Viewing page 5 of 16

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

of a new means of automatic stability. He formed the Martin Aeroplane Company, of Elyria, Ohio in January, 1917 to promote his inventions, backed by the Garford Manufacturing Company, and work was being done on a new military plane designed my Martin.

During World War I he offered his services to the United States Government and was appointed a consulting engineer and technical advisor to the U.S. Air Service. In 1917 Martin was awarded the Aero Club of America Medal of Merit for his automatic stabilizer. He continued his Elyria company during the war and, in addition, made two trips to Europe in 1918, one as first officer of the U.S.S. Red Cross.

As the war ended Martin claimed nine patented aviation inventions, the major one being a mechanically operated retractable landing gear. At the time he brought out the Martin K-111 single-seat small light-weight biplane with an English-built 45 H.P. 2 cylinder opposed A.B.C. engine. This plane incorporated many of his patented ideas, including the retractable landing gear, probably one of the first actual applications of this feature in America.

[[left margin]]FROM THE FLYING PIONEERS BIOGRAPHIES OF HAROLD E. MOREHOUSE[[/left margin]]

In January, 1920 Martin offered the free use of his aeronautical patented inventions to the U.S. aviation industry and early that year moved his operations to Dayton, Ohio, known as the "Martin Enterprises". There he produced two military planes on contract, one a single engine bomber, the other a large 7-ton transmission bomber using shafts and gearing to drive the propellers.

In 1922 Martin transferred his ventures to Garden City, Long Island, New York, where he became the proprietor of the Martin Aeroplane Factory. There, in addition to his aviation activities, he experimented with some aerodynamic automobile developments.

In October, 1924 Martin sued several major aircraft company, charging them with conspiring to monopolize the industry, and for slandering him and his work. In 1926 the District Supreme Court of Washington D.C. struck from the records the above damage suit by Martin. The Martin factory in Garden City was later taken over by Kirkham Products Corporation.

Martin then engaged in consulting work and during World War II he again

4