OCR Text |
Show WITH THE WRIGHT BROTHERS AT DAYTON. THE OLD BICYCLE REPAIR SHOP AND PRESENT AIRSHIP FACTORY FAC-TORY OF THE WRIGHT BROTHERS. WILBUR WRIGHT ABOVE AND ORVILLE WRIGHT BELOW. ( t ... i '-. rTSSr . y ,"i ., . (By Special Correspondent.) Dayton, Ohio, Juno 2 After startling start-ling the world with their wonderful aeroplane and its flights and receiving the homage of the crowned heads of Europe, the second day at home found Wilbur and Orvllle Wright hard at work In their little two-story building on West Third street building aeroplanes. aero-planes. Over tho door of tho little building in weather-worn and faded letters arc the words, "Wright Cycle Co." Se-eral Se-eral years ago these words told the occupation of the Wright boys, but now the inside of the shop resembles anything but a bicycle store and repair re-pair shop. A few relics of the former business still remain, however. Peep-1) Peep-1) laden with dust a few bicycle fixtures fix-tures may still be seen in a glass case against the wall and in a dark corner of the 'stairway a number of old bicycle frames are piled up out of the way. They, too, are covered with the dust of years. Where the Wright aeroplanes are 1 manufactured there is no imposing factory or finely furnished office. All the work Is done in four small moms, and another little room is fitted up as an office. The main room of the building, build-ing, which is on the first floor In front, is used as a sort of store room. J Leaning against the wall on one side are a number of white, canvas-covered wings and the floor Is strewn with various var-ious parts of the flyer. On the opposite oppo-site side of the room a large., flat pine box is standing on edge. It contains con-tains a part of the aeroplane which was In the memorable wreck at Fort Meyer last fall. In the room just back of this one is the machinery used in making the metal parts of the machine. All this work is done by Charles E. Taylor, who has been in the employ of the Wrights for nine years. The rear room up stairs is stored full of spruce lumber shipped " from West Virginia, which is nserl in making mak-ing all the wooden parts of the machine. ma-chine. The work is done in an ad-Joining ad-Joining front room, which is fitted up with a long work bench facing two largo windows. The finished parts aro stacked In piles along the walls in both rooms. The r.fllcc Is in another front room. A desk, a typewriter and several chairs constitute the equipment It Is a smr.ll place, but letters are going nut of it every ('ay to officials of almost every leading nation in Europe and to all parts of America. While the famous fam-ous aviators wero in Europe Lorin Wright, their brother, who has given up everything else to learn the flying machine business, looked after tho business aud built aeroplanes. The Wrights have lost no time since they have been at home. They have been at the shop every day working on an aeroplane which they want aa near perfect as possible for the coming com-ing tests for Uncle Sara at Ft. Meyer. In fact they are so busy that when the committee conferred with them In regard re-gard to the coming celebration In June in their honor, they declared that they would scarcely have time for such an affair, but they agreed to do all they could towards making the celebration a success "Anyone can buy a machine for $7,500," said Wilbur Wright when nsked concerning the sale of the flyer, "and we will have It delivered ready for a flight by September 1." Both of the Wrights declared, however, that I hey would be too busy to teach the purchaser how to operate the machine at that time;. At the present time they have the parts for some five or 6ix aeroplanes constructed, and ready to be set up on short notice. It Is not at all impossible im-possible that within a few years th Wright brothers will have a salesroom here with aeroplanes displayed for sale. A queer fact In connection with the riangerous business in which the Wrights are engaged Is that, the other half of the building wherethelr factory fac-tory is located Is occupied by an undertaking un-dertaking firm. The aeronauts, however, how-ever, do not regard their neighbor's butdncsg as an ill omen. |