American quantity production of airplanes, however, gave to
the Entente Allies an overwhelming advantage. Final standardization of
tools and design for the "Soul of the American Airplane" was not
accomplished until February, 1918. Yet within eight months more than
15,000 Liberty engines, each of them fully tested and of the highest
quality, were delivered.
The United States did not follow European types of engines, but in a
wonderfully short time developed an engine standardized in the most
recent efficiency of American industries.
According to Secretary of War Baker, an inspiring feature of this work
was the aid rendered by consulting engineers and motor manufacturers,
who gave up their trade secrets under the emergency of war needs.
Realizing that the new design would be a government design and no firm
or individual would reap selfish benefit because of its making, the
motor manufacturers, nevertheless, patriotically revealed their trade
secrets and made available trade processes of great commercial value.
These industries also contributed the services of approximately two
hundred of their best draftsmen. Parts of the first engine were turned
out at twelve different factories, located all the way from Connecticut
to California. When the parts were assembled the adjustment was perfect
and the performance of the engine was wonderfully gratifying.
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