Wright Brothers, Collection of Photographs Documenting Various Flights, Ca 1901-1928, Plus

Lot 288

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6270 Este Ave.
Cincinnati , OH 45232
United States

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About Auction

Live

American History Live Salesroom Auction

By Cowan's Auctions

Jun 12, 2015 - Jun 13, 2015

Set Reminder 2015-06-12 10:00:00 2015-06-13 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : American History Live Salesroom Auction https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/american-history-live-salesroom-auction-663 Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com

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Lot Description

Lot of 140+, featuring 125 silver gelatin photographs, most related to the Wright Brothers' airplanes, with a portion printed from original negatives and a portion that appear to be photographic enlargements or copy prints, made ca 1947-1948, almost all approx. 8 x 10 in. The majority of the photographs include Louis P. Christman's Dayton, OH, address label on verso, as well as written or typed notes identifying the photo's subject matter. Some are also stamped with a 1947 or 1948 date on verso.

This fine collection includes photos of the 1901, 1902, and 1903 Wright Gliders in action, such as the copy views of Orville and Wilbur's 1903 trial flights; shots of the 1903 Wright Flyer damaged during the 1913 flood in Dayton, OH; photos made during the assembly of the 1903 Flyer reconstruction in 1948, with Smithsonian Institution stamp on verso; images of the 1904 Wright Flyer taken at Huffman Prairie, Simms Station, Dayton, OH; photos of the 1905 Wright Flyer, with flight numbers penciled on verso; copy images of 1908 test flights in France; wind tunnel shots; and more.

Additional items include 18 copied letters showing typed correspondence between Orville Wright and the Franklin Institute and data sheets concerning a wind tunnel, accompanied by 4 photos of a wind tunnel and 10 photos of the lift and drag apparatus to be used in the Wright Brothers' wind tunnel.

Louis P. Christman (1893-1972)

As an employee of National Cash Register, with his experience in aircraft and machine design, Louis P. Christman was called upon by prominent engineer and inventor, Colonel Edward Deeds, to undertake the restoration of the 1905 Wright Flyer, which resides at Carillon Park, Dayton, Ohio. Christman was given the opportunity to work closely with Orville Wright in order to produce an accurate set of drawings, or blueprints, for the 1900, 1901, and 1902 gliders as well as the 1903, 1904, and 1905 Wright Flyers. Since no complete drawings were ever produced by Orville and Wilbur Wright during the building and flying of the planes, it was required that Christman travel to Washington, D.C. to the Smithsonian Institution to take measurements and make drawings from the original 1903 Flyer that is displayed there and to discuss these drawings with Orville Wright.

Continued meetings and conversations between Orville Wright and Christman resulted in a very refined set of drawings of the three planes and their engines – drawings that were quite satisfactory to Orville Wright. Christman, under the direction of Colonel Edward Deeds, then began the restoration of the 1905 Flyer in 1947, on the grounds of the National Cash Register Co. This project involved not only incorporating as many original parts as could be obtained, but the designing and machining of matching parts in order to complete the aeroplane. This restoration project took Christman approximately 19 months, from the drawing stage to the completion of the frame. Final construction and assembly was completed at Carillon Historical Park, where the plane was reassembled and fabric was stretched.

Christman’s drawings are well documented in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum. Knowledgeable men and women who have produced models and full-sized planes since 1948 have relied most exclusively on the “Christman Drawings.” The Smithsonian Institution has recently produced framed copies of Christman’s three view plate, with consideration in print concerning the works of Christman. The work that Christman did for Orville Wright, Dayton Wright Aeroplane, Charles F. Kettering, Inland Manufacturing, NCR Corp., Colonel Deeds, and Carillon Park is of considerable historical importance and interest.

Lots 284-290 represent a portion of items given to Christman for his work in restoring the 1905 Wright Flyer, and they have descended directly in his family.

Provenance:Descended in the Family of Louis P. Christman

Condition

Photographs in very good to near excellent condition overall.
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