The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-07-18
having done on Wednesday.

having done on Wednesday.
The inventor. Mr.. Ritchell, is a
Maine man, but has during several
years past lived at Cory, Pa. The
project Of constructing flying
machine has been favorite subject
for contemplation with him during
nearly ten years past, and for the last
seven Of that time he and his friend,
Mr.. w. H. Lyman, of Cory, Pa,
have incubated his idea together. In
November. 1876. they went to Bridge
port, Conn.,, to put their plans into
execution, as they believed they could
there obtain most readily just the
peculiar materials they required. and
have them put together in the most
perfect manner. Their confidence in
Yankee resources and skill was not
misplaced. but their crude ideas were
not Immediately crystalized into a
perfect machine, nevertheless.
In the first apparatus which they
constructed, some parts were too
large, and there was an effective APP
plication of power. Then u second
one was built, that is now upon eX-
hibition. and though it cannot be said
to be SO far perfected as to be capable
Of application to practical serving Il
mail route. or even us popular
vehicle for travel. it is still of very
great Importance as proving the cor
rectness of the theories upon which it
was based. Mr.. Ritchell took it to
the Permanent Exhibition at Phila-
delphia, May 10. 1877. and SO sue
ceeded in effectually concealing it
from public knowledge for Il long
time. Now he has put it into the
proper course for either securing it's
development or making it a worthy
pioneer for other inventors in this
branch of science.
The tlving machsne is all clumsiness
above, all lightness and grace below
The lifting power is afforded by a
horizontally placed cylinder of
"gossamer CLOTH" fine linen coated
with India rubber, twenty-five feet in
length and thirteen in diameter.
weighing only siXty-siX pounds, and
charged with hydrogen gas, which is
made by the usual process from iron
turnings and sulphuric acid. Broad
worsted bands extend over that and
down to rod of mandrel drawn brass
tubing. nickel plated. ID inch in
diameter and % feet long. From
that rod the machine is suspended by
slender cords. The after portion Of
the machine is at the base parable
logram of rods > feet wide and l-2
fee, long. from which rise. lengthwise
Il, ..l, L..
center. and drawn near together at
the top. All these rods are in reality
hollow tubes of mandrel drawn brass.
cog edged steel wheel. II inches in
diameter with double handles so
geared II four bladed fan moving
horizontally directly beneath, that
the operator can give the fan 1900
revolutions per minute. The four
blades Of the fan are of white holly,
each having asuperficial area of about
50 square inches. and the extreme
diameter of this revolving fan is "a
inches.
The blades are set at a slight angle.
like those of a screw Of propeller.
Just behind the wheels is a very
small seat. upon which the operator
perches. His feet rest upon two light
| tredles above and in front of the fan.
From the front of this form spring
other rods, carrying at their extremity
Il vertically working revolving fan.
like that beneath the operators seat.
except that it is but % inches in
diameter. 1t is SO geared to the main
or horizontal fan that it may be OF.
Grated 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 $500 revolution per minute
while the other is making 1000 All
its movements are controlled by the
operators feet. When he presses
the left treadle he throws it into
gear. when he presses with the toe OF
| his right foot it turns to the left. and
slight pressure OF his heel whirls it
over to the right. He can also reverse
| the action of his main fan, so that
when it whirls one way he goes down.
and when its course is reversed he
mounts in the air.
That this is no. merely a claim. has
| been clerelv demonstrated. Then the
weight of the operator and machine
and the lifting power Of the gas
cylinder have been so nicely 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 ap-
paratus 10 rise and continue to ascend
as long as the lifting power of the
machinery was exerted. The weight.
normally. Of the machine. and the rod
from which it is suspended, is AZ
pounds. This. then, gives ia pounds
as the weight of the entire apparatus.
The operator. Mark Quinlan, who
went up on Wednesday and again
yesterday, weighs 96 pounds, and to
balance him and the dead weight
against the lifting power Of the gas,
he had to carry along with him about
nine pounds of shot and stones.
The second exhibition was given
June 13. The weather was far more
favorable. The wind came in quite
sharp gusts, and there were threat
enings of coming,storm. Neverthe.
less, the ascent was made. Little
Quinlan. even if he does only weigh