In later years, a controversy followed as to credit for the idea of a revolving turret or battery tower. Ericsson arguing that the idea for a revolving fort long antedated the 19th century. Thus it was one of the concepts of military engineering that belonged as common property.
Supporters of Timby pointed to his earlier caveat as proof that credit should go to him.
It seems clear that the honor of first publicly urging this form of gun housing on governmental authorities belongs to Timby, while the honor of first using the idea in actual construction goes to Ericsson, who may or may not have known of Timby's design.
In 1857 and 1862, Timby received patents for a barometer; in 1869, he patented a turbine water wheel, amd in 1871, a gun carriage; he also devised a process of printing terrestrial globes in colors and a process for quickly ripening coffee.
His inventions seem to have brought little financial return, however, and his family was supported in part by friends who memorialized Congress and the New York state legislature in his behalf.
--Old B-Runner
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