NOT SOLD (BIDDING OVER)
0.00USD+ applicable fees & taxes.
This item WAS NOT SOLD. Auction date was 2024 Nov 21 @ 08:00UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
FINAL AUCTION RECORD The Auctioneer’s podium notes serve as the final, legally binding record of the auction results, superseding any electronic bidding records. See Terms and Conditions
Charles A. Lee, c 1835-1863, Civil Engineer, Inventor
Contributor to the original Nautilus Diving Bell, c 1856-1859
Charles A. Lee was an American educated bi-lingual (if not tri-lingual) civil engineer, possibly born in Garrettsville, Ohio, where his brother lived and worked as an M.D.
Lee may have worked for an American railroad company, but no information was found on his early life.
He moved to Paris, France perhaps in about 1855, where he began work with others on a diving bell. Lee was granted at least two patents for specialized pumps used in the diving bell, known as “Nautilus.” A public company was formed, backed by American industrialist Samuel Hallet, whom Lee corresponded with regularly.
Diving bells were not new inventions. They had been invented in both Georgia and California for mining in river beds for gold at the onset of the California Gold Rush.
In France, the diving bell was a necessity, useful for removing rocks in ports and rivers, laying telegraph cables, assist in bridge building, and explorations of all kinds. The search for pearls, gold and precious stones was also foremost in their minds.
Lee also worked for the French railroad system from about 1857-1859. In about 1859, a turn of events took place that upset Lee’s employment plans. Issues with his patents caused him to quit one job for another, then after issues were resolved, and his patents sold, he tried to return to the old company who was working with the bell and railroad. He found a friend who kept him busy professionally, though he never again got a “steady” job. His health declined. He had hoped to return to the USA in late 1860, but did not have the money to travel. In a letter from his brother, it is apparent Lee had some strange lung disease accompanied by coughing. It may have been pneumonia, though at that time, little was known of the disease. He died unexpectedly in August 1863 in Paris.
The Lee Archive
The Lee archive is in three parts: railroad; heating device; Nautilus diving bell.
The Nautilus
The name “Nautilus” is not uncommon in the early to mid nineteenth century. It appears to have first been used by American inventor Robert Fulton in 1800 on a hand-turned underwater propeller underwater device later to be known as a “submarine.” Fulton had been working under a grant from Napoleon, but the idea never caught on with the French or British. Early references do not mention any American interest.
The California and Georgia gold rushes created the interest in finding a way to work underwater. The diving bell was created, and it soon designs were considered for a “submarine” that utilized adaptations from the diving bell, possibly even including Lee’s patented pumps. In 1859, the French government asked for submarine designs and went over a number of them. The Lee correspondence between Hallett and Lee has at least one letter that may refer to a submarine design submitted by Hallet that Lee may have worked on that was not accepted by the French, though no sketch exists in the archive. Ultimately, the French considered three different submarine designs, and the Hallett financed sub was apparently among them. The accepted design was by Simeon Bourgeois. It was completed in mid-1863 and launched in October, 1863. It later was the exact ship used by novelist Jules Verne in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea published in 1870.
Meanwhile, In America, the submarine idea had not caught on. The Lee letters have broad reference to Hallet not gaining ground in America. A thorough discussion of the American submarine creations is well warranted. The Union Navy doesn’t appear to have created one, but the Confederates made history with theirs in 1863.
Railroad
There are about 40+ pages of very detailed formulas, discussions, diagrams about building a railroad, inclusive of bridge support designs, track specifications, including the breaking point of cast iron. The notes reflect dates of the 1840s-1859, though the entire group may have been written in 1859, all in his hand. Included are what appear to be articles of incorporation of railroad police and State railroad stations. This archive is entirely written in French.
Heating Device
This is a small group of a printed sketch with diagrams of a large heating device with an attendant multi-page hand written discussion of it. Circa 1859.
Nautilus, the Diving Bell
Lee’s papers making up the Nautilus archive comprise the majority of the collection. There are about 100 pages or more, mostly of letters regarding employment and receipts of a varying nature. His letters include copies of letters to Hallett, and some from Hallett to Lee. Other letters are recommendations for work. A large group of correspondence is D. H. Brandon, who ran a machine construction and surveillance company. Brandon was apparently always trying to get a position for Mr. Lee. There are numerous receipts for rent, for goods purchased. A key element of this archive is a printed synopsis of the Nautilus Company, with a French soldier sketched on the cover. Receipts for Lee’s debts at death, and the funeral arrangements are also present. It is obvious that the entire archive was sent to his brother in Garrettsville, Ohio, and thus retained by the family. Fnh [
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Nevada State Sales Tax
Taxes:
| Tax | Rate | Desc. |
| NSST |
8.375% |
Nevada Sales Tax |
| CSST |
8% |
California Sales Tax |
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
25% |
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