Mr F. J. Stringfellow, in the pamphlet quoted above, gives the best
account of the flight of this model: ‘My father had constructed another
small model which was finished early in 1848, and having the loan of
a long room in a disused lace factory, early in June the small model
was moved there for experiments. The room was about 22 yards long and
from 10 to 12 ft. high.... The inclined wire for starting the machine
occupied less than half the length of the room and left space at the
end for the machine to clear the floor. In the first experiment the
tail was set at too high an angle, and the machine rose too rapidly on
leaving the wire. After going a few yards it slid back as if coming
down an inclined plane, at such an angle that the point of the tail
struck the ground and was broken. The tail was repaired and set at a
smaller angle. The steam was again got up, and the machine started
down the wire, and, upon reaching the point of self-detachment, it
gradually rose until it reached the farther end of the room, striking a
hole in the canvas placed to stop it. In experiments the machine flew
well, when rising as much as one in seven. The late Rev. J. Riste,
Esq., lace manufacturer, Northcote Spicer, Esq., J. Toms, Esq., and
others witnessed experiments. Mr Marriatt, late of the San Francisco
_News Letter_ brought down from London Mr Ellis, the then lessee of
Cremorne Gardens, Mr Partridge, and Lieutenant Gale, the aeronaut, to
witness experiments. Mr Ellis offered to construct a covered way at
Cremorne for experiments. Mr Stringfellow repaired to Cremorne, but not
much better accommodations than he had at home were provided, owing
to unfulfilled engagement as to room. Mr Stringfellow was preparing
for departure when a party of gentlemen unconnected with the Gardens
begged to see an experiment, and finding them able to appreciate his
endeavours, he got up steam and started the model down the wire. When
it arrived at the spot where it should leave the wire it appeared to
meet with some obstruction, and threatened to come to the ground, but
it soon recovered itself and darted off in as fair a flight as it was
possible to make at a distance of about 40 yards, where it was stopped
by the canvas.
‘Having now demonstrated the practicability of making a steam-engine
fly, and finding nothing but a pecuniary loss and little honour,
this experimenter rested for a long time, satisfied with what he had
effected. The subject, however, had to him special charms, and he still
contemplated the renewal of his experiments.’
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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