Difference between revisions of "Wright Company"
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| − | + | The Wright brothers founded the '''Wright Company''', distinct from their bicycle business, in Dayton in November 1909. A predecessor company from 1908 is called here [[Wright & Co.]] They had difficulty transitioning to airplane mannufacturing. The new company had some dramatic changes, including a move to New York City. They manufactured perhaps 120 aircraft by 1915, when Orville sold the company, which then merged into the Curtiss enterprise.<ref>[[w:Wright Company]] (let's add to that)</ref><ref>[[Roach, 2014]]</ref> | |
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| + | === 1909 start === | ||
| + | [[Clinton R. Peterkin]], office boy for [[Wright & Co.]] assembled the shareholders who incorporated the Wright Company.<ref>Gunston, 1993 and Gunston, 2005</ref> The new company, registered in Albany NY, on 22 Nov 1909 (offices were to open in New York City the next week) as a closed corporation with capital stock of $1 million, was formed to commercially manufacture aeroplanes and to protect the Wright patents in the US and Canada from possible infringement. One of the Wright brothers was to be president, the other vice-president; Peterkin was another vice president. The executive company consisted of the [[Wright brothers]] and investors [[Theodore P. Shonts]], [[Andrew Freedman]], [[August Belmont]], and [[Russell A. Alger]]. [[Cornelius Vanderbilt]] was another investor. In March 1916, [[Edward M. Hagar]] was elected president of the Wright Co. The principal stockholders at that time were [[William Boyce Thompson]], [[Albert H. Wiggin]], [[William E. Corey]], [[Percy A. Rockefeller]], [[Ambrose Monell]], [[E. C. Converse]], [[Charles H. Sabin]], [[John D. Ryan]], and [[Henry R. Carse]].<ref name=oldsources>Sources: | ||
* [[Gunston, 1993]], p275, 330-331 | * [[Gunston, 1993]], p275, 330-331 | ||
* [[Gunston, 2005]], p420-421, 509 | * [[Gunston, 2005]], p420-421, 509 | ||
* SD257, 309-310; NYTimes, 6 Oct 1909, 23 Nov 1909, 31 May 1912; 1912AI984; 1916AAE3001916AAW653;</ref> | * SD257, 309-310; NYTimes, 6 Oct 1909, 23 Nov 1909, 31 May 1912; 1912AI984; 1916AAE3001916AAW653;</ref> | ||
| − | Aircraft designs for Models B through R included several hydro aeroplanes and several racers, among others. Aircraft for European customers were crated and shipped in pieces to Pau. France, where assembly took place. Wilbur died 31 May 1912. By 1915 Orville had "regained" 97% of the Wright Company stock, which on 13 Oct 1915, he sold | + | === 1912-1916 === |
| + | Aircraft designs for Models B through R included several hydro aeroplanes and several racers, among others. Aircraft for European customers were crated and shipped in pieces to Pau. France, where assembly took place. Wilbur died 31 May 1912. By 1915 Orville had "regained" 97% of the Wright Company stock, which on 13 Oct 1915, he sold to a syndicate–including Thompson, Wiggin, Monell, [[C. S. Jennison]], [[Harry Payne Whitney]], and [[T. Frank Manville]]–while he remained a consultant to the Wright Co.<ref>[[Freudenthal, 1940, The Aviation Business]], p. [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.$b39416;view=1up;seq=43;size=125 27].</ref> By the end of 1915, the Wright Co. had acquired control of the Simplex Automobile Co., New Brunswick, NJ, and [[Henry Lockhart]] was president of both companies. Also in 1915, the Wright Co. got exclusive rights to manufacture the [[Hispano-Suiza motor]] in the US and production soon got underway at the Simplex plant in New Brunswick. In March 1916, there was a new president. In August 1916, the Wright Co. and Simplex Automobile Co. merged with the [[Wright Flying Field. Inc.]], [[Glenn L. Martin Co.]], and [[General Aeronautic Co.]] of America to form the [[Wright-Martin Aircraft Corp.]], of New Brunswick NJ.<ref name=oldsources /> | ||
