Mr.Smith had not the means of accomplishing this by himself, but with the improved prospects of the invention, capitalists now came to his aid.

One of the most effective and energetic of these was Mr.Henry Currie, banker; and, with the assistance of others, the "Ship Propeller Company" was formed, and proceeded to erect the test ship proposed by the Admiralty.
The result was the Archimedes, a wooden vessel of 237 tons burthen.
She was designed by Mr.Pasco, laid down by Mr.Wimshurst in the spring of 1838, was launched on the 18th of October following, and made her first trip in May 1839.

She was fitted with a screw of one turn placed in the dead wood, and propelled by a pair of engines of 80-horse power.
The vessel was built under the persuasion that her performance would be considered satisfactory if a speed was attained of four or five knots an hour, where as her actual speed was nine and a half knots.

The Lords of the Admiralty were invited to inspect the ship.

At the second trial Sir Edward Parry, Sir William Symonds, Captain Basil Hall, and other distinguished persons were present.
The results were again satisfactory.