Talk:Robert Whitehead

David Bushnell

I deleted this:

"The man who invented the first torpedo was US Naval Captain David Bushnell, who tried it out in New York Harbour in 1776. David named it after the Torpedo fish, a ray fish with an natural electric apparatus for killing its prey. Bushnell's torpedo comprised an explosive charge fixed to an enemy hull and was set-off by a clockwork fuse."

Bushnell named the weapon; he used what's now called a limpet mine. I'd hardly call that inventing it. If anybody deserves credit for that, it's Luppius, but Whitehead usually steals his thunder... Trekphiler 13:55, 4 December 2005 (UTC)

Whitehead invented the 'proper' automobile torpedo - that is the weapon recognisable from the picture on this article page that can be compared to any torpedo manufactured today - it even has the contra-rotating screws - see picture at right. Anyone can see that it's a torpedo, the only difference from current models is that the warhead is pointed compared to the rounded ones that have been in use since about 1900. That's why all the early weapons by all manufacturers were called by the generic name 'Whitehead torpedoes'. Every 'torpedo' in use today is based on his concept and design, the only advances being in range, speed, and in the addition of homing and other 'intelligence'. If you put a modern torpedo in front of Robert Whitehead he would be able to recognise it, and moreover, almost certainly tell you roughly how it worked, allowing for the technological advances since then.

Luppius' weapon was primitive and unworkable in comparison, and a dead-end.— Preceding unsigned comment added by 213.40.254.24 (talk • contribs) 21:48, 17 September 2009

Two sugestions for changes

1st - Whitehead was nominated tecnical director of "Stabillimento Tecnico Fiumano" in 1858 and not in 1856, as it results from the book: "La Storia del siluro 1860-1936." ed. Silurificio Whitehead di Fiume S. A. - Sede in Fiume, Stabilimento Tipografico Alessandro Pesce 1936-XV., page 10-11 note 1;

2nd -Photograph on this page was not shot in Fiume (Rijeka), because man on the right is not R. W., and man on the left is from southeast Asia (Japan, China), and not from Adriatic. It is not known that workers from southeast Asia were ever engaged in Fiume. 213.202.96.116 15:05, 15 August 2006 (UTC)

You could be right - but the caption in the publication from which it was scanned said it was Robert Whithead and that it was taken at the Fiume works in about 1875. It also mentioned that the image was thought to be the earliest known picture of Whitehead, although the article from which it was taken was written in about 1973 and other, earlier ones, may have come to light since. The article itself was written by Edwyn Gray. Ian Dunster 14:35, 6 September 2006 (UTC)

Sound of Music

His granddaughter, Frances, launched a submarine for the Austrian navy, fell in love with the captain, George von Trapp, and married him. Their children later became famous as the von Trapp singers through the film, the Sound of Music. DNB --jmb 22:16, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

Schwartzkopf vs. Whitehead

The article mentions a Schwartzkopf torpedo. When translated from German, that is Blackhead torpedo, not Whitehead. Is that just a coincidence? This page claims not [1]. This suggests that an important facet is missing. DHR (talk) 00:36, 15 June 2010 (UTC)

Yes, it's a co-incidence. The Schwartzkopff torpedo page explains how he "acquired" the technology from Whitehead (so it doesn't need repeating here), but the name connection is purely co-incidental. Xyl 54 (talk) 15:15, 29 June 2013 (UTC)

Merge section?

The "Use of torpedoes" section seems out of place here. This page is actually a biography page, which already devotes a lot of space to the man's invention. That may be fair enough (though the invention itself also has a page) but a large section on instances of its use should be there, not here. What does anybody else think? Xyl 54 (talk) 15:20, 29 June 2013 (UTC)

External links modified

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A Commons file used on this page has been nominated for deletion

The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page has been nominated for deletion:

• Torpedero Patricio Lynch.jpg

Participate in the deletion discussion at the nomination page. —Community Tech bot (talk) 04:38, 6 January 2019 (UTC)