AutographsOutstanding Military Naval Content Albert Einstein Signed Letter Dated 1938 Helping to Develop Better Torpedoes!

ALBERT EINSTEIN.
Typed Letter Signed, “A. Einstein,” August 16, 1938, Nassau Point, Peconic, Long Island, N.Y., 2 pages, in German, measuring 9.5” x 8”, Choice Extremely Fine. A few small areas of light tone, otherwise being very clean and even in appearance. Written in German to Frantisek Navara, a Czech mathematician and physicist then visiting the U.S. Navara had developed the concept of a new type of acoustic directional guidance system which he believed could be adapted to torpedoes. Einstein writes (translated from German):

“Dear Sir!

The principle of you invention is quite ingenious. I see, however, a practical difficulty that seems insuperable for the moment. Directly through the torpedo body, the primary sound-source will also affect the sound receivers - in fact thousands of times stronger than through the wave reflected at the target. I don’t think that these direct effects on the receivers are equalized accurately enough to not result in an automatic rotation of the torpedo, against which the influence of the reflective rays, because relatively too small, will not prevail.

It more likely seems to be possible, to forgo the torpedo’s own sound-source and exclusively use those acoustic water waves which the target emits itself. Those waves are however not short enough to be able to activate a steering-mechanism with your principle. One should try to use the phase difference as an effective principle. However, that might be equally questionable.

In any case, for the time being, I am not considering the prospects of your plan to be promising enough to offer my support.
With best regards,
A. Einstein”

Beautifully and wonderfully framed for display. The original letter is housed in a smaller frame attached by hinge to the face of a much larger black wood frame so both sides of the letter are easily read, to an overall 21.75” x 21.75”. This very costly display features a English translation underneath the letter in German. To the right of the letter is 6” x 4.5” black and white photograph of Einstein. A fabulous and historic item, ready to hang on display.

Living in Czechoslovakia prior to WWII as a professor of physics and mathematics, Navara was convinced that Nazi Germany would rise against the world powers, and the United States could not remain isolated.

In 1938, Navara visited America in hope of giving his idea to the U.S. He promptly opened up a correspondence with Einstein, not knowing of any other scientist or military official with whom to make contact. Einstein endorsed his theory, and put him in touch with the relevant naval authorities in Washington. Navara sought no reward for his invention, and also insisted his name not be connected with it, as he planned to return to Europe and feared arrest by the Gestapo. The U.S. government respected his wish, and went ahead with the development of his design.

Ostensibly, Navara’s ideas were incorporated by the U.S. Navy into the MK 24 “FIDO” torpedo - the first American anti-submarine warfare torpedo to employ acoustic homing - which was used effectively for the first time against a German U-Boat in 1943.

An interesting letter from Einstein, whose later campaigns against weapons are legendary. Though a life-long advocate of peace, Einstein only abandoned this tenet in the face of growing Nazi threat. He was of the firm belief that “an organized power cold only be met with another organized power”. Indeed, only one year later he would write his now-famous letter to President Roosevelt advising him to examine the possibility of developing the atomic bomb- though only to anticipate the Germanys, whom Einstein assumed had already made much progress.