MCHUGH: Very few of you are old enough to remember the "Putt-Putt Boat." It was a power propelled toy boat that gained popularity after 1915. Here is how it came about. Charles J. McHugh, owner of Universal Tool and Die in Indianapolis, Indiana, designed the toy and applied for a patent on 8 February 1915.
The "Putt-Putt Boat" was made of thin sheet metal and a pipe to allow steam to escape. The invention consisted of "a conduit having one open end to be immersed in water and another open end inclosed in a steam boiler whereby the water is alternatively drawn into the conduit and forcibly expelled therefrom to produce power..." The patent [#1,200,960] was issued 10 October 1916. The "Putt-Putt" was produced by the H-K Toy and Novelty Co. of Indianapolis. The boat became a tremendously popular item in the years after World War I.
A second patent was applied for on 25 June 1924 by Charles McHugh and Durward Rivers. The second patent called for modifications and improvements in the original design of and method of propulsion for the "putt-putt" boat. Patent # 1,596,934 was issued by the U.S. Patent Office for the power-propelled boat on 24 August 1926.
The toy boat brought the McHugh family a nice profit. Unfortunately, the Depression hit and Universal Tool and Die was lost. Charles got back into the tool and die business in 1937. He started Indianapolis Tool and Die and ran it until 1942. McHugh and his two eldest sons then started Craftsman Tool and Engineering Co., which they operated until the end of WWII. Charles opened a small tool and die shop behind his house during the early 1950s. He also taught his son-in-law the business.
My Dad was co-owner of Van All Tool and Die for many years.
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