Bill's Aviation Log

In his book The Robber Barons: The Great American Capitalists 1861-1901, Matthew Josephson argued that the industrialists who were called robber barons have a complicated legacy in the history of American economic and social life. In the book's original Foreword, he claims the robber barons:

"more or less knowingly played the leading rôles in an age of industrial revolution. Even their quarrels, intrigues and misadventures (too often treated as merely diverting or picturesque) are part of the mechanism of our history. Under their hands the renovation of our economic life proceeded relentlessly : large-scale production replaced the scattered, decentralized mode of production ; industrial enterprises became more concentrated, more “efficient” technically, and essentially “coöperative,” where they had been purely individualistic and lamentably wasteful. But all this revolutionizing effort is branded with the motive of private gain on the part of the new captains of industry. To organize and exploit the resources of a nation upon a gigantic scale, to regiment its farmers and workers into harmonious corps of producers, and to do this only in the name of an uncontrolled appetite for private profit—here surely is the great inherent contradiction whence so much disaster, outrage and misery has flowed.

This is the Clayton House where Frick stayed when he was in Pittsburgh. The house wasn't open for tours, unfortunately.

The most interesting thing in the complex -- which was open -- was the Frick Car and Carriage Museum.

Fine horses and fashionable carriages were among the "must-haves" for a wealthy family at the turn of the 20th century. Only the most prosperous city dwellers had the space or the finances to buy and maintain the carriages, house and feed the horses, and employ the staff associated with their care. The Fricks certainly qualified. This is one of their carriages which carried four passengers seated face to face. It was pulled by a pair of horses.

Despite early popularity, electric cars faded from the automobile market after 1910, as the more powerful gasoline engine became the standard. Henry Ford's perfection of the moving assembly line with the resulting large scale of production was one of the major factors that influenced which power system prevailed in automobiles.

This immaculate 1914 Silver Ghost was one of three Rolls Royce automobiles purchased simultaneously by Henry Clay Frick for family use. All three were highly customized. It's engine had six cylinders and produced 48 horsepower.

A 1932 General Motors Cadillac 355B Sport Phaeton, complete with Cadillac iconic goddess hood ornament.

October 30, 2021 - Frick Museum
Our next stop was "The Frick Pittsburgh" Museum. It's a cluster of museums and historical buildings located in Pittsburgh and formed around the Frick family's nineteenth-century residence known as "Clayton". It focuses on the interpretation of the life and times of Henry Clay Frick (1849–1919), industrialist and art collector. Frick isn't as well known as some of the other industrial tycoons like Carnegie, Rockefeller and Vanderbilt but like them, he was a captain of industry. He made his money turning coal into coke, used to make steel. He partnered with Carnegie until they had falling out. Frick was a fervent art collector whose wealth allowed him to accumulate a large collection. By 1905, Henry Clay Frick's business, social, and artistic interests had shifted from Pittsburgh to New York. He took his art collection with him to New York. The Frick Collection is home to one of the finest collections of European paintings in the United States. It contains many works of art dating from the pre-Renaissance up to the post-Impressionist eras, but in no logical or chronological order. There is a Frick museum in New York City containing this art, along with this one. Upon entry to the museum was this bust of Henry Clay Frick. Unfortunately most of the art museum was closed for renovation so there wasn't much to see.

In his book The Robber Barons: The Great American Capitalists 1861-1901, Matthew Josephson argued that the industrialists who were called robber barons have a complicated legacy in the history of American economic and social life. In the book's original Foreword, he claims the robber barons: "more or less knowingly played the leading rôles in an age of industrial revolution. Even their quarrels, intrigues and misadventures (too often treated as merely diverting or picturesque) are part of the mechanism of our history. Under their hands the renovation of our economic life proceeded relentlessly : large-scale production replaced the scattered, decentralized mode of production ; industrial enterprises became more concentrated, more “efficient” technically, and essentially “coöperative,” where they had been purely individualistic and lamentably wasteful. But all this revolutionizing effort is branded with the motive of private gain on the part of the new captains of industry. To organize and exploit the resources of a nation upon a gigantic scale, to regiment its farmers and workers into harmonious corps of producers, and to do this only in the name of an uncontrolled appetite for private profit—here surely is the great inherent contradiction whence so much disaster, outrage and misery has flowed. This is the Clayton House where Frick stayed when he was in Pittsburgh. The house wasn't open for tours, unfortunately.

The park had a small greenhouse.

The most interesting thing in the complex -- which was open -- was the Frick Car and Carriage Museum. Fine horses and fashionable carriages were among the "must-haves" for a wealthy family at the turn of the 20th century. Only the most prosperous city dwellers had the space or the finances to buy and maintain the carriages, house and feed the horses, and employ the staff associated with their care. The Fricks certainly qualified. This is one of their carriages which carried four passengers seated face to face. It was pulled by a pair of horses.

I was amazed to learn that in 1900, 38% of all cars registered in the U.S. ran on electricity. 40% were steam-driven! Only 22% used the gasolene-powered internal combustian engine. Steam cars could take up to 30 minutes to start, and while they had amazing hill-climbing power and speed for their time, their complexity almost demanded the driver have engineering and plumbing skills. Below is a beautiful example of a steam-powered car.

This is perhaps the most the most advanced car of the pre-1900s era, this "Panhard" was purchased in Paris during the summer of 1900 by Henry Heinz. He drove it in the French Century Run, reaching a speed of 40 mph (astonishing at the time). It was then brought to Pittsburgh, where it became one of the earliest automobiles in the city. In creating the Panhard, French engineer Emile Constant Levassor developed the basic design of the modern gasoline automobile with the classic configuration of a front-mounted vertical engine, wheel steering, and rear-driven wheels. It's two cylinder engine put out six horsepower.

Electric engines were quiet, clean and easy to start and drive. However, speed was affected by the heavy batteries. An overnight charge provided enough power for an average distance of 20 to 50 miles. They were generally safe and reliable. Yes, they had electric cars in the early 1900s. Below is a 1909 "Electric Phaeton" built by S. R. Bailey & Company.

Despite early popularity, electric cars faded from the automobile market after 1910, as the more powerful gasoline engine became the standard. Henry Ford's perfection of the moving assembly line with the resulting large scale of production was one of the major factors that influenced which power system prevailed in automobiles. This immaculate 1914 Silver Ghost was one of three Rolls Royce automobiles purchased simultaneously by Henry Clay Frick for family use. All three were highly customized. It's engine had six cylinders and produced 48 horsepower.

Two of the customizations were a speedometer and a clock. This was a fancy panel for the day!

A 1932 General Motors Cadillac 355B Sport Phaeton, complete with Cadillac iconic goddess hood ornament.

A 1942 Chrysler DeSoto Deluxe S-10 Sedan with Flying Goddess hood ornament.

1931 Lincoln Model K Sport Phaeton.


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October 30, 2021 - Frick Museum