Los Angeles herald., 1908-12-20
News of Aeronats Experiments Flying Machines
OPENS STORE TO
SELL AIRSHIPS
READY TO TAKE ORDERS FOR
AERIAL CRAFT
That California VIII Take Great Inter.
est in Aerial Travel Is Predicted
by Roy Knabenshue, Air.
ship Builder

New York papers are making
great deal of the fact that show win
dow in that city announces dtrigible
balloons and airships for sale. The
store was opened by the Clement
Bayard agency December 10 and the
New York Herald said: ut was the
first time that practical vehicles of the
air have ever been offered for sale in
the Broadway mart, and while there
was no bargain rush of customers 1t
inspired many interesting predictions
of what we shall witness along the
earial roads in the next decade"
In this respect Los Angeles is ahead
of New York and the rest of the coun-
try, as Roy Knabenshue opened his
airship and flying machine store at
1912 South Main street two weeks be-
fore the New York concern began
business. Knabenshue's store seems
to be the first of its kind in America.
He already has a string of prospective
customers.
when the delights of air travel in
California are realized 1 certainly ex-
pect to make some Sales" he said. IF
eastern aeronautS knew the winter
pleasures Of ballooning in California
they would flock out here this time of
the year. 1 look to see this a. great
aerial center and the leading all-year
aerial resort as the interest becomes
BE6dA0Is LUIS <AAA6CACo WIZ OO q 6ASe@S
place for aerial experiments; it is ideal
in that respect in winter as much as
in summer.
81 don't expect to sell many diri-
gibles; they are too expensive. There
ought to be a demand for balloons,
especially for pleasure. No sport that
can be conceived, even in Southern
California, is equal to an aerial trip,
and a short balloon journey Is not only
exhilarating but perfectly safe"
KnabenShue thinks he has an adj
vantage over eastern balloon makers
because he throws in an agreement to
pilot any balloon he sells until the
buyer qualities himself as a pilot. He
has arranged with Dick Ferris to man
age his coming exhibition dates. and
the latter is now negotiating with the
management of the Alaska Yukon
Pacific exposition and a number of
eastern fairs for next summer.
Sidney b. Bowman, the New York
agent for the Clement Bayard con-
Germ, says he is prepared to furnish
dirigibles ON thirty days notice. Tle
to individuals, but looks for orders
from aero clubs or other groups He
expects to make several sales within
the next eight or ten months
The Clement-Bayard dirigible is $50
feet long, 20 feet in diameter and with
a !1rtfng capacity OF three tons is ca
pable of making so kilometers an hour
with no opposing wind. 1t has a 100
horse power motor and is inflated with
hydrogen gas. The pendant steel and
aluminium frame has a car providing
ample room for eight passengers with
a table. chairs and necessary supplies
to provide comfort.
at was revelation to me-" said Mr..
Bowman, when made my first voy-
age in the big ship last month. Prior
to that 1 had given little thought to
airships, believing that practical aerial
locomotion was still in the dream
stage, but when I stepped into the car
Of that huge craft, with seven other
men, and the engineer drove 1t UP and
away through the air like beautiful
yacht I realized that the time had come
to get busy along Broadway. The mat
ter of an agency in this country was
taken up with M. Clement and heads
Of the automobile company, and the
matter was soon settled"