracious in letting me post an update about the upcoming eBay auction of this outboard, to start Thursday night May 4th. I will post a link to the auction on this thread at that time, or you could simply look it up.

Found in a Hudson River-side community, this is serial number 113 of what is accepted in the outboard motor community as the first commercially produced outboard motor, and only the second fairly complete example known to exist under the original Salisbury label. It will be sold AS-IS, in as-found condition, and has not been cleaned or otherwise tinkered with, as you collectors prefer. It has not been tested, and is assumed to be not working, but who knows. It looks to be complete, as compared to the other one that can be found online (perhaps more complete than the other extant example, having both a mounting plate and a fin not seen in the published photos of the other motor). The length overall is 53 inches, weight is 31.4 pounds. There are two detachable electric wires with clips. Oak handle.

The auction starting price is based on the highest of the unsolicited offers I have received to date since the motor was publicized last October. If there are no bids it will likely be sold privately or kept, based on how the family feels about it. The motor is available for inspection in person, starting right now, here in Walden New York for anyone wishing to see it before the auction's end. Please call me for appt. at 845-978-1371 or message me.

It will be sold as local pick-up only, but I have coordinated with a local UPS store who have seen and assessed the motor for shipping, and the buyer can deal with them directly at their own cost. The auction listing will have their contact information.

Thanks,
Jim