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- Calculating and Printing Machine, Made by Leon Bollee, France, circa 1900 - Leon Bollee manufactured automobiles in France from 1895 until his death in 1913. He also invented a series of mechanical calculating machines -- forerunners of the electric calculator. Bollee made an important contribution to aviation when he provided Wilbur Wright with workspace and a crew of mechanics for Wright's successful airplane demonstrations at Le Mans, France, in 1908.
- circa 1900
- Collections - Artifact
Calculating and Printing Machine, Made by Leon Bollee, France, circa 1900
Leon Bollee manufactured automobiles in France from 1895 until his death in 1913. He also invented a series of mechanical calculating machines -- forerunners of the electric calculator. Bollee made an important contribution to aviation when he provided Wilbur Wright with workspace and a crew of mechanics for Wright's successful airplane demonstrations at Le Mans, France, in 1908.
- Wright Flyer on Carrier inside Bollee Automobile Factory, Le Mans, France, 1908 - Leon Bollee, a French automobile manufacturer, became one of the Wright brothers' most important friends in 1908 when he offered workspace and a crew of mechanics to Wilbur Wright during Wright's successful demonstration flights at Le Mans, France. The language barrier meant that Wright did most of the mechanical work on the airplane himself, but Bollee's assistance was much appreciated.
- August 01, 1908
- Collections - Artifact
Wright Flyer on Carrier inside Bollee Automobile Factory, Le Mans, France, 1908
Leon Bollee, a French automobile manufacturer, became one of the Wright brothers' most important friends in 1908 when he offered workspace and a crew of mechanics to Wilbur Wright during Wright's successful demonstration flights at Le Mans, France. The language barrier meant that Wright did most of the mechanical work on the airplane himself, but Bollee's assistance was much appreciated.
- Leon Bollee Sitting at the Controls of the Wright Flyer at Camp d'Auvours, near Le Mans, France, 1908-1909 - Leon Bollee was a close and important friend to Wilbur Wright during Wright's airplane demonstrations in France in 1908. Bollee offered Wright workspace and a crew of mechanics in his Le Mans automobile factory, and he asked for nothing in return. Nevertheless, Wright repaid the favor by taking Bollee up for a flight.
- 1908-1909
- Collections - Artifact
Leon Bollee Sitting at the Controls of the Wright Flyer at Camp d'Auvours, near Le Mans, France, 1908-1909
Leon Bollee was a close and important friend to Wilbur Wright during Wright's airplane demonstrations in France in 1908. Bollee offered Wright workspace and a crew of mechanics in his Le Mans automobile factory, and he asked for nothing in return. Nevertheless, Wright repaid the favor by taking Bollee up for a flight.
- Wilbur Wright and Passenger during a Flight over Camp D'Avours, near Le Mans, France, 1908-1909 - The Wright brothers are famous for their first flight in a powered, heavier-than-air craft on December 17, 1903. It was not until August 8, 1908 that they made their first official public demonstration of their unique controllable flyer. This shows Wilbur Wright flying near the ground while taking off at Les Hunandières horse racing track near Le Mans, France.
- 1908-1909
- Collections - Artifact
Wilbur Wright and Passenger during a Flight over Camp D'Avours, near Le Mans, France, 1908-1909
The Wright brothers are famous for their first flight in a powered, heavier-than-air craft on December 17, 1903. It was not until August 8, 1908 that they made their first official public demonstration of their unique controllable flyer. This shows Wilbur Wright flying near the ground while taking off at Les Hunandières horse racing track near Le Mans, France.
- Leon Bollee in the Wright Flyer, Camp d'Auvours, near Le Mans, France, 1908-1909 - Leon Bollee was a close and important friend to Wilbur Wright during Wright's airplane demonstrations in France in 1908. Bollee offered Wright workspace and a crew of mechanics in his Le Mans automobile factory, and he asked for nothing in return. Nevertheless, Wright repaid the favor by taking Bollee up for a flight.
- August 1908-02 January 1909
- Collections - Artifact
Leon Bollee in the Wright Flyer, Camp d'Auvours, near Le Mans, France, 1908-1909
Leon Bollee was a close and important friend to Wilbur Wright during Wright's airplane demonstrations in France in 1908. Bollee offered Wright workspace and a crew of mechanics in his Le Mans automobile factory, and he asked for nothing in return. Nevertheless, Wright repaid the favor by taking Bollee up for a flight.
