Nathan C. Price
1927-09-01 SF Chronicle U. C. Student Shot in Hand at Practice While practicing at target shooting with his revolver in the hills back of the Hotel Claremont, Berkeley, late yesterday afternoon, Nathan C. Price, 21, University of California senior, was shot through the left hand in trying to extract a shell which had jammed in the barrel of the gun.
Not abandoning the aircraft power plant failures, Besler went through three airplane engine designs, and at least two types of boiler.
Not keeping the idea under wraps, Besler made his first news feed to the Associated Press three years before the demonstration flights: June 25, 1930 AP Steam-Powered Plane.
It will have a 2-cylinder compound type engine weighing about 300 pounds, with 150 horsepower.” Nathan C. Price recorded the actual development in the Doble Steam Motors Experimental Test Reports, which had been historically Warren’s responsibility.
Coincidentally beginning in April, 1931, these tests show a hard-fought path with major engine changes and two steam generators.
Many automotive components were used, but the relatively cramped engine space required some handmade items, notably the combustion blower.
With the two years of intense pressure finally off, Price married Constance De Luynee Holmes on 15 Apr 1933 at Alameda, California.
His draft registration in October 1940 shows him at Lockheed Aircraft Corp in Burbank and residing in Hollywood, California.
Before World War II, American airplane manufacturer Boeing had responded to a government solicitation for a large strategic bomber.
Its proposal, the B-17 Flying Fortress, was considered "too big" by some members of Congress when additional financing was requested for the project.
The airliner's four Curtiss Wright R-1820 radial engines used crankshaft-driven two-speed superchargers both for added power and for greater performance at altitude.
Dr. W. Randy Lovelace of the Mayo Clinic, was consulted; he advised that cabin pressurization begin at 8,000 feet MSL.
[1] In 1937 the Lockheed Company responded to a government proposal for an advanced fighter with a two-engine design of unusual configuration.
The GE-supplied turbochargers were upgraded in 1941 for higher-altitude missions, so Lockheed contracted with Price to analyze the installation and provide improvements.
Price had the basic design of his jet completed and was able to attract the interest of Chief Research Engineer Kelly Johnson.
However, Price was encouraged by United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) officials at Wright Field to refine his design.
The low-pressure compressor was encased in a two-part cylindrical casing with stiffening ribs, which gave it an odd appearance similar to the bottom of an egg carton.
