The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-18
CURTTSS co. SEEKS
ITS ARMY AIRCRAFT
Appraisers Now Looking Over
2,716 Planes and 1903 Mo-
tors Offered for Sale.
EFFORT TO SAVE MARKET
Would Prevent Disposal Of
Single Machines to In
skilled Filters.

An inventory and appraisal OF ans
training airplanes and 4.eos Curtiss OK
motors is now being undertaken by army
officers and Curtiss engineers with a
view to settling upon n pfce at which
the Curtiss corporation may buy back
in bulk all the airplanes which It sold
to the Government and which are now
to be discarded In the reduced" or
embryonic air service which is to be
maintained.
Announcement Of the inventory was
made yesterday by W. w. Mountain.
chairman of the executive committee
OF the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor
Corporation OF So Vanderbilt avenue.
At the same time Il was made known
that the Curtiss company had rejected
the Government offer to sell the ma
chimes and motors in question for
s2,720,0 900. Some of the airplanes and
motors are in need of repair. The
price at which the War Department
offered to sell back the airplanes was
considerably less than $1,000 4 machine
and motor. Although figures were not
available yesterday at the Curtiss Of
fee concerning the original price OF ma
chimes and motors, It In probable that
the price at which the Government was
willing to part with Its planes was about
ten per cent. Of the original price.
The disagreement between the War
Department and the Curtiss company
just before the contract closing the deal
was signed came not over the price but
over O clause which the Curtiss COM
psny desired inserted In the document
providing that the War Department for
two years should not dispose of TO
private purchasers any other .Curtiss
motors or planes which It had on hand
The contract as drawn by the War
Department omitted this provision, but
inserted clause giving the Curtiss COM
pany a first option on any Curtiss mate
rial to be sold. This the Curtiss com
pany refused to accept and the deal fell
through.
Negotiations were resumed later and
1t was agreed that the appraisal by
army and Curtiss engineers should b.
made and the price decided upon paid by
the Curtiss company. Included in tn,
appraisal are 100 standard airplane.
which the Curtiss company did not man
ufacture. 1t was explained by Mr.
Mountain that these airplanes are beinl
purchased because. although original,
equipped with Haii-Scott motors 1t wa
decided later by the Government to equil
them with Curtiss OK motors. Conse
quently. to get back the OK motor
which would be placed In these machines
, II the Government retained them. tn
Curtiss company Is also purchasing tn
planes.
"Our object in buying these 1915 Cur
tiss JN4 planes without motors. 1,10
a 7 III IN.
| 4,60S OK motors Is not to make biz
| profit. but to protect our market ant
prevent many airplane accidents which
would occur should the Government gel
| them to unskilled or would-be pilots.
Mr. Mountain said yesterday. I'VE will
| take these planes back to our Burial
| and Long Island factories repair then
and sell them at a low price to pioneer
who desire to establish air routes. train
| ing schools and colleges. These peopl
otherwise would be unable to start thei
enterprises, which will develop the al
| industry in this country"
| Mr.. Mountain pointed out that II tn
War Department sold these airplanes Il
their present condition to unskilled anna
tours throughout the country innumer
able accidents would occur, giving tn
Curtiss company and the air industry a
a whole n tremendous setback. Effort
| are being made In this country a
the present time by the manufacturer
to demonstrate that flying Is not a dan
| goSous sport or business.
| I'VE want to FIX up these airplanes e
that they will be In perfect shape 70
use, and All our orders with them" MI
| Mountain said. This will give us a
opportunity to work in Buffalo and o.
Long Island on newer and better models
which will be Of great service to thi
| country as a whole"