The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-17
FARMERS AIR SHIP.
Invention of an Evansville Man That
Appears to Fill the Bill.
Cincinnati Enquirer.


Willie this city is asleep lamp is burning
In room at 221 Division street. Over a
mysterious frame with large white wheels
a man is working. Heavy springs are wound
and then this mysterious piece of mechanism
flies about the room like a hugh ungainly
bird. Arcidas Farmer is the workman and
the huge bird-like frame is an airship
which he has invented.
Mr. Farmer has model which will ac-
tually navigate the air. 1t rises and de-
sends; can go straight ahead or backward.
So far as the model goes the invention is
success. Last night Mr. Farmer showed
his invention to q eorresEpondeens; The The, top
made of silk and be filed with gas to give
the vessel buoyancy. The gas In this will
not be let out, as it Is not needed for MAX
ing the ship rise or descend. On each side
of this is q wheel like the side wheels Of a
steamer. The striking thing about the
wheel is the shell which partly covers IT and
which is manipulated so that the vessel will
rise or descend go forward or backward.
In the model the sidewheel and shell Is
made of aluminium, the Iightest metal
Known.
The wheels always move in one direction,
forward. and if ii Is desired to go ahead the
cap or shell is moved so II covers the lower
half of the wheels. The wheels are then
revolved rapidly and push the air back. just
as the wheels of a sidewheeler shove the
water back and the vessel forward If the
cap is moved around so as to cover the
top half OF the wheel then the wheels push
the air In an opposite direction and the
vessel moves backward.
To make the vessel rise from the ground
the cap is placed so it covers the forward
vertical section of the wheel. The wheels
IN revolving beat the air down and make
the vessel to rise. Again. If the aeronauts
wish to descend the cap is moved around
to cover the rear vertical section of the
wheel The wheels beat the air upward and
the shin falls to earth. This Is the new
part Of Mr.. Farmers invention. He can
move the vessel UP and down. forward or
backward at viii. The sidewheeler with a
movable cap Is absolutely new idea with
Every effort at secrecy has been made.
For four years he guarded the secret from
everybody until last night he showed his
model TO the ENQUIRER correspondent. gave
an exhibition of its workings and explained
its ideas.
Suspended to the propeging apparatus by
ropes or wires will be Il car to hold the ma
chinery and the people The wheels win
he run by three gas engines. all of them
separate. so that If one breaks there win
be no danger TO the aerorauts. for another
can be used. great difficulty with In
ventors Of airshins has heen 10 get a light
but powerful engine. Mr.. Farmer has
solved the problem. His three engines will
have th'rty-horse power. and will weigh
only thirty pounds In lieu of the engine
now Mr. Farmer has made heavy clock
springs which arr wound up and furnish
the mower for moving the wheels of his
model. Besides the side wheels the vessel
will also have pro9ailing screw. like the
propeller on steamships. This Is not a
necessary part IF the Invention, but Is added
so as 10 increase the speed. Mr.. Farmer
has applied for a patent He is an employs
Of the Pelirnan plow works. lie Is ahirtw-
five years old.