PNEUMATIC-POWERED SUBMARINES
All submarines in this category use the same principle: with an air-pump, a high-pressure air tank is filled. Either the air escapes at the bow, pushing the sub forward (same old “fartmobile” principle) or it powers a cylinder that then powers the propeller. Few models are known – rubber-pump submarines are treated under the heading “Bathtub submarines.”
The most famous – and bizarre – are those two models made in Saint Louis (USA) in the 20s: the box – without an illustration – claims: “the biggest nautical toy in the world; can dive 50 feet!” No kidding?
These are subs from Automatic Marine Toy Co, n° 1318049, in bronze sheet. Length: 14” and 9”.
USA ****
Nowadays, US AirHog sells compressed-air-powered toys, which are its speciality, as its name implies. Length: 16” with the pump inside. Notice the grey nose, which is none other than the handle of the pump, folded back into the sub.
The principle was made reliable through the use of plastic; this is more of an “underwater plane” (notice the wings). Excellent performance in water: beware, it can really move!
USA
To sum up, the nature of the materials used and the complexity of the principle explain the lack of models before the introduction of modern materials: rust, drying up of gum-resin parts, and loss of waterproofing...
This section would not be complete without a mention of the so-called “pop-pop” boats, that is steam-propelled, without screws. Of course, no diving submarines in this category (before and during the Great War there were submarines that were steam-propelled on the surface and electricity-propelled while diving, both by acting on a screw), but in that case, the principle is still that of the fartmobile. Pop-pop submarines do not dive (at least not yet!) To learn more about those boats, go to Captain Pop-Pop’s website (http://www.captainpoppop.com/); see also Buuzboats’ excellent website (BuzzBoatyard), where you can see functioning pop-pops (videos) as well as many toy submarines, some of which are for sale (http://www.buzzboats.com/poppop.htm)
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
