The Morning Call from Paterson, New Jersey • 35

PATERSON MORNING CALL FIRST AVIATION NUMBER The History of Wright Aeronautical Corporation By CHARLES L. LAWRANCE President Wright Aeronautical Corporation Twenty-five years ago when Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved the first flight of man in a heavier-than-air machine, their name went ringing around the world. Through the subsequent years of courageous pioneering and slow development which have brought the aeronautical industry to its present stage of progress, that name has stood supreme. Today the Wright name is honored- -the Wright reputation is valued--the Wright engine is recognized--wherever planes are flown. Nowhere is that name more proudly honored, that reputation more highly valued and more carefully guarded, than here where Wright engines are made.

Every one of us connected with the Wright organization feels it a privilege to be associated with the name that has always represented progress, achievement, and leadership in the development of aviation. We are all proud of the part we are playing, no matter how small our individual parts may be, in carrying on the work begun by the two brothers over a quarter of a century ago, and which has been continued by the Wright company since its inception in 1909. Following the successful demonstration of the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk in 1903, there began the long period of developing and perfecting the newly discovered principles of flight, and it was not until six years later that the Wright airplane was sufficiently to warrant manufacturing it for sale. In 1909 the original Wright company was formed at Dayton, Ohio, and in July of that year the first plane built to government specifications was completed and delivered to the United States army air service. Several other planes were built, most of which were sold to the government.

Production plans were seriously handicapped by the lack of a satisfactory power plant and the two brothers devoted a great deal of their time to demonstration flights and to the training of the first army pilots. During the next few years, Wright companies were organized in England, France and Germany, and Wright planes successfully demonstrated in those countries. In 1912 Wilbur died of typhoid fever, and Orville retired from active participation in the Wright company. At the outbreak of the world war, the Wright company was controlled by a group of bankers, who in 1915 sold out to a syndicate headed by William B. Thompson, Harry Payne Whitney, and T.

Frank Manville. Looking forward to the possible entry of the United States into the war and with the desire to obtain experience in the manufacture of some European type of aircraft engine in order to be in a position to offer it to the United States government in quantities, the management of the Wright company began to acquire control of the Simplex Automobile company. The Simplex company Was in operation Brunswick, N. and had the reputation of making the finest automobile produced in the United States. With the Simplex merger accomplished, arrangements were entered into with the Hispano-Suiza company in France, under which the American rights for the manufacture of the Hispano-Suiza type aircraft engine were secured and an initial order for the production of a quantity of these engines for the French government was also obtained.

In order to finance more adequately the proposed operations and to equip the Simplex plant with sufficient machinery the Wright company merged with the Glenn L. Martin company, of Los Angeles, to form the Wright-Martin Aircraft corporation. The new company took over the original Wright company, owning all Wright patents, the Simplex Automobile company, the stock of the Wright flying field at Mineola, L. and the General Aeronautic company of America, Alexander Hamilton Hotel Paterson, N. J.

We Feature A Special TABLE D'HOTE DINNER Each Evening At $1:50 per person Sundays, $2:00 per person "Why Not Enjoy The Best" John W. Wyckoff Managing Director AIRVIEW OF THE WRIGHT AERONAUTICAL PLANT which handled the foreign business of the Wright company. The Wright company at Dayton continued experimental work with Orville Wright as chief consultant engineer. From 1917 to 1919 the Wright-Martin. Aircraft company turned out approximately 10,000 Hispano type engines of 180 and 300 horsepower for the United States government, and during this period the New Brunswick plant was very considerably enlarged.

At the end of the war the company found itself possessed of facilities greatly. in excess of any peace-time aircraft engine requirements and an excessive capitalization. The big plant at New Brunswick was sold to a motor, truck manufacturer and approximately seventyfive. per cent. of the Wright-Mantin company's capital was distributed to its stockholders as a partial liquidating dividend.

The Wright Aeronautical corporation was then organized to carry on the aircraft engine business on a peace-time basis and financed with the remainder of the Wright-Martin company's capital. The Wright Aeronautical corporation used a portion of the New Brunswick plant for its activities for a period of six months and then secured a lease of the plant at present occupied in Paterson, in which its operations have since been continuously carried on. In 1923, through a merger with the Lawrance Aero Engine company, the Wright Aeronautical corporation acquired all rights to the Lawrance air-cooled engine. Further development of the Lawrance engine byl the Wright Aeronautical corporation resulted in the various models of the now famous "Whirlwind," which so convincingly demonstrated the advantages of air cooling for aircraft engines that the manufacture of Wright engines of the water-cooled type was finally discontinued. Through the lean years succeeding the war, the Wright company, with the rest of the American aircraft industry, was carried along by the requirements of military and naval aviation.

With the beginning of commercial operations in 1925, however, the Wright Aeronautical corporation began to expand steadily. The growth of commercial aviation since that time is best illustrated by the commercial engine production of the Wright company in the years that followed. Two commercial "Whirlwinds" were sold in 1924, forty in 1925, 115 in 1926 and 384 in 1927. The close of 1928 will show a production for the year of approximately 1,000 "Whirlwind" engines built solely for commercial flying. To meet the rapidly increasing demand for Wright engines, a program of expansion was started late in 1927, by which the original floor space of 105,000 square feet was increased to more than half a million square feet.

The list of employes has risen to nearly 2,000, with additional men being added as rapidly as production will permit. The new facilities will permit the production of over 500 engines per month on one shift, while additional production can be rapidly obtained, in case of necessity, by additional night shifts. With a complete line of engines that will fully. meet the needs of practically all commercial aircraft manufacturers in the United States, the Wright company will definitely assume a leading position in the manufacture of aircraft engines. With a continuance of the manufacturing policies that have made them supreme in their class, and with the continued loyalty and co-operation of every man in the organization in doing his best to keep them there, there is no doubt that Wright engines will continue to carry on in a manner that will reflect further honor and glory on the great name they bear.

T. F. Sloan Co. Roofing and Waterproofing Contractors Jobbers of Roofing Materials All Roofing on Plant of The Wright Aeronautical Corp. Laid By Us COO East Railway and Maryland Avenues, Paterson, New Jersey Phone Sherwood 6232.