MODEL AEROPLANES

MISS TODD & AEROPLANE - 1906-07 Library of Congress Collection,

 

SPARE PARTS from HERE, THERE and EVERYWHERE      Another pioneer has moved to California---Miss E. L. Todd, Corona del Mar, Orange County---the first woman in the world, so far as is known, to build a heavier-than-air machine, (1906),the first woman to apply for a license to fly and the organizer of America's first Junior Aero Club, 1908. She was also the first person to induce the State of New York to accept an airplane as a gift, and this state's Signal Corps was the first state troop to be so equipped. Her airplane, built by the Wittemann Brothers, was exhibited in the aero show of 1906 in Madison Square Garden. In 1909 the Richmond Borough Commissioner of Public Works denied her request to make a flying test on Southfield Boulevard as "the charter does not in its present form contemplate any such use of the public street." from CHIRP - AUGUST, 1936- DEARBORN MICH. - NUMBER 20 courtesy of Steve Remington - CollectAir

 

Ms. Todd's design studio--presumably at home. Library of Congress Collection,

 

Miss Todd's Photo Album Offered for auction on eBay, January 3, 2003      Photo album of E. Lillian Todd of No. 131 West Twenty-Third Street, New York - the world's First Woman Aircraft Designer. All photos and documents in the album date from 1908 to approx.1918. This is an important collection documenting early landmarks in American aviation history.       Todd was the first woman in the world to build a heavier-than-air machine, (1906), the first woman to apply for a license to fly, and the founder of America's first Junior Aero Club in 1908. She was also the first person to induce the State of New York to accept an airplane as a gift, and this state's Signal Corps was the first state troop to be so equipped. Her airplane, built by the Wittemann Brothers, was exhibited in the aero show of 1906 in Madison Square Garden. In 1909 the Richmond Borough Commissioner of Public Works denied her request to make a flying test on Southfield Boulevard as "the charter does not in its present form contemplate any such use of the public street." (This album contains this original document). Previous to the surfacing of this album, historical sources indicate the 1909 application to be her only attempt at flight. This photo album documents a later test flight, flown by WW I ace, Didier Masson, of a plane of her design, at the Garden City Aviation Field, Nov.8, 1910. The flight was successful. A clipping from the New York Herald present in the collection, dated Nov.8, 1910, confirms this fact. Our research has shown that, aside from two photographs in the Unites States Library of Congress, at present, this collection is the only known documentation of E. Lillian Todd's work in existence. Many of the photographs were taken by photographer and artist, K.W. Birdsall and are copyrighted as such. Several of the photographs are signed and addressed by Todd herself.       Feature Items included in this collection: 7" by 9" photo of the full-size collapsible air plane donated to the State of New York, with name plate reading: C & A.W. Wittemann Builders, Stapleton, New York. (image lightly washed): 3" by 5" of Todd, Didier Masson & an unidentified man in Tri-plane on ground in an open field: 4" by 6" photo of Didier Masson in Tri-plane signed by Todd with copyright assigned to Birdsall in Todd's hand: Two 4" by 6" photos of four men pushing tri-plane at Belmont Park field - one is signed by Todd on reverse with copyright assigned to Birdsall: The original letter from the President of the Borough of Richmond rejecting her application for a proposed aeroplane test on Southfield Boulevard & signed by Louis L. Tribus - Commissioner - dated Sept. 20, 1909: 7" by 9" photo showing several models at the 1st Junior Aero Club Exhibition: 5" by 3" Post card showing an electric powered hot air balloon designed by Todd and modeled after Capt. Baldwin's balloon used in his 19th Century polar explorations. Shows dimensions and notations written in hand by Todd on the front of post card. Further notations on the back indicate that the model was rented out, the funds presumeably going toward the Jr. Aero Club. Post card is signed by Todd: 5" by 6" photo of 5 original members of the Jr. Aero Club sitting with the Baldwin balloon model: 3" by 7" strip of dense fabric with description & Todd's signature on verso, indicating "Captain Baldwin's balloon fabric": Seven 3" by 2" negatives showing some of Todd's early model designs with one negative showing the Baldwin balloon model. Other items are as follows: (All photo measurements are close approximations) A Clipping glued inside the front album cover from the New York Herald - dated Nov. 8, 1910 in Todd's own hand. The clippings detail the first successful trial flight at the Garden City Aviation Field, of a biplane designed by her own hand and piloted by Didier Masson: 4" by 6" photo of a tri-plane designed by Todd - provenance in Todd's hand indicates the photo was taken at Belmont Park N.Y. Photo is signed by Todd with address. Copyright of photo assigned in Todd's hand to K.W. Birdsall: 7" by 9" photo of tri-plane in open field (moderate creasing at corners): 7" by 9" photo of unmanned tri-plane in field (this and previous photo are varying views of same plane): 7" by 5" photo of Todd in grounded tri-plane: 7" by 5" photo of Todd in grounded tri-plane (varying view of preceding photo): 4" by 6" photo of tri-plane at Belmont Park copyright assigned to Birdsall and signed in Todd's hand:      7" by 9" photo showing the Junior Aero Club of America Exhibit at 282 9th Avenue, New York with sign stating that the models were displayed by Edward Durant. Shows several small scale and actual size airplane designs and name boards indicating the designer of each model. Also shows a large hot air balloon (pinhole at top right corner & image moderately washed): Five 2" by 3" photos of hand built model airplanes being prepared for the Jr. Aero Club Exhibition - 1909: 6" by 8" photo showing bi-plane model and hot air balloon models at the 1st Junior Aero Club Exhibition. Also shows a wood crate marked "E.L. Todd - New York City": 6" by 8" model airplane exhibited at the Junior Aero Club with two bound volumes of Scientific American sitting in front of display:      Trimmed close-up photo of the platform on the bottom of the balloon - manned by three crew members; American flag, camera etc: 5" by 6" mounted photo of a model steamship designed by Miss Todd. (small quarter inch scuff at center of photo): 3" by 4" photo of a hand built model plane hanging in Todd's workshop - shows the Baldwin balloon model under construction in background: 2" by 2" photo of model bi-plane: Two 5" by 6" photos of the model ship built/designed by Todd: 3" by 3" photo of electrically operated doll sitting atop a building in New York (possibly her apartment) designed by Todd. Provenance on back indicates that it was instrumental in raising $435 for the purchase of gramaphones for overseas WWI aviators August 1918:      Three photos of the interior of Todd's apartment highlighting a display cabinet designed & constructed by her own hand: trimmed 1" by 3" profile photo of Todd: 3" by 5" photo of room & belongings in her home including work desk: 6" by 8" photo of hand -built model at the Junior Aero Club Exhibition: Seven photos of Todd's home & display cabinet with plaque that reads: "This is the House that Jack Built: 3" by 5" photo showing partial view of her office & door which reads: "E.L. Todd Typewriting Services & Army Relief Society.

 

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