- Bollee Automobile, 1900-1910 - Leon Bollee Automobiles was established in Le Mans, France, in 1895 and produced vehicles until 1931. The company's founder and namesake, Leon Bollee, made another significant contribution to transportation history. He befriended Wilbur Wright during Wright's successful demonstration flights near Le Mans in 1908. Bollee offered Wright the use of his factory and mechanics for the duration of the flights.
- circa 1900-circa 1910
- Collections - Artifact
Bollee Automobile, 1900-1910
Leon Bollee Automobiles was established in Le Mans, France, in 1895 and produced vehicles until 1931. The company's founder and namesake, Leon Bollee, made another significant contribution to transportation history. He befriended Wilbur Wright during Wright's successful demonstration flights near Le Mans in 1908. Bollee offered Wright the use of his factory and mechanics for the duration of the flights.
- Bollee Automobile Outdoors, 1900-1910 - Leon Bollee Automobiles was established in Le Mans, France, in 1895 and produced vehicles until 1931. The company's founder and namesake, Leon Bollee, made another significant contribution to transportation history. He befriended Wilbur Wright during Wright's successful demonstration flights near Le Mans in 1908. Bollee offered Wright the use of his factory and mechanics for the duration of the flights.
- circa 1900-circa 1910
- Collections - Artifact
Bollee Automobile Outdoors, 1900-1910
Leon Bollee Automobiles was established in Le Mans, France, in 1895 and produced vehicles until 1931. The company's founder and namesake, Leon Bollee, made another significant contribution to transportation history. He befriended Wilbur Wright during Wright's successful demonstration flights near Le Mans in 1908. Bollee offered Wright the use of his factory and mechanics for the duration of the flights.
- Man Driving a Bollee Three-Wheeled Automobile, 1900-1910 - Leon Bollee Automobiles was established in Le Mans, France, in 1895 and produced vehicles until 1931. The company's founder and namesake, Leon Bollee, made another significant contribution to transportation history. He befriended Wilbur Wright during Wright's successful demonstration flights near Le Mans in 1908. Bollee offered Wright the use of his factory and mechanics for the duration of the flights.
- circa 1900-circa 1910
- Collections - Artifact
Man Driving a Bollee Three-Wheeled Automobile, 1900-1910
Leon Bollee Automobiles was established in Le Mans, France, in 1895 and produced vehicles until 1931. The company's founder and namesake, Leon Bollee, made another significant contribution to transportation history. He befriended Wilbur Wright during Wright's successful demonstration flights near Le Mans in 1908. Bollee offered Wright the use of his factory and mechanics for the duration of the flights.
- Crowd Gathered to Watch a Balloon Launch, circa 1900 - Leon Bollee, an automobile manufacturer based in Le Mans, France, also had a deep interest in aviation. He was a sport balloonist and served as president of the Aero-Club de la Sarthe -- a regional aviation organization. Bollee formed an important friendship with Wilbur Wright when Wright staged his successful demonstration flights near Le Mans in 1908.
- circa 1900
- Collections - Artifact
Crowd Gathered to Watch a Balloon Launch, circa 1900
Leon Bollee, an automobile manufacturer based in Le Mans, France, also had a deep interest in aviation. He was a sport balloonist and served as president of the Aero-Club de la Sarthe -- a regional aviation organization. Bollee formed an important friendship with Wilbur Wright when Wright staged his successful demonstration flights near Le Mans in 1908.
- Interior of the Hangar at Camp d'Auvours, near Le Mans, France, 1908-1909 - Just as he and his brother had done in North Carolina earlier in the decade, Wilbur Wright used a simple wooden hangar as his base of operations during his demonstration flights in France in 1908-1909. In addition to a workbench and tools for the airplane, the hangar included cooking utensils and a pantry stocked with canned goods.
- 1908-1909
- Collections - Artifact
Interior of the Hangar at Camp d'Auvours, near Le Mans, France, 1908-1909
Just as he and his brother had done in North Carolina earlier in the decade, Wilbur Wright used a simple wooden hangar as his base of operations during his demonstration flights in France in 1908-1909. In addition to a workbench and tools for the airplane, the hangar included cooking utensils and a pantry stocked with canned goods.