Tin Fish Is One-Man Submarine (Dec, 1938)
Source: Popular Science ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Dec, 1938
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Tin Fish Is One-Man Submarine
UNDERWATER FLIVVER DIVES THIRTY FEET, MAKES FOURTEEN-MILE RUNS
SHAPED like a fish, a one-man, homemade submarine built by Barney Connett, of Chicago, Ill., is believed to be one of the world’s smallest underwater boats. Shorter than the average canoe, the craft measures twenty-three inches at its widest point and is thirty-seven inches high. Painted gills and eyes heighten the fishy look of the ship, which has a stabilizing tail fin surrounding its propeller. Fitted with conventional submarine equipment, including blowers, oxygen-supply apparatus, air pumps, and a respirator, the tiny submarine is powered by two sets of electric storage batteries. Connett has made over 300 trips in his queer craft, diving to depths of over thirty feet and navigating under water for as long as fourteen miles at a stretch. Normally, the boat runs about three feet below the surface as its one-man crew navigates by means of a four-foot telescoping periscope that sticks up out of the water.
One other tidbit
http://www.time.com/time/magaz.....hix-sphere
Comment by dich — May 2, 2008 @ 5:45 pm
Q-Branch is SOOOO jealous!
Comment by KHarn — May 3, 2008 @ 7:58 am
This was my great uncle’s craft and yes, he did navigate this across Lake Michigan from Chicago to Michigan. He also traveled with Ripley’s Believe it or Not. If anyone has other info on him I would appreciate anything . Thanks
Comment by Noel — May 26, 2008 @ 7:59 pm
Very cool!
Comment by Cole — July 19, 2008 @ 1:53 am
Barney was also my great uncle and I would love to know how you are related Noel.
Comment by Cory — January 5, 2009 @ 10:08 pm
Barney is my Grandmother’s brother ad I think this is so interesting..I love learning things about my ancestors I had no idea about…I see my cousin Noel has also seen this…HI Noel!! Debbie
Comment by Debbie ( Smith) Dillon — March 18, 2009 @ 10:03 am
Patti Smith Siciliano also wants to add a “hello” to her cousins who posted comments
Comment by Debbie ( Smith) Dillon — March 18, 2009 @ 12:37 pm
Debbie, your Grandmother would be Gladys or Ruth? Patti, how are you related? Noel, how are you related? I would love to be able to contact all of you. Is there any other way than put an email address in this message? Barney was my great-uncle, his brother Leo was my Grandfather. I don’t have any information on the sisters. I’m sure we each have information that the others would be interested in. I found a copy of this Popular Science magazine on ebay. Also found a website with old newsreel clips and there is one of Barney from 1940something (can’t find my notes) but it was rather pricey $250. Sure would be neat to see it.
Comment by Cory (Connett) Moss — March 18, 2009 @ 9:34 pm
i AM THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF RUTH CONNETT SO THIS WAS MY GREAT UNCLE.
Comment by dENISE PRAITHER — March 19, 2009 @ 8:41 am
This message is for Cory..I am the grand daughter of Ruth and I have no idea how we could exchange stories either.. although it would be so interesting to do so. If you figure out a way…let me know. Denise, Patti and Noel are all my cousins..we are all from the same silly family tree! HA! My father was Ruth’s son. Patti and Denise are sisters and are daughters of another of Ruth’s sons and Noel is the son of yet another of Ruth’s sons….our family tree is a BIG tree! Hope to hear from you with a way we could chat…Debbie
Comment by Debbie ( Smith) Dillon — March 19, 2009 @ 9:49 am
Cory it would be great to chat with you I am Denise Ruth Connetts granddaughter her son Gerald Smith is my father. Denise
Comment by Denise Praither — March 19, 2009 @ 5:26 pm
Well cuzins this is so very exciting! I don’t want to jeopardize my regular email account by listing it here so I’m going to figure out how to create an alternate email address which I will post here so you can contact me and then I’ll share my regular email address with you directly and we can start “comparing notes”
Comment by Cory (Connett) Moss — March 19, 2009 @ 11:08 pm
Cory that would be great. This is very exciting for all of us. Looking forward to it. Denise
Comment by dENISE PRAITHER — March 20, 2009 @ 10:48 am
If you’re related to Barney Connett please contact me at cory.moss57@gmail.com
Comment by Cory (Connett) Moss — March 22, 2009 @ 8:47 pm
Well hello to all my wonderful cousins, In posting this last year I had no idea that this would reach all of you!! Sorry it took so long to reply but so happy that one message had such a response! Cory, it is nice to hear from you as well, thanks for posting this awesome photo. Here is an article that I found detailing the voyage across Lake Michigan under the “Rub a dub dub” section. http://www.greatlakes.org/Document.Doc?id=40
Patty, Debbie, Denise, great to hear from you, I have a picture of Uncle Barney in his military uniform if you are interested. I would love to communicate with all of you, my email is labadida@hotmail.com. Hope to hear from you soon! Noel
Comment by Noel — March 23, 2009 @ 1:30 am
This is message for is Noel…I tried to write you a letter and send it to the e-mail address you have listed but it was sent back to me and said that I would have to be ” allowed” in by you…so the ball is in your court ..Debbie
Comment by Debbie ( Smith) Dillon — March 23, 2009 @ 7:39 am
fag much ?
Comment by tyler — April 15, 2009 @ 3:04 pm
hey guys its your cousin vicci geralds daughter and ruth connetts grandaughter nice to here about some of or other relatives
Comment by victoria smith lascalea — April 26, 2009 @ 4:39 pm
This is what made america great. I am so glad he was successful with his sub.
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2009 @ 9:00 am
I’m Barney’s great-granddaughter. His only child, Mariel, is my grandmother. We’re trying to gather any information about him that we can, so if anyone has any more great info, let us know! We live in New Lenox, Il. Where are you all from?
Comment by Alaina — May 29, 2009 @ 8:37 pm
I gotta hand it to you Charlie, if you aren’t bringing wife swappers together you’re keeping the Connett Family in touch. This Interweb thing just might catch on.
Comment by Firebrand38 — May 29, 2009 @ 8:44 pm
Alaina,
I would love to share info with you. Contact me at my home email cory.moss@gmail.com My grandfather Leo Wesley Connett was your great-grandpa Barney’s brother. I’ve also recently made contact with John who is the son of Barney’s sister Ruth. It’s been quite a few years ago that I spoke with Mariel on the phone. I live in Nebraska and look forward to hearing from you. Cory
Comment by Cory (Connett) Moss — May 29, 2009 @ 11:32 pm
Alaina, I mistyped my email address. It is cory.moss57@gmail.com
Comment by Cory (Connett) Moss — May 30, 2009 @ 9:49 pm