SPENCER Family of Aeronauts and Aviators (Highgate, London, N)

   The first member of the family to be airborne was Edward Spencer (1799-1849), who made a balloon ascent on 28 May 1836, from the Surrey Zoological Gardens. His son, Charles Green Spencer (1837-1890), named after his godfather the famous balloonist, was also an aeronaut and important in the development of cycling; he founded the firm of C.G. Spencer & Sons. Originally residing at 14 Ringcroft Rd., Holloway and later at 56a Highbury Grove, he had eleven children. Of these children, the eldest son, Percival (1864-1913), founded Spencer Bros. Ltd., aeronauts, at 45b Aberdeen Park, Highbury with his brother, Arthur Charles (1866), and concentrated on ballooning and parachuting, although Charles Spencer made a glider in 1868, which was shown at an exhibition, organized by the Aeronautical Society at the Crystal Palace. Henry (1877-1937) worked with his brother-in-law, Auguste Gaudron, at Alexandra Palace and with Short Bros, during the war and was also involved in both ballooning and parachuting. He won the Gordon Bennett Balloon Race in 1922, and restarted the firm of Spencer Bros, in 1923. Stanley Edward (1868-1904) built airships and experimented with these at the Crystal Palace from 1902 and flew across London in 1903. Another brother, Sidney (1879), was also involved in ballooning and served in the RNAS and RAF in 1916-1919 and later became a chemist.
   The youngest son, Herbert Spencer (1884-1949), like his brothers, became involved with ballooning and parachuting but, in addition, he made and flew his own aircraft and received Aviators Certificate No.124 in August 1911. His first authenticated machine was a collaborative venture built by C.G. Spencer & Sons, but later he operated from 40 Sackville St., London, W, and from Shed No.9 at Brooklands, where he ran a flying school from the spring of 1912 until the end of 1913.
   A monoplane was built by C.G. Spencer & Co. in 1905-1906 for Alvarez, (q.v.), which was taken aloft by a balloon at Hendon. The general style of the machine can be seen to be rather primitive and unlikely to have been a success. Apart from the 1868 glider, this is the first heavier than air machine made by the Spencers of which there is evidence.


SPENCER glider (Charles Green Spencer)

   The glider shown at the Crystal Palace in 1868 was made from umbrella wires and wickerwork. The framework of the wings was covered with silk. It was tested by Charles Spencer, who weighed 140 lb., and claimed a flight of 120ft had been made by him, after taking off from a slope. The pilot had to insert himself into the device, which was a tight fit and uncomfortable. Spencer refrained from giving a demonstration at the exhibition.
   Suitable fin propellers were fitted to the body and worked by the pilot through universal joints. British patent No. 1178 of 1868 was refused provisional protection.

   Data
   Length of tail 18ft
   Length of wing 7ft
   Width at the end 8ft
   Chord at widest point 4ft
   Depth of keel at the end 4ft
   Area of wing 15 sq. ft
   Area of tail 72 sq. ft