Tool That Built the Atomic Bomb! Used by Oppenheimer's Foreman Manhattan Project

Title:
Caliper Divider Tool Used in Construction of the First Atomic Bomb – From Gus Schultz, Foreman at Los Alamos During the Manhattan Project and Signed Photo of Hiroshima, signed by Tibbets, Ferebee and Van Kirk.

Description:
This powerful and historically charged display features a signed photograph of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, showing the iconic mushroom cloud that formed after the detonation of the atomic bomb on August 6, 1945. The photo is hand-signed by three key crew members of the Enola Gay — the B-29 Superfortress that dropped the first atomic bomb in warfare:

• Paul Tibbets – Pilot (signed "Paul Tibbets – Pilot / Enola Gay")

• Theodore "Dutch" Van Kirk – Navigator

• Tom Ferebee – Bombardier

Beneath the signed photo is a mounted vintage navigator’s drafting tool known as a caliper divider, a critical instrument used during WWII owned by Gus Schultz.

Historical Context:
As foreman of the Los Alamos machine shop, Gus Schultz was a vital figure within the Manhattan Project’s inner operations. He oversaw the precision manufacturing of components for both uranium and plutonium bomb designs, including implosion mechanisms, explosive lenses, and containment vessels—parts that required absolute accuracy for the bomb’s functionality. His efforts were praised by J. Robert Oppenheimer, who wrote to Schultz:

"The laboratory has leaned very heavily on you, and there have been times when your shops have stood between us and failure—many such times... none of us is so foolish as to think we could have done it without you."

Los Alamos—code-named Project Y—was established in 1942 on New Mexico’s remote Pajarito Plateau, transforming quickly into a secret scientific enclave. Known colloquially as “The Hill,” it became home to top physicists and engineers under Oppenheimer’s leadership. Here, the atomic bomb evolved from theory into terrifying reality, culminating in the Trinity Test of July 16, 1945, followed by the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that brought World War II to an end.

Artifact Significance:
While Trinitite—the green glass formed by the Trinity blast—is often found at auction, actual tools used in the bomb's construction are virtually nonexistent on the private market. After reviewing extensive auction records, this offering appears to be the only known, documented example of such a tool used at Los Alamos during the war to surface publicly.

Importantly, a tool, but only a ruler, sold at University Archives in December 2024 for $2,000 including buyer’s premium, underscoring the market demand for Manhattan Project-era instrumentation.

Provenance & Documentation:
This tool comes directly from the collection of Gus Schultz and is accompanied by a detailed provenance packet that includes:

• A copy of Oppenheimer’s original letter to Schultz

• An additional letter from Oppenheimer referencing Schultz’s contributions

• A diary entry by Schultz’s wife reflecting on the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings

• A copy of Schultz’s Los Alamos ID card

Closing Appeal:
This is not merely a relic—it is a tangible piece of atomic history, physically connected to the scientific and moral inflection point of the 20th century. With impeccable provenance and deep historical weight, this is the only known Manhattan Project fabrication tool to reach the market with presidential-level attribution and supporting documentation. A powerful and singular acquisition for institutions, advanced collectors, or anyone drawn to the pivotal legacy of science and warfare.