Viewing page 21 of 29

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

year he and another aeronautical-minded friend formed the Babcock Breininger Aeroplane Supply Company in Seattle, the first airplane supply company west of Dayton, Ohio. There, through 1912, they developed a small business making pro-pellers, turnbuckles, fittings and various fabricated wood aircraft components. During that time they supplied parts to and became acquainted with most of the early West Coast pioneer plane builders and aviator's of the era. 
   While operating this shop and business, Babcock built and experimented with different planes and continued his flying practice. One was a light, high-wing, parasol monoplane with a 2-cylinder motorcycle engine.  Another was a gull-wing light Taube-type monoplane with a 2-cylinder Detroit Aeromotor, and a third was another light Deperdussin-type monoplane with a 4-cylinder Curtiss air-cooled engine. He also began flying various other types owned by fellow builders in the Seattle area.
   During this period, Babcock at times assisted other aviators mechanically and was one of the mechanics with Phil Parmelee and Clifford Turpin when they started flying exhibitions in the Northwest with their new Gage tractor biplanes in late May, 1912.  Following this, Babcock build a modified Curtiss-type plane.  The top with of this plane had a greater span than the lower; it also had a 3-wheel  landing gear and used a 50 h.p. Gyro engine.  With type plane he reportedly did some flying at Dominquez Field and Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California, during 1913.
   In September, 1914, Babcock went to Franck and joined their aviation service.  He was in their Escadrille C 36, MF 9 and MF 8C  until November, 1915, when he returned to the United States and to California.  Their he started to work as a propeller man for Glenn L. Martin.  From August, 1916, to March, 1917, he was with the Advance Aircraft Company in Los Angeles in charge of engineering, where he designed and build a plane for a steam power plant.  During that time he also operated an air field at Venice, California, and did considerable