The San Francisco call., 1910-07-25
Mitchell Automobile Factory Being Equipped
For Manufacture of Aeroplanes
By r. R. PHOMMEDIEU.

Urging aeronautical experts to util-
ize the term "aerovehicle" in place of
| ''airship' in describing heavier than
air craft, Designer j. W. Bate of the
Mitchell Lewis motor company of Ra
cine, Wis, has returned from trip to
Europe, where he made an exhaustive
study of the manufacture of aero
planes. He announces the entry of the
big automobile company into the realm
of aeroplane building and the receipt
of the first order for 10 aeroplanes, to
be delivered by the Mitchel1-Lewis
motor company to P. H. Greer of Los
Angeles
Not only is Designer Bate fully con-
Vinced of the practicability of readily
Transforming a portion of well
equipped automobile plant like that of
the MitchelI-Lewis motor company
into an raerovehicle" plant but he is
prepared to astonish some of the ex-
perts in aeronautics with the innova-
tlons incorporated in his designs of
aeroplanes that will bear the sign plate
OF the Mitchell company. Aeroplanes,
in Bates opinion, are to be classified as
commercial and pleasure "aeroyehi-
cles.' and he ventures the prediction
that the first practical commercial ap-
plication of the heavier than air craft
will be in the carrying of government
mail to districts that now are consid-
cred rather inaccessible.
GREAT POSSIBILITIES
Great possibilities, both in the mat
ter of pleasure soaring and commercial
tasks are being emphasized in the aero
plane sphere. 1t is comparatively
easy matter. to equip a modern automo-
bile manufacturing plant like the
Mitchell-Lewis motor company's works
a Racine into an aeroplane factory by
the addition of only minimum of ma
chinery. The sheet metal stamping fa-
cilities of the motor car plant appeal to
the 'aerovehicle designer instantly and
may be adapted for the new industry
with intelligence and little work. The
trouble with most aeroplanes is their
fimSy construction, too much attention
being paid to lightness by the sacrifice
of stability. The majority of accidents
to aeroplanes are due to the tangling
Of the gears.
Il am prepared to say that the new
'aerovehicle' of the Mitchell factory
will have features that aeronautica1
engineers will greet as not only scien-
tific wonders, but will be hailed as the
solution of many of the problems that
hitherto have been obstacles in the
path of the better development of the
weight carrying monoplpane and BIZ
plane.
"The Mitchell 'aerovehicIe' power
plant will be four cylinder motor of
exceptionally light construction, sta
bility being afforded by light aluminium
fittings. The engine will have fitted to
it light flexible clutch, so as to drive
the propeller and enable the operator
to engage the engine with the propeller
at will, and also to assist in starting
the engine from the operators seat.
The Mitchell aeroplanes will be a two
passenger 'aerovehicle,' the weight of
designing judgment being in favor of
the dependability of a machine with
two operators. With the chances for
matters going wrong under the direc-
tion of a single operator being so OBJ
vious, it is the intention of the Mitch
ell-Lewis company to reduce to the
irreducible minimum the element of
danger and disability in the heavier
than air craft All of the mechanical
features of the 'aerovehicles' that will !
be built under my direction are liber-
ally protected by basic patents" Il
TEN MACHINES ORDERED
The initial order for a Mitchell Lewis |
"aerovehicle" is interesting. 1t is as |
follows
LOS ANGELES, Cal, July Is, 1910-
Mitchell Lewis Motor Company, Racine |
Wis.-Dear Sirs: Please enter our
order for 10 aerop1anes, to be delivered |
to us as promptly as possible These to |
be standard biplane construction, either |
with the Wright, Curtiss or Farman /
system of control, to be fitted with six /
cylinder water>cooled motors, approx
imately with 3a x4A cylinders, mag
neto ignition, cylinders to be fitted
with copper water jackets, and stand
ard type radiator. These to have ca
pacity of two passengers and speed of
40 miles per hour.
eve understand you have your de-
signs for your aeroplane pretty well t
under way, and If our specifications
conflict with these designs to any great
extent kindly let us know, as they can
be varied somewhat.
I'VE wish these machines shipped
Grated, so as to take the lowest freight
rate, and will thank you to advise us
how soon delivery of the first machine
can be expected. Very truly yours,
.'P. H. GREER.