hɪz ɹᵻmˈɑːɹkəbəl skˈɪlz æt mᵻkˈænɪkəl dɪzˈaɪn ˈɜːnd hˌɪm ðə nˈɪkneɪm "ˈoʊld pˈɜːtʃɪs" fˈɑːloʊɪŋ hɪz dɪzˈaɪn ænd kənstɹˈʌkʃən əvə kˈɑːt fˈɪɾᵻd wɪð pˈʊliz ðæt ɐlˈaʊd ɪt təbi ɐdʒˈʌstᵻd baɪ ðə pˈɜːsən lˈaɪɪŋ ɪn ɪt.
His remarkable skills at mechanical design earned him the nickname "Old Purchase" following his design and construction of a cot fitted with pulleys that allowed it to be adjusted by the person lying in it.