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200 
Alfred W. Lawson
Aircraft Magazine Publisher - Aviator - Plane Manufacturer

Alfred W. Lawson was born in London, England, March 24, 1869. Information is lacking concerning his early life, education, and when he came to America. 

In 1890 Lawson was a professional baseball player. Then he became an Evangelist and lecturer and toured the Chautauqua circuit. 

As a promoter, he skipped the pioneer automobile era but entered into aviation with enthusiasm. He started publishing the aviation magazine "FLY" at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in November, 1908, the second aeronautical magazine in the United States. Soon he started publishing another aviation magazine "AIRCRAFT" in New York in March 1910. Reportedly, Lawson coined the word "aircraft" and had it copyrighted. 

Lawson continued his publications until the World War I period and during that time was one of the founding members of the Aeronautical Manufacturers Association in New York on April 29, 1911. 

In the fall of 1912 he was a student at the Sloane Flying School, Garden City, Long Island, New York, and received some dual flying instruction on a Sloane-Deperdussin monoplane from instructor Guy Gil Patrick. 

During the fall of 1913 Lawson purchased the Thomas flying boat, with which he started to commute from his home near Keyport, New Jersey to his New York office. The plane was delivered by Thomas Company pilot Walter Johnson, who made some first trips with Lawson to acquaint him with the plane. He flew between Raritan Bay, New Jersey and the Hudson River near 130th Street New York City. Lawson used the plane to some extent through the fall.

In late 1916 Lawson organized the Lawson Aircraft Company of Green Bay Wisconsin, to manufacture aircraft, and hired the well-known Long Island plan designer Vincent J. Burnelli and several mechanics to staff the new organization. On October 1, 1917, Lawson announced the new Model MT-1, 2-place dual training biplane. It was a good looking tractor type with 44 ft. span upper wind and 32 ft. 


Transcription Notes:
Reopened to add and edit mistakes. 1) Don't need "[[margin center]]" to show where text starts. 2) EDIT MARKS - "Fly" should be made "FLY". Those marks tell you that. Same for "Aircraft". 3) ✓ - There are four checks on the left side indicating lines where changes were to be made.