P3D Searching for information about 1869 stereocard, etc.

[Lawrence W Kaufman <kaufman3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I received a plea for help from Benjamin Hick in
London. Perhaps there is someone who has some
knowledge of this stereo card & the history:

"I am researching a stereograph entitles "The Aerial Steam
Navigation Co.'s Steam Avitor." No 318. Copyright 1869
by Thomas Houseworth & Co, San Francisco. It depicts the
"Avitor" floating at head height, held by five men amongst a
gathering of 14 people  standing in long grass between the
fences of a race course, San Francisco in the background, I
know the race course to be Shell Mound Park, now Millbrae,
San Mateo Co, California."

Benjamin is looking for "identical or similar stereograph/
photograph(s) of machines designed by Frederick Marriott.
Any aviation material by Thomas Houseworth & Co. during
the period may also be of interest, particularly the Avitor Works,
Shell Mound (Lake?), California."

He sends an extract that provides some background on Marriott
and a description of the "Avitor".
"The First Century of Flight in America" by Jeremiah Milbank, Jr.
"In 1848 this enterprising man (Frederick Marriott) embarked from
England for the gold fields of California, beating the rush of '49 by
a few months. Shortly afterwards he settled in San Francisco where
he became a banker, the founder and editor of the "San Francisco
News Letter", and a good friends of John C. Fremont, the famous
exploring soldier of the far West.

It was not many years before Marriott found time to devote  to his
long-standing interest in aeronautics. On July 2, 1869, he exhibited
a flying model of his first invention, which was patented about five
months later. (See "Scientific American", Vol. 21, p.356, December
4, 1869. Also "Popular Aviation", Vol. 17, p.289, November, 1935).
The "Avitor", as this model was called, consisted of a cigar-shaped
balloon 37 feet long and slightly oval in cross-section. (San Francisco
News Letter" December 20 1884.) Two wings, one on each side, were
attached to the light wood and cane wired framework which
circumscribed the balloon in lengthwise strips, rudder and elevator
were provided for control, while a steam engine operating two
propellers supplied locomotion."

Mr. Hick can be faxed at 0181-740-7645 ot you can email me
directly with any help, information, links, etc.

Thanks for the time,
Lawrence Kaufman, mailto:kaufman3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

P.S. My NSA Stereo World Index shows that 8-6 had
an insert on Thomas Houseworth. But my SW 8-6 is
missing this insert. Does anyone have a copy of this
insert?


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