Joe's swirl cup

Samples showing machining stages in forming a swirl cup.

Throughout his training and career, Dad’s superiors often lauded his inventiveness, intelligence, and innovative thinking. This is well illustrated in his approach to the manufacture of the swirl cup for GE's J85 engine.

According to Wikipedia, the J85 "is one of GE's most successful and longest in service military jet engines, the civilian versions having logged over 16.5 million hours of operation. The United States Air Force plans to continue using the J85 in aircraft through 2040."

Dad kept a swirl cup on his kitchen counter and was always pleased to relate its story. It is a physical reminder of his smart approach to manufacturing. Having moved up into engineering and planning from the shop floor, Dad knew his stuff first-hand.  Co-workers and managers respected his ideas and knowledge.

Originally, these cone-shaped swirl cups required a phenomenal amount of difficult machining to get the tolerances and angles just right. Dad examined the part and recommended a simpler, faster (and more profitable) manufacturing approach. Understanding that the wide end would be welded closed anyway, he proposed that the piece be machined not from an initial cone, but from a flat piece of metal, with the slots cut before being folded into the cone.

While the concept was Dad’s, he gave due credit to the skilled machinist, Joe Stuhldreier, who proved Dad’s ideas were valid by actually producing these swirl cups the new way. Dad attended Joe's retirement reception on October 8, 1991, and said a few words, as follows:

In my 34 years at Bristol Aerospace, it was my privilege and pleasure to work with many highly skilled and dedicated toolmakers -- "world class" toolmakers! Joe Stuhldreier was, is one of the best -- anywhere.

Some of my best laid schemes -- for the tooling and manufacture of some of those sophisticated bits and pieces of exotic metal, which Bristol specializes in -- walked that fine line between "those two imposters" -- "triumph and disaster."

I was always relieved when Joe was placed in charge of some of these high risk schemes.

The swirl cup for the J-85 engine was one of our most dramatic success stories, success due in large measure to Joe. He has that "infinite capacity for taking pains"; that capacity which Edison himself called "genius."

Joe will be sorely missed. He has given his best. I wish him the best -- good health and happiness in his retirement.

With respect and admiration,
Sincerely,
Murray R. Fraser

While working at RRC, I noticed a colleague’s last name was Stuhldreier. It’s not a common name, so I asked Mike if he was related to Joe. Sure enough, Joe was his father. I sent Mike a copy of Dad’s tribute to Joe, which he appreciated very much. When asked if he needed to see what the reference to “swirl cup” was, Mike assured me that he knew all about them. His father was proud of that project, too.

Thank-you so much for sharing your dad’s treasure with me. It was really nice to read and reminded me a lot of the man my father was – and some of his perfectionist traits have definitely been passed on. I remember being at my Dad’s retirement and hearing everyone speak. That was over 20 years ago now, so reading your dad’s words again was a real joy. Just so you know, I am scanning this and emailing it to my three brothers. I am sure they will appreciate it as much as I do.

Thank-you again for your thoughtfulness. It means a lot.

Mike

PS – I am pretty sure we have a swirl cup too. In fact, I think several were used to fashion a clock out of parts that my father worked on that one of my older brothers now has. 

Joe Stuhldreier receives a swirl cup clock at his retirement reception

Dad and Joe must have made a great team; both were skilled perfectionists who took pride in their work. And Dad has always been a little jealous of Joe’s clock.