One of the favourite books in our library is 'Record of an Aeronaut' by Gertrude Bacon. It is a biography of Rev. John M. Bacon written mostly by his daughter Gertrude.
Published in 1907, three years after her father’s death, she writes … "The present volume is largely my own attempt to finish that which my father began." His own writing is contained in chapters II, III and IV.
Bacon lived in a fine house called 'Sunnyside' in Coldash, Berkshire where he was educated first …"by his clever mother, then by successive curates …" until at the age of twelve he was sent to a preparatory school near Swindon. In 1865 he went up to Cambridge University which lead to his being ordained Deacon in Ely Cathedral in 1870. It was during his time at Cambridge that he witnessed his first balloon ascent – a sight that would have a life-long effect on him.
The book describes his many balloon flights whilst pursuing his scientific interests in acoustics, astronomy, bell ringing and making fireworks. His first flight was in 1888 with Captain William Dale where they flew from Crystal Palace across London to Hatfield. "When I got home, and for days after, one's friends said something smart and strangers passed me with a smile, and little boys on street corners pointed over their shoulders and said, That's he as went up in a b'loon."
The picture of John Bacon and daughter Gertrude looking dishevelled is at the rough landing of a night-long balloon flight in 1899 to view the Leonid meteor shower.
Bacon experimented with a hot air balloon in 1903 and describes it thus...
"Encouraged by so successful a beginning, Bacon and Maskelyne, having patented their invention, launched out on more important trials. They bought a large hot-air balloon nearly 70,000 cubic feet in capacity, 50 feet in diameter, standing when filled 70 feet high, and weighing in itself nearly 300 lb. To inflate this monster they had made a special burner of the nature described, fitted with pump and oil receiver, which at full pressure was capable of vaporizing 8+ gallons of petroleum an hour. Then they set to work on experiments which were carried out on every available fine day throughout the spring and summer of 1903. The procedure was as follows. Early in the afternoon, Mr. Maskelyne being present, some dozen members of the Guildhall Club would cycle out to Coldash-ideal assistants, quick and intelligent, giving their services enthusiastically out of love for their Presi- dent. By them the bulky balloon was carried into an adjoining field and carefully hauled across a portable wooden staging over which it was spread as a tent. Next the burner was placed beneath and lighted, the heat generated being conveyed into the mouth of the balloon through a long flexible and non-inflammable flue of asbestos.
The next few minutes demanded care and attention on the part of the helpers, for the heat from the burners was tremendous, and unless the cotton folds of the balloon were properly placed and adjusted there was risk of their becoming scorched. However, the men soon grew handy at the work, and in a very short time the filling material had lifted itself out of danger. In but nine minutes the great mass was slowly heaving aloft, and displaying the scarlet gores and stars with which it was ornamented. In a quarter of an hour it was standing upright, and in twenty-five minutes only from the start it was fully inflated and fidgeting to be off and away. When full, the wooden staging was re- moved, and a wicker car attached below the burners, carrying the oil pump and reserve supply of petroleum, and in which the aeronaut could take his place. Then, at a given signal, the ropes being loosed, the whole soared proudly aloft into the air, where it could continue, either as a captive or free, for just as long as the supply of oil lasted.
The advantage of such a form of balloon in time of war needs no insisting on. The whole apparatus, balloon, burner, staging, and all, was not more than could be loaded into one wagon; the cost of an hour's supply of petroleum to the burners worked out at under five shillings; while the inflation, which could be made as often as desired, was completed in less than half an hour from the beginning. Naturally the experiments attracted considerable attention and much favourable comment in aeronautical, as military circles. Many experts came to Coldash new design. Major Baden Powell, President of the Aeronautical Society, was one of these; also, Mr. Patrick Alexander; Mr. Chanute, the eminent American aerial investigator; representatives of the War Office; and, from the German Embassy, a military attaché in the person of Count von Schulenburg. One and all expressed their heartiest approval of an invention which, had but circumstances admitted of its completion, had surely a great future before it. As it was, the work, stopped in the midst by the approach of winter, was postponed to the next season, which, when it came, found both Maskelyne and Bacon too much engaged in other business to spare the necessary time. So but little more was done, except to lay plans for a grand revival of the proceedings in the spring-a spring which Bacon never lived to see."
The collection has a model of Bacon's burner. Details to follow in due course...
