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Salute to
100th Annniversary of Flight AIR SHOW
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THE HISTORY OF THE WRIGHT BROTHER'S WATCHES: NOW AVAILABLE Cambridge Design Corporation of
Manhasset, The watch's design was inspired by the original pocket watches and stopwatch used by the Wright brothers on that date. Those timepieces have been preserved and are now on display at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum in Washington, D.C. The museum has created a special exhibit, "The Wright Brothers and the Invention of the Aerial Age," which features the original "Flyer" airplane. The commemorative pocket watch symbolizes the achievements of all those courageous aviation and space pioneers, (some of whom sacrificed their lives), to make modern air flight and space exploration possible. The watch celebrates a remarkable century of invention and progress in the air, which all began in the United States on the windswept Outer Banks of North Carolina. WATCH DESCRIPTION:
HISTORIC BACKGROUND: On the momentous day of first flight, Orville Wright took the controls of "The Flyer" aircraft the brothers had created, and, into a 27 m.p.h. wind, released the restraining wire, moved downhill on rails and rose into the sky. He was able to keep the famed aircraft aloft for 12 seconds and traveled a measured 120 feet. Ground speed was calculated at 8.8 m.p.h; total air speed, 34 m.p.h. Then Wilbur and Orville Wright took turns and flew a total of four times that day; the last flight lasted 59 seconds and covered 852 feet. The age of aviation was born! THE HISTORY OF THE WRIGHT BROTHER'S WATCHES: Wilbur's pocket watch was a Hampden Railroad pocket watch; Orville carried a Rockford Railroad pocket watch. They also used a Sun stopwatch. The Hampden Watch Company was started in Springfield, Massachusetts, in1877. It moved to Canton, Ohio two years later. During the Great Depression the company went out of business and the entire factory's equipment was shipped to Russia in 1930 in 28 freight cars, along with 21 former watchmakers, engravers and technicians. They taught the Russians the art of watch making as part of Stalin's first five-year plan. The Rockford Watch Company was organized in 1875 and was locally owned and managed in Rockford, Illinois until it was sold in 1901. At the time it was the community's largest single employer. Watch production ended in 1915. We have found no historic data on the Sun stop watch. NOTES: The Wright brothers did not wear wristwatches in 1903 because the wristwatch was not invented until a few years later. The first wristwatch was specially created by Cartier Jewelers of Paris for Albert Santos-Dumont, a pioneer Brazilian aeronaut who designed, built and flew dirigibles and airships. In year 2003, the nation will honor the achievements of the Wright brothers at events at Kitty Hawk, NC, Dayton, Ohio and throughout the nation. It was in Dayton that the brothers experimented with and invented the first successful airplane, aircraft engine and propeller. Fly-ins and festivities are planned at myriad airports, and an 11-Day Festival of Flight program is scheduled for Fayetteville, NC. The Cambridge Collection Pocket Watches are not being sold in retail stores. They may be ordered by contacting Cambridge Design, 10 North Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030. Suggested retail: $69.95. Wholesale price: $35. Watches come with a full replacement guarantee. To order call: 516 365 5611/FAX 516 365 5614. |
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New
York is producing a limited edition, commemorative pocket
watch to celebrate the 100th anniversary of first powered
flight, which took place on December 17th, 1903 at Kitty
Hawk, North Carolina.
The
Cambridge Limited Edition, 100th Anniversary of First Flight
pocket watch, in antique bronze finished metal measures 55
mm., (2.6 inches). Spring-loaded, it opens automatically by
depressing the crown mechanism and features a fine quartz
movement. Calibrated to American specifications it offers
precision timekeeping, (accurate +/- 3 seconds per month).
Each watch has its number of limited edition production
individually stamped on the back cover. The front cover
features sculpted images inspired by "The Flyer" and modern
jet aircraft. The back cover has a patriotic motif of the
Stars and Stripes, surrounded by 13 stars. The watch face
features numerals and hands typical of 1903 railroad
watches. The limited edition commemorative retails for
$69.95.