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Aviation History
1920
1920 - 0552.PDF
MAY 20, 1920 IT may be that on the occasion of the journey of H.M.Airship 33 over Holland some months ago the passengers had the unique experience of receiving at breakfast-timaa newspaper which had been written, from information supplied to the airship by wireless, and actually producedon board. This aerial edition of The Times was the first of its kind, and will always remain a remarkable example ofenterprise. Sir Charles Wakefield, who has one of these copies, has recently become possessed of a rare little publica-tion which is an early attempt to indicate the possibilities of such a production, and it forms an amusing contrast.It is a small four-page leaflet bearing the title, " The Aerial Messenger," and is dated June 13, 1839. Beneath the dateis the quaint inscription, " Printed at the Aerial Press, in the Isle of Sky, about a mile high from Cremorne House,Chelsea ; and Published at the same place, by Poppolino Pica, Typo, in chief to the Aerial Messenger." IT is evident that this little journal, which thus professes to be the first one printed in mid-air, was produced as an advertisement for Mr. John Hampton, an aeronaut who was making balloon ascents at that time, for an announcement appears in which he gives his address as 6, Hanover Place, Regent's Park, an address which no longer exists according to the modern London atlas. Having referred to various ascents he has made in his splendid Albion balloon, Mr. Hamp- ton " begs to inform his friends and the public that after he has performed his Parachute Descent he is about to materi- ally alter and enlarge the Aerial Machine, rendering it not only of greater dimensions, considerably increasing its ascending power, but improving very essentially its shape, and which, in its enlarged form, with the Ornamental Em- bellishments, executed by Artists of first-rate ability, under his own superintendence, the gorgeous and highly Emblazoned Car, and the appurtenances throughout, it will be unquestion- ably the most magnificent Balloon ever yet exhibited. " Mr. Hampton will be happy to engage with the Proprietors of Public Gardens, the Conductors of Fetes, etc., to ascend in any part of the Kingdom on moderate terms. " Seats in the Car, accommodating six persons, 10 guineas each." SEATS which accommodate six persons each would com-pare-favourably with the average seat in a modern " Aerial Machine "—but perhaps grammar is not one of the strongpoints of the Aeronaut! THERE is, of course, a leading article, without which nonewspaper was ever complete, and it has for a heading the following lines :— — - " Ai* mankind to some loved ills incline,'." - men choose great sins,— Ascending's mine ! " , - (Shakespeare improved.) " " " A THE Editor explains that Aerial Editors write in the pluralas well as earthly scribes, and proceeds to assert that he is not concerned with party politics, proclaiming his inde-pendence of Conservatives, Chartists and Whigs alike. (How strange these names sound in 1920 !) His literarystyle may be seen from the following extract from the leading article:—" If any of our readers consider that we turn our backs to them in consequence of our ' high notions ' they mustfrankly admit that we are wholly divested of pride or stiff- ness, for we freely look down with a respectful eye upon themeanest even of creation. And then again, who can deny our high-minded greatness when they witness the immensenumbers of persons who are even now looking up to us ? What is the patronage of Royalty compared with ours ?When it must be fairly admitted that we are at this very moment above Royalty itself! What is Lord Melbourne'speerage and Premiership to ours ? Comparatively in- significant, for we are far more elevated in both. If wechoose to ' wheel about and jump Jim Crow' in that elevated station we hold in life, where is the opposition that couldconveniently turn us out ? And how few, though much as they may admire, would exchange with our lofty situation ?We are therefore pretty certain of not relinquishing our places ! Well here we are, pursuing the even tenor of ourway, with all the calmness imaginable, our Aerial Car floating through regions of boundless space, impeded not by saucyturnpike toll collectors or worried from pillar to post by troublesome omnibus drivers. We care for nothing, nordo we dread an awful collision with other travelling vehicles of our own caste,—but, kind readers, we must halt, foralthough there are no inns up aloft, to stop and bait at, our leader is getting lame, so we for the present check its progress,and say, adieu." THIS extract may give food for thought to some of the enterprising companies now organising aviation exhibitions in the coming season. By the way, the high standard of the aeronautical press was already established in those early days, for an advertisement of a book entitled " The Aero- nautical Annual, or Hampton's Balloon Bulletins during the Season 1838," concludes with the announcement, " To be had of all Respectable Booksellers" I Presumably there were others. To Our Readers As we continually receive complaints from readers that they experience difficulty in obtaining their copy of FLIGHT promptly each week, we draw their attention to the sub- scription form which is printed on page xxii of the current issue. If this is sent, accompanied by the appropriate remittance, to the publishing offices, 36, Great Queen Street, Kingsway, W.C. 2, it will ensure FLIGHT being received promptly and regularly each week upon the day of publica- tion. : • . • • HHHHH HHH B s E "Vickers-Vimys"' E for China: A E batch of Vickers- Vimy - Commer- cial machines in various stages of erecting at the Weybridge works of Messrs. Vick- ers, Ltd. 552
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