WHO INVENTED "BLISTERS"

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 87, 7 January 1920, Page 8

WHO INVENTED "BLISTERS"

CLAIM FOR .£35,000. Who was the inventor of the "blister" protection which renders torpedo attacks on ships fitted with it comparatively innocuous, as our .experience during the war showed? A claim for .£35,000 by Mr. J M. Campbell, a merchant, of Uieadle Heath Stockport, is being investigated hv u committee of the Admiralty. _ _ 'The device consists in (ho provision of a water Wider or cushion round tho skin of the ship, which smothers tho forco .of tho explosion. Instead of tho explosion smashing into the ship like a. brick through a window, it is reduced to the comparative harmlcssness of a woman's thump on ft pillow. Mr Campbell said that he submitted tho' idea to the Ailmirnlly as long ago as 18111. but the matter was not proceeded with. , When "time moid ha n r lor the outbreak of win', l ! -.o idea ''"'gnu to lie exploits! and i: '- Campbell wrote to thh \<li-.ii—ll'v for coiiitviisalion,' he wiiz 'told tl.e"said) that the Admiralty - ••» )> ( )t making use of his devise. ■'in Mirch Huh year I was informed by i'l'-' Walter I/iiig that it was <|iiit'e impossible 'thf.t the Admiralty should adopt the device, though all the tmir (hey were lecturing about what it hue "However, I have been infevmed that a commerce of the Admiralty is considcrimg my claim."