Viewing page 23 of 51

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

During 1907, Frank was the first of the brothers to become seriously interested in aviation, and that year he began to arrange his business affairs so he could devote some time to airplane experiments. He decided to try to build a plane and leased a garage building on Milton Avenue in Rahway, complete with power machinery, shop equipment and tools, where he started to work on a tandem monoplane with flexible wings and steel body. Without drawings, and with no previous knowledge, the plane was heavy and full of bad mistakes. Realizing he had tackled something he knew nothing about, he abandoned the project before it was finished. He then started on a monoplane glider using one of the wings. This project continued into 1908. The glider was to be towed by an automobile, but repeated trials were unsuccessful.
 
Frank then started a tractor monoplane in 1908, using for the first time the Boland JIB control surfaces for lateral balance. By this all three brothers were seriously interested in aviation. As 1907 ended Frank decided they would need to build their own engine suitable for flying before they could make much progress. Since Joseph had considerable experience in designing and building engines, he started work on a VEE-type 8-cylinder water-cooled aviation engine to develop 60 h.p. In late December, 1907, the brothers collaborated on writing the specifications for the engine.
 
Joseph built this first engine largely by hand; it weighed 240 pounds and cost $2,100. It had an aluminum crankcase and built-up crankshaft mounted on ant-friction bearings, a 4-inch bore and 4-inch stroke, and individual brass jacketed cast iron cylinders with concentric values in the head. The exhaust was mechanically operated and the intake was automatic. Fuel injection was tried on the first engine but was later changed to carburetion. The engine proved to be a very rugged, dependable unit and was used successfully on all early Boland airplane. Their automobile sales and service business continued to grow under James' efficient management and supplied the financial means to carry on their aviation experiments.