Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1916-01-21

ILL he had an uncanny knack for un.
derstanding the why and wherefore OF electricity
and mechanics. and was able to earn his way
through college by doing odd Jobs for light and
power concern.
During the four years he put in at literature
languages. mathematics and other subjects con.
tanned in a college arts course he was tinkering
along on the side with toy aeroplanes OF HIS own
devising. Russell was slowly working out the
details. Of dream-one Of the kind Of dreams
that have made Edison, the Wrights Hammond
Bell and Marconi scientific conjurers
After he had received his bachelor or arts de-
gree. this young mamie was born at Midland,
s. D., twenty-seven years ago-went into the an.
cheering school and specialized In physics ana
engineering Then he began to experiment with
his aeroplane for all he was worth Because IL
wasn't part OF the regular course Russell had
trouble getting shop space In which to do this
work The school authorities. he says had mapped
out prescribed course and they considered that
deviation from it would mean confusion In the
ranks.
He even went before the trustees and made a
plea for special concessions, but without success
Sympathetic members Of the faculty came 10 the
rescue however. and Russell found room in Dear.
born observatory to make experiments at night
Dozens Of models were made, tried out and
broken. The experiments had gone forward with
fair steadiness for three years and longer when
the young man felt that he had discovered and
worked out satisfactorily the principles OF aero
dynamics he had sought.
That three years ago Then he went gun.
ming for patent rights. It was easy enough to
get simple patents, but the inventor wanted basic
patents. Simple patents cover processes and
methods, while basic patents cover principles. So
after another long walt. voluminous correspond
and endless dealing with lawyers Russell
was notified a few weeks ago that the basic patent
rights we're his.
He carried the glad news to fraternity friend.
I,o FrfnV lad 10 a. Fra
father went East ON business trip and told some
Boston capitalists And the Boston capitalists
sent aviator expert to Chicago to talk to young
Russell and see what he had What he had was
"the goods" evidently for short time afterWard
a company was organized. foreign agents-sup-
posed to be representatives Of the Anglo-French.
Russian allies-signed contracts big factory
was leased and the inventor went on to the plant
to supervise the manufacture Of the machines.
Just before Russell went East the Chicago news
papers printed brief accounts about the patent
grants and the companys formation Very little
was said about the inventor. When he APP
preached for the inside story" of his lahors Mr.
Russell wasn't easy to get at" He was found In
little chicken-coop office which occupies q corner
in the machine shop which he calls his own. His
sleeves were rolled high and his hands were
grimy. The chatter and whang of machinery made
conversation difficult, but not SO difficult the
young inventor himself made it-for he Is a shy
and reticent person. who would make poor self
advertiser But once he began 10 talk about his
machine he was whiriwind of impulsive speech
making quick. draftsmanlke sketches to illustrate
his points.
His aeroplane differs in shape from all 5ther
known makes Il is q biplane That Is. IT has
two sets of wings, one set several feet above the
other. In other machines the planes spread
straight across and with the body and tail form
big capital T. In the Russell machine the wings
form a double v. like this: w. The tail IL At
tached TO the place where the letters join and
extends to the rear. The narrow points Of tbs
letters form the front OF the machine. and the
pilot passengers and engine company occupy
sort OF canoe which rests where the wings and
tail Join The lower wings extend forward Of the
upper ones-like a man with undershot Jaw.
The two propellers twiri on either side OF the tail
Just back Of the wings.
Mr. Russell didn't have war In mind when ne
was working on his invention. His idea centered
in commercial possibilities So long as the aero
plane remained nnstabie-so long as q driver had
to keep his hands on the controls 10 prevent the
machines capsixing-it would remain a sporting
| proposition. But when the time came that. by i'm
proyements in the aeFoplane. the driver need Only
crank up and guide. simply as he would guide an
/ automobile the iier wouId be very useful in busi
ness and pleasure.
In the double-V machine the young inventor be
Ieves be has discovered the great secret Of IN
we~uAlr A srtEa aE xaE TAR