JF Ptak Science Books Quick Post
I couldn’t but help to share this terrific advertisement found in the page of Aerophile magazine for 1908 (via the “Unbound” section of the Smithsonian Institution and Internet Archive. This is the famous “Antoinette” engine, designed and construction by Leon Levavasseur in an aircraft-building partnership with Jules Gastambide (whose daughter’s name became that of the series of engines). As you can see the man supporting the engine is not having an easy time of it (assuming the guy is 5’8″ 150 lbs or so), though this was a far-advanced aircraft engine for the day, a V-16 (?) developing 100- horse (the Wright’s 1903 engine was 12hp 180lbs but did its job perfectly). In any event this was an interesting demonstration of comparative lightness and power, delivered in January, 1908. (I’m reasonably sure that this is not the 40hp engine of the Farman flight…)
Source: https://archive.org/details/larophile16besa/page/28)