Wright Brothers, Original Drawings & Working Copies Made at the Smithsonian by Louis P. Christman, with Notes from Orville Wright

Lot 286

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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 150+ items, featuring over approx. 125 original sketches and drawings made by Louis P. Christman while at the Smithsonian. Many of the sketches are "working copies" that were used "out of the building" - with some notes and corrections made in red, believed to have been added by Orville Wright, plus notes added by Christman. The mathematical data shown was done in the Smithsonian or when Christman returned to Dayton and conferred with Colonel Edward Deeds and Orville Wright.

Highlights include the original drawings of engines, such as the crank shaft sketches made on brown paper, spar and rib dimensions/spacing, rudder and canard dimensions, with comments that the original parts do not correspond to/with previous drawings (1928 errors), sketches showing quick checks and answers by Orville Wright such as a simple written “yes” to Christman’s questions, as well as many sketches and notes signed by Christman.

The consignor relates that these were Christman’s working drawings and notes/calculations done before the official drawings of the reconstruction were produced.

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

Overall, the drawings, sketches, and notes remain in very good condition, with some still folded. Some light corner and edge wear to the notes, drawings, and working copies.
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