Tag Archives: propeller

The Spinning Vicar of Screw

One of the problems with the first propellers was the drag experienced when under sail. This was because ship owners and operators weren’t exactly 100% confident in the new steam boilers and screw propellers. They saw the propeller as a … Continue reading

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Screwed

Back in first half of the 19th century, there was a bit of a race on to find the best screw propeller. They were called ‘screws’ because early ones were modelled on the Archimedes Screw, a device which, in part, … Continue reading

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Screw -v- Paddle

It didn’t take long for the trading classes to realise that the screw propeller was streets ahead of the paddle wheel when it came to the open seas. After Francis Pettit Smith created his Archimede’s Screw, and subsequent improvements, shipbuilders … Continue reading

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Answering the public

Where’s Kevin? He went on holiday and never came back. Nick at Work is mystified. It is all very odd. Perhaps I will find out at some future date. Stay tuned for further developments. Today was mostly about a query … Continue reading

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