Glenn H. Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport, NY
Antique Motorcycle and Aircraft Exhibits With Early Engine Displays
Nov 7, 2009
The Glenn H. Curtiss Museum is located on Keuka Lake in the New York Finger Lakes Region. The museum’s restoration shop is well known for producing flight-proven replicas of famous antique aircraft, including the 1910 Curtiss “Headless” Pusher; the 1911 A-1 “Triad” hydroplane; and the 1914 Curtiss “America” flying boat. Besides working replicas, original and restored aircraft on display include:
- 1917 Curtiss JN-4D “Jenny.” This was the famous dual-seat pilot trainer airplane of WWI.
- 1917 Curtiss J1 Standard. A single seat WWI airplane.
- 1919 Curtiss Seagull flying boat.
- 1919 Curtiss “Oriole.”
- 1929 Mercury “Chic” T-2.
- 1929 Curtiss-Wright “Pusher.”
- 1930 Travel Air “Speedwing,”
- 1931 Mercury S-1 Racer.
- 1931 Curtiss-Wright “Junior.”
- 1943 Curtiss C-46 Commando, which is so large it is positioned outside the museum to mark the entrance.
Curtiss Motorcycle
Production of motorcycles in Hammondsport began under the Hercules name in 1902. This was changed to Curtiss Motorcycles from 1904 to1912. In1909 the Marvel Motorcycle Company is formed and manufactured motorcycles until 1913. The engine and aircraft business was expanding at such a rapid rate that all assets of the motorcycle company were put up for sale in November of 1913.
The museum’s motorcycle collection includes:
- 1903 Hercules-first full year of production. These single-cylinder engines had ball bearings on the mainshaft, a first for a motorcycle engine. After 1904 they were replaced by tapered roller bearings.
- 1905 Nelk-made in California, this motorcycle features liquid cooling.
- 1907 Curtiss V-8 (replica)-the famous motorcycle Glenn Curtiss rode to establish a land speed record of 136.3 mph.
- 1907 Crouch,
- 1908 Curtiss with a wicker sidecar, a factory option.
- 1909 Curtiss V-twin-in 1903 Curtiss was the first motorcycle company to introduce a V-twin engine.
- 1910 Curtiss single.
- 1912 Curtiss single-last year of production.
- 1915 Williams. This unique prototype is known as “Clady’s” Model and is the only surviving example of a J.N. Williams motorcycle with a 3-cylinder rotary engine attached to the rear wheel hub.
- 1917 Henderson Four.
- 1922 Evans.
- 1924 Ner-A-Car. Manufactured in Buffalo it resembled a cross between a car and a motorcycle.
- 1930 Harley-Davidson. This one was modified as a hillclimber.
- 1936 Indian with sidecar.
Curtiss Engines
Glenn Curtiss began winning races and breaking records from his very first competition in 1902. His 1903 V-twin had more power and other features the competition simply lacked. The weight to power ratio for Curtiss engines was the best in the world and one of his V-twin motorcycle engines was used by Thomas Baldwin for the first successful dirigible flight in the U.S. in 1904. By 1906 almost all dirigibles (blimps) in the U.S. were fitted with Curtiss engines. On January 23, 1907 on the sand at Ormond Beach, FL Glenn Curtiss, riding a custom motorcycle fitted with an experimental V-8 aircraft engine, was officially clocked at 136.3 mph and earned the title “the fastest man alive.” No man would go faster until 1911 and no motorcycle until 1930.
Aviation Firsts
At this period he turned his inventive mind to heavier-than-air flight. On July 4, 1908 he made the first pre-announced (and public) airplane flight. He also managed to shatter the distance record aloft by flying 5,090 feet. In 1909 he set the long distance flight record at 24.7 miles. He won the first international air race at Rheims, France; the first city-to-city flight (Albany to NYC); and earned U.S. pilot license #1 and France pilot license #2 all in the same year.
On November 14, 1910 one of his pilots makes the take off from a ship, the USS Birmingham in a Curtiss “Headless” Pusher and on January 18, 1911 he lands the new seaplane onto the deck of the USS Pennsylvania. January saw the first successful water take off in a hydroplane and it was demonstrated to the U.S. Navy on February 17, 1911. With such a rapid series of advancements in a new field it’s no wonder that his interest in motorcycles waned.
Museum Exhibit
Besides motorcycles and airplanes, engines are displayed that range from a 1906 straight-four to power a dirigible to the 1943 Pratt & Whitney R-4360, the largest reciprocating aircraft engine built and the apex of piston technology. Eight R-4360 engines were used on Howard Hughes’ “Spruce Goose.” There’s a wonderful collection of light lake boats, and exhibit of early women aviators, and items from the Curtiss home in Florida. Curtiss was one of the early developers of the travel trailer and an example of an Aerocar is displayed.
Info
The museum is located at 8419 State Route 54 in Hammondsport, NY (look for the big silver airplane) and is open year round. See their website for hours and admission rates. www.glennhcurtissmuseum.org Expect to spend 2-3 hours viewing the exhibits.
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