, 1878-07-13

u"lly concealng it from public knowl
edge Tor a long time. Now he has put
1t in the proper course for either sccur-
inc It's development or making it n
worthy pioneer Tor other inventors in
tins branch OF science.
The flying machine is I'LL clumsincss
above, all lightness and grace below.
The lifting power is n horizontally
placed cylinder of "gossamer cloth," fine
/ linen coated with india rubber, 25 feet
in length and 13 in diameter. weighing
put together in the most perfect manner.
Their confidence in Yankee resources
and skill was not misplaced, but their
crude ideas were not Immediately crvs-
talized into perfect machine, neverthe.
less.
In the first apparatus which they con
structcd, some parts were too heavy
others too large, and there was an met
fective application of power. Then a
second one was built, that is now upon
exhibition, and though it cannot he said
to he so Tar perfected as to be capable of
application to practical service, such as
serving II mail route, oi even as "A popu-
lar vehicle for travel, it is still of very
great Importance as proving the correct
ness of the theories upon which it was
based, Mr.. Ritchell took it to the
only 66 pounds and charged with
hydrogen gas, which is made by the
usual process from iron turnings and
sulphuric acid Broad worsted binds
extend over that and down to rod of
mandrel-drawn brass tubing, nicklc-
plated, Il inches in diameter and 23 feet
long. From that rod the machine is
suspended by slender cords. The after
portion of the machine is at the base of
u parallelogram of rods feet wide and
5 / feet long, from which rise, lengthwise,
curved rods IS inches high in the centre.
and drawn near together at the top. All
these rods are really hollow tubes of
mandrel drawn brass, light, and very
strong. Above the apex of this form
rises cog edged steel wheel, II inches
in diameter, with double handles so
geared to four baded fan moving
horizontally, directly beneath, that the
operator can easily give the fun 1000
revolutions per minute. The four blades
of the tan are OF white holly, each hav-
ing II superficial area of about 80 square
inches, and the extreme diameter of this
rcv"lving fan is "a inches. The blades
are set at slight anglo. like those Of the
screw OF - propeller. Just behind the
wheel is veIy small seat upon which
the operator perches. His feet rest upon
two light treadles above and in front of
the fan. From the front of this form
spring other rods, carrying at their
extremity vertically.wolking revolving
fan, like that beneath the operator 3 seat
except tiIat it is but 90 inches in diane
ter. 1t is 81 gyared to the main or hori-
zontal fan that it may he operated or not,
at the pleasure of the driver of the
machine, and can be made to turn from
one side to the other, so as to defect
the course OF the machine In the air.
This fan will make 2,sOO revolutions per
Minute when the other is making 1000
All its mo, ements nre controlled by the
operators feet. When he presses the
lett freddie he throws IL into gear, when
he presses with the toe of his right fnot
it turns to his left, and slight pressure
of his heel whirls it over to the right.
He can also reverse the action of his
main fan 80 that when it whirls one way
he goes down, and when its course is
reversed lie mounts in the air.
That this is not merely claim, has
been clearly demonstrated. When the
weight of the operator and machine, and
the lifting power of the gas cylinde,
have been SO nicoly adjusted that they
were exactly balanced, SIX pounds have
been added to the weight of the machine
and the working of the horizontal! fan
has caused the apparatus to rise and con.
tinne TO ascend us long as the lifting
power OF the machinery was exertcd.
The weight, normally OF the machine,
and the rod from which it is suspended,