Title

Ascent of Bell's Aerial Machine, from Vauxhall Gardens, 1850. Creator: Unknown.

Caption

Ascent of Bell's Aerial Machine, from Vauxhall Gardens, [London], 1850. 'The machine which Mr. Bell has constructed...is capable of sustaining a weight of between 500 and 600 lb., when inflated with the ordinary carburetted hydrogen. The propellers are on the principle of the screw-propeller. If two are used, they are placed one on each side of the car...This apparatus is so constructed as to have a hinge and a rotating motion, so as to obtain the necessary movements of an extended surface or fan, in all respects similar to the tail of a bird, so that the guiding or directing of the machine may be under the control of the aeronaut...the balloon ascended in the presence of a considerable number of spectators - among them several individuals of scientific eminence...We did not observe that the aeronaut had any specific control over the machine...It seemed to drift along...like any other balloon...'. From "Illustrated London News", 1850.

Credit line

Photo12/Heritage Images/The Print Collector

Reference

HRM22A33_250

Model release

NA

Property release

NA

License type

Rights managed

Available size

68,8Mb (4,5Mb) / 16,5in x 16,2in / 4960 x 4848 (300dpi)

Keywords

transport transportation unusual London England people male crowd crowds job man men aerial garden gardens spectators flight science balloon guy occupation spectator British ballooning hot air balloon machine machinery location Victorian century Britain profession onlookers newspapers press aviation concept ascending invention B&W engraved engraving contraption aviator air Transport ascent Flying Machine 19th century black & white black and white B W onlooker Lambeth nineteenth century The Print Collector aeronaut hydrogen balloon Illustrated London News Kennington TGN Vauxhall Gardens ILN newspaper Unknown Bell Hugo 19th-century locomotive balloon Hugo Bell