The San Francisco call., 1910-01-22
PROFESSOR MONTGOMERY
MAY BRING A SUIT
AGAINST WRIGHTS
Especial Dispatch 10 The Call

SANTA CLARA. Jan. 21.-The world
Of aeronautics may receive somewhat
of jar resulting from the visit of
Raymond ]. Blakeslee, attorney for
Glenn Curtiss, to Professor John J.
Montgomery at Santa Clara college
today Blakeslee arrived from Los An
geles this morning, going Immediate
ly into conference with Montgomery
Curtiss is expected to leave Los An
geles today to be present at another
meeting with Montgomery in Oakland
DISCUSSION ABOUT PATENT
What took place between Curtiss'
attorney and Professor Mont gomery be-
hind closed doors this afternoon was
not made public. 1t is understood from
good authority, however, that Blakes-
lee was made acquainted with Mont
gomery's airship patent and that tes-
timony in regard TO it was taken which
may necessitate the local inventor go
ing to New York.
1t has been known here for some
time that Montgomery contemplates
taking legal action against certain peo-
pie for infringement of patent on his
aeroplane.
WRIGHT BROTHERS INVOLVED
1t has also been known that the
Wright brothers are the ones directly
charged with the infringement. Mont
gomery's patent comprehended an
aeroplane constructed with surfaces
periodically curved, the same machine
being used by the Wright brothers.
The -Wrights have never successfully
flown in any but curved surface ma
chimes, patent covering which they
have failed to take out
AS the Wrights have secured an in
junction restraining Curtiss from using
what Montgomery claims none but he
has right to use the situation is read
lily seen to be complicated
Blakeslee when seen today after the
meeting refused to discuss the Mont
gomery affair further than stating he
was here among other things to look
into the Montgomery machine. Re
garding the proposed litigation, which
if taken UP may upset the airship
world, he would say nothing.
The injunction issued by Judge Ha-
eel of the United States circuit court
of the western New York district re-
straining Glenn Curtiss from using
what the Wrights claim as their patent
was talked of by Blakeslee, he stating,
as IS already known, that an appeal
had been taken and arguments would
be started early in February.
DISCUSSES CURTIsS MACHINE
One of the contentious of the Wright
brothers relating to the use of the
vertical rudder on aeroplanes charged
against Curtiss was declared by Blakes-
lee to be utterly false. He cited the
example of Charles X. Hamilton. who
flew successfully in Curtiss machine
in Los Angeles the other day with the
vertical rudder tied, demonstrating that
the use of such a thing in the Curttss
machine was not necessary TO Its hight
in order to produce an equal balance.
II was pointed out by Blakeslee that
even though there may be some simi-
larity in the vertical rudders of Cur
tiss and the Wrights, Curtiss can sue
cessfully maintain perfect equilibrium,
even though the vertical rudder be
eliminated.
Blakeslee says that the Wrights have
no proper basis whatever on which to
ground their charges.
CAPITAL BACK OF WRIGHTS
The point whether to commence in
fringement proceedings against the
Wrights at once or not seems TO be
puzzling Montgomery. Back of the
Wrights stands unlimited capital which
could carry the proceedings on and on
for perhaps years to come. Montgoni-
ery seems to realize this fact and is
undecided.
Elaborate experiments and successful
glides were made by Montgomery in
his ship constructed on the "seagulP'
wing plan 10 years before the Wrights
were heard of as flyers.
MANY YEARS OF STUDY
Many years spent in solving prin-
ciples in the problem of aerial naviga
ton have given wide recognition to
MONTGOMERY. The Vienna aeronautical
club recently paid the inventor honor
when it termed him ''the father of sue
cessful modern aviation His most
successful exhibitions took place at
Santa Clara college in 1905 with ma
chine maintaining perfect equilibrium
and under, absolute control of its avi-
ator, going with or against the wind
and describing circles in the air.