David Thayer

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David Thayer was an aero inventor in Boston. He had a patent related to kites and one to an interesting way of towing things on the ground from kites.

This invention received some press coverage, e.g.[1]

The most original and unique idea, however, hails from Dr. David Thayer, of Boston, Mass., in which he uses the kite as a motor.
The one great fault in this respect has been the amount of power expended in keeping the kite in the air. Every boy knows that in a light wind the simple weight of the cord will reduce the "pull" of the kite to a minimum. This fact has made kite propulsion only satisfactory in a stiff breeze. Dr. Thayer has remedied this defect by means of a raft made to float on the sea, having three main guys of rope attached to one end. These are sustained in the air by means of small balloons filled iwth gas. Below these are a number of sails, made fairly rigid by bamboo attachments (like the sail of a Chinese junk). These are about three times as long as they are broad, and fitted at each end with a species of wing, a proper manipulation of which directs the course of the machine. The main guy ropes are about forty feet long, and midway between the raft and the sails and balloons, is located the passenger car.

Thayer was apparently also involved in Boston politics.[2]


Patents whose inventor or applicant is David Thayer

References

  1. Wilfrid P. Pond, "Some Big Kites", Philadelphia Times, October 19, 1890, p. 15; "Kites of Terrytown", Goshen Daily News, October 25, 1890, 6, etc.
  2. "More Ward Caucuses", Boston Daily Globe, 19 November 1873, p. 5

Links


Names David Thayer
Birth date 1813
Death date 1893-12-15
Countries US
Locations Braintree; Massachusetts; Boston, Massachusetts
Occupations physician
Tech areas Kite
Affiliations
Wikidata id