You may be asking yourself how these two fit together. I would like to say something like “every box of Cheerios contains a model Alvin in it.” That would be great but totally fictional. The connection is actually more interesting and involves Bud Froehlich.
You may have heard of a little submersible called Trieste that set a depth record in 1960. The mechanical arm on it was built by Harold “Bud” Froehlich an engineer at General Mills who sadly passed away this week. Bud after the Trieste dive started circulating plans for a replacement, the Seapup. Meanwhile on the east coast talk was circulating about a possible submersible, the Aluminaut to be in part built by Reynolds thus the name, for naval and scientific use. A cold reception at Scripps for the idea contrasted to welcome received from Allyn Vine and WHOI Director Dr. Paul Fye. Eventually questions about the design
bad name and who would ultimately own the Aluminaut halted the project. Vine and Fye still wanting to develop a submersible finally received funds to design and build a new submersible. Ironically the specifications were a match to the Seapup.
Seven companies were sent the request for bid: General Mills, Lockheed, General Dynamic’s, General Motors, North American Aviation, Philco, and Pratt Whitney Aircraft. Only two submitted bids, General Mills and North American Aviation. Froehlich and General Mills began work on the Alvin, named after Allyn Vine, in the late 1950s at the research facility in Minneapolis. But why a cereal producer? General Mills’ experience with making precision equipment for their own manufacturing processes had lead to several contracts for equipment during World War II, including high altitude balloons. Some of Froehlich’s innovations to protect the submarine under the high pressures included covering the propeller, immersing the batteries in petroleum, and shaping the hull like a dirigible, which reduces drag on low-speed vehicles.