TLS, one page, 7.25 x 10.5, personal letterhead, December 10, 1925. Letter to a member of the Museum of the Peaceful Arts. In part, 'None of our early machines excepting the one of 1902 is any longer completely in existence. I still have a few of the original parts of the 1904 and 1905 machines, such as propellers, chain transmission and parts of the motor. In 1911 Mr. Zenas Crane asked for the glider with which I had that year at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, a soaring flight of nine and three-quarter minutes. He wanted it for the museum which he had presented to the town of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. I gave him at the same time the wings, rudders, etc., of the 1905 machine, which at the time were also stored at our camp at Kitty Hawk - intending to give him the machinery parts later when he had it set up at his museum. When the parts of the two machines arrived at Pittsfield Mr. Crane employed a young 'expert' to set them up. The young 'expert' had read in some of Victor Lougheed's books descriptions of these two machines. When he found the originals did not agree in dimensions with the descriptions, he cut these original machines up to make them conform with the descriptions he had read. The machines were badly mutilated. I think they were never restored to their original form, and I do not know what has become of them.'. Several rusty paperclip marks to three edges, light overall toning, a bit heavier to edges, a few light wrinkles and expected mailing folds, otherwise fine condition. COA John Reznikoff/University Archives and RRAuction COA.
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