=== References === | === References === | ||
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|Country=US | |Country=US | ||
|City=Dayton, Ohio; New York, New York | |City=Dayton, Ohio; New York, New York | ||
| − | |Affiliations= | + | |Affiliations=Wright & Co. |
|Keywords=airplane | |Keywords=airplane | ||
|Started aero=1909 | |Started aero=1909 | ||
Latest revision as of 14:46, 17 January 2023
The Wright brothers founded the Wright Company, distinct from their bicycle business, in Dayton in November 1909. A predecessor company from 1908 is called here Wright & Co. They had difficulty transitioning to airplane mannufacturing. The new company had some dramatic changes, including a move to New York City. They manufactured perhaps 120 aircraft by 1915, when Orville sold the company, which then merged into the Curtiss enterprise.[1][2]
1909 start
Clinton R. Peterkin, office boy for Wright & Co. assembled the shareholders who incorporated the Wright Company.[3] The new company, registered in Albany NY, on 22 Nov 1909 (offices were to open in New York City the next week) as a closed corporation with capital stock of $1 million, was formed to commercially manufacture aeroplanes and to protect the Wright patents in the US and Canada from possible infringement. One of the Wright brothers was to be president, the other vice-president; Peterkin was another vice president. The executive company consisted of the Wright brothers and investors Theodore P. Shonts, Andrew Freedman, August Belmont, and Russell A. Alger. Cornelius Vanderbilt was another investor. In March 1916, Edward M. Hagar was elected president of the Wright Co. The principal stockholders at that time were William Boyce Thompson, Albert H. Wiggin, William E. Corey, Percy A. Rockefeller, Ambrose Monell, E. C. Converse, Charles H. Sabin, John D. Ryan, and Henry R. Carse.[4]
1912-1916
Aircraft designs for Models B through R included several hydro aeroplanes and several racers, among others. Aircraft for European customers were crated and shipped in pieces to Pau. France, where assembly took place. Wilbur died 31 May 1912. By 1915 Orville had "regained" 97% of the Wright Company stock, which on 13 Oct 1915, he sold to a syndicate–including Thompson, Wiggin, Monell, C. S. Jennison, Harry Payne Whitney, and T. Frank Manville–while he remained a consultant to the Wright Co.[5] By the end of 1915, the Wright Co. had acquired control of the Simplex Automobile Co., New Brunswick, NJ, and Henry Lockhart was president of both companies. Also in 1915, the Wright Co. got exclusive rights to manufacture the Hispano-Suiza motor in the US and production soon got underway at the Simplex plant in New Brunswick. In March 1916, there was a new president. In August 1916, the Wright Co. and Simplex Automobile Co. merged with the Wright Flying Field. Inc., Glenn L. Martin Co., and General Aeronautic Co. of America to form the Wright-Martin Aircraft Corp., of New Brunswick NJ.[4]
References
- ↑ w:Wright Company (let's add to that)
- ↑ Roach, 2014
- ↑ Gunston, 1993 and Gunston, 2005
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Sources:
- Gunston, 1993, p275, 330-331
- Gunston, 2005, p420-421, 509
- SD257, 309-310; NYTimes, 6 Oct 1909, 23 Nov 1909, 31 May 1912; 1912AI984; 1916AAE3001916AAW653;
- ↑ Freudenthal, 1940, The Aviation Business, p. 27.
| Names | Wright Company |
|---|---|
| Country | US |
| City | Dayton, Ohio; New York, New York |
| Affiliations | Wright & Co. |
| Keywords | airplane |
| Started aero | 1909 |
| Ended aero | 1916 |
| Key people | Wright Brothers, Clinton R. Peterkin |
| Wikidata id |
