McCormick turbine. 19th-century illustration of a vertical 'America' turbine based on the design produced in 1899 by US engineer John B. McCormick and made by the Morgan Smith company in the USA and the Sloan company in France. This was a revolutionary mixed-flow water turbine. Here, the upper casing has been removed. Water turbines harness the power of moving water as it rotates the blades. A variety of designs were developed in the 19th century. Artwork from 'Moteurs' (1911) by French civil engineer Max de Nansouty (1854-1913), part of the 'Les merveilles de la science' series of 1867-1891 by Louis Figuier.