"The Hargrave Files"

On the 12th of November, 1894, Lawrence Hargrave was lifted from the ground by a train of four of his "cellular kites". This was simply one stage in his quest for a stable lifting surface which could then be powered and used as a means of transportation. Hargrave was doing his utmost to invent the aeroplane!

In the latter part of the nineteenth and early part of the twentieth centuries Lawrence Hargrave presented at least twenty papers at meetings of the Royal Society of New South Wales. He also corresponded extensively with other scientists and auronautical experimenters, such as Octave Chanute, B.F.S. Baden-Powell, Alexander Graham Bell, Percy Pilcher, and William Eddy.

Hargrave developed several styles of kites and gliders, refined and developed the concept of curved surface wings, and also invented the rotary engine. He never patented any of his inventions, preferring them to be available for the advancement of mankind. He made scathing attacks on people who experimented in secrecy with the intention of profiting from their inventions, accusing them of trying to exploit humanity.

Papers

Soaring Machines. Royal Society of New South Wales, November 2, 1898

Sailing Birds are Dependent on Wave Power. Royal Society of New South Wales, September 7, 1899

Rigid Stable Aeroplanes. Royal Society of New South Wales, December 1, 1909

Excerpts from Hargrave's Journals

Hargarve's Manlift. November 12, 1894

Description. - small image, large image
Illustration - small image, large image

Letters to and from Hargrave

From Octave Chanute. September 26, 1893 - small image, large image
To BFS Baden-Powell. February 5, 1894 - small image, large image

Hargrave's kites

Cellular variations February 10, 1893 - small image, large image
Alteration of Kite A. July 9, 1894 - small image, large image
Kite B. February 8, 1894 - small image, large image
Kite C. September 13, 1894 - small image, large image
Kite D. October 14, 1894 - small image, large image

Illustrations from "Cellular Kites" February 1893. A, B, C, D, E, F, Z

 Associated articles about Hargrave kites

Simon Freiden's man lift at Kitefest '99
Cradle of Aviation's Hargrave Replica. Seymour Goldberg. November '98
Lenneke Cayley's Hargrave replica - Royal Park, November '97

Other Hargrave websites:

Visit the Monash University - Hargrave Library "Lawrence Hargrave" Website.
You can find out about Hargrave resources at Australian libraries and museums by visiting "Bright SPARCS" Page. you might like to visit the Breeze and Eeze page on Hargrave as well.

Further Reading:

• Craddock, D. A. (1994). Ravensbourne to Airborne. Aspects of Lawrence Hargrave’s contribution to the science of aeronautics. Epping: David A. Craddock.
• Grainger, E. (1978) Hargrave and Son. St Lucia: University of Queensland Press.
• Hart, C. (1967). Kites, an historical survey. Mount Vernon: Paul P. Appel..
• Pelham, D. (1976). The Penguin Book of Kites. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd.
• Shaw, W. H. & Ruben, O. (1977). Lawrence Hargrave: explorer, inventor and aviation experimenter. Stanmore: Cassell Australia.
• Walker, J. D. (1984). Lawrence Hargrave: Australia’s pioneer aeronautical scientist. Canberra: Australian Government Printing Service.

Websites about kiting pioneers:

• Lindenberg kite train
• Cody's Kites
• Photos of an original Cody, recently auctioned at Sotheby's
• Meg Albers' Information about a number of kiting pioneers
• Kites and Kite Flying - History of Kites
• The History of Kites in Japan and Other Parts of the World

   

This site is the recipient of the History Teachers' Association of Victoria "Page Out Of History" Award