celebrating propeller

We figured Propeller would be a playful celebration of Nova Scotia’s rich sea faring tradition, while avoiding some of the over-worked symbols from the age of sail.

To our surprise, we discovered that an inventive fishing captain named John Patch from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia actually invented the marine screw propellor in the 1830s.  Demonstrations of his magical new technology, powered by an on-board handcrank, astounded onlookers in Yarmouth and Saint John in 1834.

The screw propeller would soon revolutionize steam-powered shipping by eliminating the need for large, inefficient paddle wheels.

Sadly, however, John Patch was thwarted in his attempt to patent his invention in Washington, possibly due to corruption. Moreover, the Nova Scotia House of Assembly later rejected a petition to aid Patch, who had fallen on hard times.

He died a penniless inmate of the poorhouse in Yarmouth. To paraphrase a beer ad. . .

He was a Nova Scotian.