A friend at the Boston Globe just asked me the origin of term "cutlass bearing". Does anyone here know?
Peter Baumgartner
"London" CD27 #35
pjb@napsys.com
Origin of term Cutlass Bearing?
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Allen Evans
Re: Origin of term Cutlass Bearing?
Peter,
I am pretty certain that "Cutlass" is the correct spelling and that that is the name of the first manufacturer to use rubber staves as bearing elements in a water-lubricated stern tube bearing. Before the Cutlass bearing came along, the typical construction for the bearing staves was either a phenolic composition material or lignum vitae wood, both of which absorb water and consequently tend to swell. The swelling had to be considered in the design. Lignum vitae had to be kept damp at all times to keep it from drying and cracking.
- Allen
s/v Whisper, CD36
adevans@att.net
I am pretty certain that "Cutlass" is the correct spelling and that that is the name of the first manufacturer to use rubber staves as bearing elements in a water-lubricated stern tube bearing. Before the Cutlass bearing came along, the typical construction for the bearing staves was either a phenolic composition material or lignum vitae wood, both of which absorb water and consequently tend to swell. The swelling had to be considered in the design. Lignum vitae had to be kept damp at all times to keep it from drying and cracking.
- Allen
s/v Whisper, CD36
Peter Baumgartner wrote: A friend at the Boston Globe just asked me the origin of term "cutlass bearing". Does anyone here know?
Peter Baumgartner
"London" CD27 #35
adevans@att.net
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Geezer
Re: Origin of term Cutlass Bearing?
It is my recollection that "Cutlass" (with a trademark of a pirate-looking cutlass) was the name used by the original maker of these bearings.
The name, however, was a play on "cutless" because these water-lubricated rubber bearings would not cut up the shaft due to trapped sand particles, I think they were introduced shortly after WW II.
Geezer
The name, however, was a play on "cutless" because these water-lubricated rubber bearings would not cut up the shaft due to trapped sand particles, I think they were introduced shortly after WW II.
Geezer
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John Vigor
Re: Origin of term Cutlass Bearing?
The Johnson Cutless Sleeve Bearing is a registered trade mark. See:
http://www.marineparts.com/MEGAYACHTS/DURAMAX/DURA3.HTM
It has also now become a generic term, and often wrongly spelled "cutlass." Very romantic, very piratical, but the correct spelling is Cutless.
John Vigor
jvigor@qwest.net
http://www.marineparts.com/MEGAYACHTS/DURAMAX/DURA3.HTM
It has also now become a generic term, and often wrongly spelled "cutlass." Very romantic, very piratical, but the correct spelling is Cutless.
John Vigor
jvigor@qwest.net
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John Vigor
Re: Origin of term Cutlass Bearing?
The Johnson Cutless Sleeve Bearing is a registered trade mark. See:
http://www.marineparts.com/MEGAYACHTS/DURAMAX/DURA3.HTM
It has also now become a generic term, and often wrongly spelled "cutlass." Very romantic, very piratical, but the correct spelling is Cutless.
John Vigor
jvigor@qwest.net
http://www.marineparts.com/MEGAYACHTS/DURAMAX/DURA3.HTM
It has also now become a generic term, and often wrongly spelled "cutlass." Very romantic, very piratical, but the correct spelling is Cutless.
John Vigor
jvigor@qwest.net
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Peter Baumgartner
Re: Origin of term Cutlass Bearing?
Thanks all. What a great bulletin board this is!
pjb@napsys.com
Peter Baumgartner wrote: Peter Baumgartner
"London" CD27 #35
pjb@napsys.com