The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-12-03
SUMTER RESORT FOR lIaMEN,
MEssRs MASON. VAN DEvENTER
AND McKEOwN BUILD AN
Auto-piano.
a~men From North Deire to Try
sumters Desir1bittty as an Expert
mental StauCn--1hought to BE a
Fine Place for Practice Flights.

places in this State, has several
would-be aviators, but. different
from them. II has now two amateur
sviators. for Mr.. Carl T. Mason and
Mr *. II Van Deventer, with the as
sistance OF Mr.. S. c. AcKeown. have
already built one airship-not a dir
igible or a fake one. but a regular
aeroplane-wfhich has been tested
and found 10 come up to expecta-
tons and these gentlemen are now
building another machine which Is
already almost completed. the sec
ond machine being OF the average
sine Of such craft. and will, probably
be able to ny as well when com
pleted as any other such craft.
The machinists are also contem-
plating third machine which will
be as near perfection IS any machine
can be made. All of the aeropianes
are biplanes and further tests will
show What are their merits and de-
merits: the merits to be increased and
the demerits to be corrected in the
course OF time. as the amateur avi-
ators learn more OF the machines
and what to expect OF them.
Mr.. III. II. vanDoventer when ask
ed about tho aeroplanes that they
were building said that very little
about them could be given out for
publication at the present time, as
the machines were not fully compile
ted and equipped yet. the fir De-
ing only a model and the second be-
Ing only I'm course OF construction.
There are several patents for various
parts OF the machine upon which he
Is now working and nothing coul1
be told about these parts OF the ma
chimes as II would invalidate the
patents. He gave out the following
letter which shows along what lines
they are now working. and what are
their ultimate aims in building the
aircraft:
Referring TO your inquiry regard
Ing our aeropiane. would say We
have recently constructed a machine
on the biplane type having about 100
square feet supporting surface, and
equipped with horizontal and verti-
cal rudders. This machine has made
some experimental glides We are
now preparing TO launch the machine
from n platform built over an auto
mobile thus enabling the machine
moving through the air at a velocity
OF 80 or 40 miles without the use of
an engine. At this speed the ma
chine will be capable OF making a
soaring fight similar TO that OF a
buzzard which will enable the oper-
ator to work the various controls
and thereby determine the stability
Of the machine.
We now have in process of con-
struction larger machine In which
we will place an especially designed
aeronautic engine. and with which
power flight will be made. Those
interested are Carl T. Mason. under
whose supervision the machines are
being constructed. III. II. VanDeven-
ter. who has charge OF the patent
work and certain parts OF the de-
velopment work. and s. c. McKeown
who Is assisting I'm the mechanical
construction. etc. Several patent ap-
plications are now in process OF
preparation covering various features
OF the machine.
The writer has attended a recent
aviation meet In Baltimore at which
time some successful machines were
inspected and compared with the one
under construction.
The splendid climate and fiat
stretches OF country around Sumter
make II an ideal place at which to
conduct aviation experiments and I'm
addition to the machines I'm process
of construction here negotiation Is
now progress with aviators In Wash
ington. ID. c.. and New York who
anticipate bringing their power ma
chimes to Sumter for experimental
flights. In fact II Is our hope that
Sumter can be made the home OF a
company for the commercial pro-
duction OF flying machine apparatus
he above Is all the information
that we care TO give regarding our
plans at the present time. We hope
In the near future to be able to give
some demonstration flights at which
time l will be glad To advise you so
that you can be present. and see for
yourself just what Is being accom-
plished In this line.
Yours very truly.