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Adams-Farwell Rotary 5 Engine, 1907. Creator: Adams-Farwell Company
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Adams-Farwell Rotary 5 Engine, 1907. Creator: Adams-Farwell Company
The first successful rotary engine is generally attributed to F.O. Farwell in 1896, and was built by the Adams Company of Dubuque, Iowa. A three cylinder version likely powered the first rubber-tired automobile in 1899. Because of its light weight, this five cylinder engine was selected by Emile Berliner, an inventor possibly better known in the acoustics field, to drive a helicopters vertical shaft in a 1908 " test rig." It was reported by the New York Times on July 1, 1909 that a helicopter jointly designed by Berliner and J. Newton Williams, using two of these engines, successfully lifted a few feet off the ground in the last week of June 1909 with Williams aboard. During this same period, Berliner formed the Gyro Motor Company to pursue development of the rotary engine in aviation, but the French Gnome engine was much more successful in bringing the rotary to a broad aviation market
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases the Adams-Farwell Rotary 5 Engine, a groundbreaking invention from 1907. Created by the Adams-Farwell Company, this engine is considered to be one of the earliest successful rotary engines in history. The credit for its initial design goes to F. O. Farwell in 1896, while the construction was carried out by the Adams Company of Dubuque, Iowa. The significance of this engine lies not only in its historical importance but also in its diverse applications. A three-cylinder version powered the first rubber-tired automobile as early as 1899 due to its lightweight nature. In an intriguing turn of events, Emile Berliner - renowned for his contributions to acoustics - selected this very five-cylinder engine to drive a helicopter's vertical shaft in a pioneering "test rig" conducted in 1908. In fact, it was reported by The New York Times on July 1st, 1909 that Berliner and J. Newton Williams successfully lifted a helicopter several feet off the ground using two of these engines just weeks prior. This achievement prompted Berliner to establish the Gyro Motor Company with hopes of advancing rotary engines' role in aviation. Although ultimately overshadowed by the French Gnome engine's success within aviation markets at that time, this photograph immortalizes an important milestone in technological advancement and transportation history. Preserved within Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum collection, this image serves as a testament to America's innovative spirit during the early years of flight exploration.
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