In 1876, Dover man Ralph Stott "caused great wonderment" with his claims that he had invented "a flying machine".
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But after captivating the world, and even attracting the attention of the German Empire's Otto Von Bismarck, who expressed a desire to purchase the invention to assist in his war campaigns, Stott's machine was determined to be an enormous hoax.
In November of that year, the inventor announced his determination to cross from Dover to Calais in the machine, after which he would travel to Berlin to meet with Prince Bismarck.
"Mr Stott claims that he will be able to command a speed of 100 miles an hour, but says his speed in crossing the Channel will be about a mile a minute," the Mercury announced in an article republished from the Herald.
"It seems altogether too like a fairytale to be true, and yet it is certain that the inventor is perfectly in earnest, and that he believes himself to have successfully solved the great problem of 'air travelling'."
The following month, Stott's cross-Channel flight was postponed "until a clearer atmosphere permits of his making his daring attempt".
The decision enabled him to prolong a visit to Berlin, "where he had been showing the particulars of his invention to the Minister of War (Bismarck), and to various notabilities of the army and navy".
Intriguingly, he managed this without ever disclosing the secret of the mechanism, the success of which he seemed so certain.
"All that the world is yet permitted to know of the new invention is that the flying apparatus, built on the balance system, consists of a small but tolerably deep ship, built of wood, in the midst of which is the machine, which furnishes the motive power, and which is set in motion by a wheel like the helm of a steamer.
The machine weighed 3001bs, measured 5ft long, 2ft 6in wide and 4ft high and had a seat for a passenger fixed at both ends. Interestingly, there were no wings, tails or rudders.
Mr Stott said he intended to make several excursions in the air, and was confident of selling his secret at a very high figure.
Within weeks, however, the Morning Post's Berlin correspondent said Stott had "suddenly resorted to every possible excuse and subterfuge to disengage himself from the obligations entered into".
"His ascent before certain delegates of the War Office, as well as subsequent public representatives, is revoked, because Government refused to pay him immediately a sum of £1000," it said.
Punch subsequently commented, "[If] the £1000 for the ascent be paid him, will the Flying Machine go up? We shall see."
As it turned out, the world never did see.
Picture: A woodcut of Ralph Stott’s “flying machine”, which ended up being a flight of fancy. CREDIT: Dover Museum.
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For a history of aviation in Australia, go to the State Library of NSW website at www.sl.nsw.gov.au.