The L'Anse sentinel., 1916-02-12

derstanding the why and wherefore of electricity
and mechanics. and 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 q college arts course he was tinkering
along on the side with toy aeroplanes of his own
devisng. Russell slowly working out the
details of a 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 OF arts de-
gree. this young mamie was born at Midland
g. d. twenty-seven years ago-went into the en-
cheering school and specialized In physics and
engineering Then he began to experiment with
his aeroplane for all he worth. Because II
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 a prescribed course and they considered that
a deviation from II would mean confusion In the
ranks.
He even went before the trustees and made
plea for special concessions. but without success
Sympathetic members OF the faculty came to 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 was 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 princples So
after another long wait, voluminous correspond
ence and endless dealing with lawyers. Russell
was notified a few weeks ago that the basic patent
rights were his.
He carried the glad news to a fraternity friend.
no rrfe IN M
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 what he had What he had was
''the goods" evidently. for short time afterward
q company was organized, foreign agents-sup
posed to be representatives Of the Anglo-French
Russian allies-signed contracts. a 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 company's formation. Very little
was said about the inventor. When he was ap-
preached for the inside story" Of his labors Mr..
Russell wasn't easy to rget at" He was found in
a little chicken-coop ONCE which occupies corner
in the machine shop which he calls his own. His
sleeves were rolled high and his hands were
grimy. The clatter and whang Of machinery made
conversation difficult, but not so difficult as the
young inventor himself made it-for he is q shy
advertiser. But once he began to talk about his
machine he was whirlwind of impulsive speech.
making quick draftsmanlike sketches to illustrate
his points
His aeroplane differs in shape from all other
known makes. II is a biplane. That ID. 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 double " like this: W. The tail 10 at.
tached to the place where the letters Join and
extends to the rear. The narrow points Of the
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 man with an undershot jaw.
The two propellers twirl on either side Of the tail
lust back Of the wings.
Mr.. Russell didn't have war In mind when he
was working on his invention. His idea centersd
IN commercial possibilities So long ~ the aero
bIans remained unstabls-so long a. driver had
10 keep his hands on the controls to prevent the
rnachine's capsixing-it would remain . sporting
proposftion But when the time came that, BY I'M
provemsnts In the aeroplane, the driver need only
crank up and guide. simply ~ he would guide an
automobile. the nier would be very useful IN bust
ness and pleasure.
In the douDls-v m&chine the young inventor be-
lisves he has discovered the great secret Of In