All About Inventions and Discoveries
The Romance of modern scientific and mechanical Achievements

258 All About Inventions sistence of the French experimenters, although some of those who created sensations—such as the brothers Farman—were Britishers. But while France was buzzing with excitement over the exploits of its sons, ominous stories of what the brothers Wright had achieved in America trickled through. They were received with incredulity, because, if they were true, then the achievements recorded in France were dwarfed into insignificance by comparison. By 1904 the bicycle builders of Dayton concluded that they had carried their experiments to a stage which justified the equipment of a machine with a motor, so as to be able to travel through the air, where, when, and how they wished. Being expert mechanics, they built their own petrol motor. It did not occasion any untoward interest, because it merely followed the most approved type which had proved successful in automobile practice. The step proved highly promising ; 105 flights were made, many being circular, during 1904- most striking was the negotiation of a field four times in succession. The report failed to be believed in Europe, because at this time no machine had succeeded in lifting itself into the air under its own power and carrying a passenger. But the end of 1905 brought more startling reports of what the Wright brothers had. accomplished. During that year the machine was out only upon a few occasions, th.6 climatic conditions throughout the summer having been unfavourable owing to the heavy rains which converted their experimental field into a lake and quagmire alternately. But they stated that on September 26th they had