Autographs
Albert Einstein Responds to the National Defense Research Committee, the Same WW II Task Force That Headed the Manhattan Project, Regarding Separating Fuels and Oils from Water to Assist the Allies World War II War Effort Provided with Einstein's Hand-Drawn Diagram Illustration
ALBERT EINSTEIN (1879-1955). Historic German-born American Theoretical Physicist, Nobel Prize Winning Mathematical Physicist, recognized as "Person of the 20th Century" who developed the General Theory of Relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics (alongside quantum mechanics).
July 13, 1943-Dated World War II Period, Typed Letter Signed, "A. Einstein", measuring 8.5" x 11", 1 page, Princeton, New Jersey, Choice Very Fine. Very clean and clear on standard typing paper Stationary headed: "THE INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDY, SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS PRINCETON UNIVERSITY". This urgent letter being a response by Professor Einstein, presented with a diagram sketch illustration Hand-drawn by Einstein himself. In this letter Einstein advises a noted scientist from the National Defense Research Committee regarding a possible way to separate fuels and oils from water, a critical problem during the course of WW2. This Wartime Letter is written to Dr. George Antonoff, who was a chemist at Fordham University in New York, acting in his important role working with the Office of Scientific Research and Development.



Dr. Antonoff was part of a group led by Dr. James Conant, the head of the National Defense Research Committee, who worked on finding a solution to a common problem in the Allies' ports, that being "Water Pollution" that developed at and near the ports involving crude oil, diesel and other fuels, spread into the waters as a result of bombings, submarine attacks, or accidents involving oil tankers and other Allied military naval and merchant vessels.



July 8th, 1943-Dated World War II Period, Dr. Antonoff wrote a Letter (included) to Professor Albert Einstein, in which he requests Einstein's thoughtful assistance in resolving an important problem for the United States and Allied Navies. Antonoff indicates that he needs Einstein's counsel and a resolution of the problem at hand with an explanation urgently, and that a quick response is essential for the Allies in their War effort. regarding a physical phenomenon that Antonoff can't quite make sense of. Although the phenomenon isn't explained, one can deduce from Einstein's letter that it concerns the coagulation of oil when two liquids confront each other, creating a vortex. Antonoff supposed that the interaction was the result of electrical forces, but Einstein theorizes otherwise, nicely demonstrating Einstein's ability to analyze problems through abstract conceptualization. Einstein's Letter reads, in full:



''It seems to me that the supposition of electric forces is not needed to explain the phenomenon. The process seems to me to be the following:" (Einstein's Hand-Drawn Diagram Sketch Illustration) displayed at center.



"Through the stirrer is produced a circulation of the water together with a vortex. The water of the surface together with the oil-layer is hereby drawn into the vertical vortex and the oil is brought to its central line through the difference of the centrifugal forces. In this region the small drops of oil will come in contact with each other and become coagulated by the capilarr forces. There will be, of course, an optimum speed, for if the speed of the liquid in the circulation becomes too high the small oil-drops will not stay long enough in the central part of the motion to coagulate. -- Sincerely yours, - (Signed) A. Einstein.''



Einstein's Letter is accompanied by Antonoff's actual original Introductory Letter previously mentioned, explaining that he, in part: ''undertook this work by request of the Nat. Defense Research Committee headed by Dr. Conant. As importance [sic] of this problem in the war effort cannot be underestimated, your speedy reply will be highly appreciated. -- With Kind regards - Very truly yours -- (Signed) G. Antonoff"





This auction lot is complete, having both Albert Einstein's personal response providing the resolution of the problem presented by Dr. Antonoff, as presented in this Signed Letter of inquiry. Indeed, Einstein helped Dr. Antonoff, even providing his Hand-Drawn diagram illustration. Later, in an article that he published on the topic April 1, 1944 in the "Journal of Physical Chemistry" Antonoff directly cites Einstein's assistance. Also included in the lot is a copy of an article in Fordham University newsletter discussing Dr. Antonoff's wartime research. Einstein's fine sharp signature, "A. Einstein" is very clear and easily readable at the conclusion, measuring about 1.25" long. An important historical Autographed Letter establishing Einstein's desire to help the American and Allies' World War Two efforts however he and his mind could. (3 items)