A Pioneer in Aviation: The Life Story of Brice H. Goldsborough and His Contribution to Aviation Instrumentation

Contents

Prologue

Acknowledgements

Part One

The Boy

Chapter 1

Brice’s Early Years

Chapter 2

Brice And Frank Make Major Decisions About Their Futures

Part Two

Brice, The Man

Chapter 3

Brice Joins The United States Navy To Fulfill His Dreams

Chapter 4

Brice Returns Home To Visit His Brother

Part Three

The Pioneer Instrument Company

Chapter 5

Brice Ventures Into Business And Becomes Very Succcessful

Chapter 6

Brice Finds Happiness Again

Chapter 7

Pioneer Instrument Company Is Formed

Chapter 8

A Young Lady Is Hired And Becomes A Driving Force Within The Company

Chapter 9

Brice’s Son Becomes More Interested In Aviation

Chapter 10

Pioneer Buys Brandis Company

Chapter 11

A Quick Visit To The Old Facility

Chapter 12

Brice And Morris Fly To Customers

Chapter 13

Charle Willard Visits The Pioneer Facilities

Chapter 14

Brice And Walter Beech Discuss Aircraft And Instrument Design

Chapter 15

Brice Returns Home To Spend July Fourth With The Family

Chapter 16

Advances In Aviation Technology

Chapter 17

Brice Teaches His Son About The Magnetic Compass

Chapter 18

Preparing For The 1923 International Aero Exposition

Chapter 19

Frankie’s Lessons Continue

Chapter 20

Bessie And Morris Return From The Exposition And Morris Meets An Impressive Young Lady

Chapter 21

Brice Becomes Upset By The Death Of His Sister

Chapter 22

Some Of Brice’s Family History

Chapter 23

Brice Flies The New Company Plane To New York

Part Four

Ford Reliability Tour

Chapter 24

Brice And Walter Beech Win The Reliability Tour

Chapter 25

Brice Explains How They Won The Ford Tour

Chapter 26

Back To The Business At Hand

Part Five

The Spirit Of St. Louis

Chapter 27

Brice Is Contacted By Charles Lindbergh

Part Six

Igor Sikorsky And Frances Grayson

Chapter 28

Charlie Colvin Asks Bessie Davis To Marry Him

Chapter 29

Grayson Purchases Sikorsky’s S-36 Amphibian Aircraft

Chapter 30

Frances Grayson Makes Her Desire Known

Chapter 31

Grayson Makes Contact With Pioneer Instrument Company

Part Seven

The Dawn:

Sikorsky’s Amphibian

S-36

Chapter 32

Brice And Morris Visit Sikorsky’s Aircraft Facility

Chapter 33

Grayson Asks Brice To Be Her Navigator

Chapter 34

Wilmer Stultz Is Hired To Fly The S-36 Over The Atlantic Ocean

Chapter 35

Brice Meets An Old Friend, Clarence Chamberlin

Chapter 36

Preparing The Dawn For The Trip Across The Atlantic

Chapter 37

Flight From Curtiss Field To Old Orchard, Maine

Chapter 38

Bad Weather Causes Continued Delays

Chapter 39

Continued Concerns Over Port Engine

Chapter 40

Stultz Decides To Quit After Discussing The Situation With Brice

Part Eight

Brice’s Last Trip Home

Chapter 41

With No One To Pilot The Plane, Brice Decides To Return To Pioneer

Chapter 42

Brice Buys A New Buick For The Trip Back Home

Chapter 43

The Last Journey Home

Chapter 44

The Last Trip Home, Brice Buys His Brother A New Model-T

Chapter 45

Grayson Tries To Find A Replacement Pilot

Chapter 46

Brice Reflects On Discussions With Igor Sikorsky

Part Nine

The Last Flight

Chapter 47

The Final Decision Is Made To Fly With Grayson

Chapter 48

Against Better Judgement They Take Off For The Last Time And Fly Into Oblivion

Epilogue

Author’s Note

PROLOGUE

This book is based on the life of Brice Herbert Goldsborough who built Pioneer Instrument Company.

All of the news clips, magazine articles, personal letters and such were collected by my maternal grandmother, Julia Ethel Goldsborough, during the last few years of Brice’s life. All of this information was given to me several years ago. It lay dormant for many years until one day, while cleaning out a file cabinet, I came across this collection. At that time, I decided to write the story of Brice’s life.

Brice was born during the time when very little was known about the field of aviation. While growing up, his curiosity led him eventually into this ever-expanding field. He became an expert in meteorology, navigation and aircraft instrument design. Brice and his partner, Morris Titterington established Pioneer Instrument Company in Brooklyn, New York in 1919. A third partner by the name of Charles Colvin joined them shortly after the business was established.

Very little has been written about the Pioneer Instrument Company and Brice’s accomplishments until now. Unfortunately, I never met my great uncle. He had died four years before I was born. Brice associated with many who were also pioneers in early aviation: Walter Beech, Glenn Curtiss, Clyde Cessna and Lloyd Stearman were among the many people with whom Brice knew and associated. His circle of colleagues also included Charles Lindbergh and Igor Sikorsky.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to my grandmother, Julia Ethel Goldsborough, for accumulating all the information I used to write this book and, to my daughter Tracey, who helped by deciphering my writing and re-typing the manuscript. A special thanks to a long time friend, Peter Harris, for his never-ending support in helping me to complete this project.

Also thanks to my son, Jeffrey and a special thanks to my daughter-in-law, Karen for her help in preparing the final draft. Thanks to my wife, Eva, for her patience during the last 5 years as I worked on the book.

PART ONE

THE BOY

Brice, at about age 10. Webster School. Sioux City, Iowa

Chapter 1

BRICE’S EARLY YEARS

March 1889 was a relatively uneventful year for most of the country. Railroad companies were busy expanding and coast-to-coast rail lines allowed easier and rapid movement of agricultural products. The refrigerated cars, packed with ice, made the shipping of meat products easier to distant markets. One distribution hub was in the expanding town of Sioux City, Iowa. Packing houses bordered the Floyd River which had been rerouted to carry refuse off to the Missouri River.

Families on the other side of town had little going for them at the time. Only one out of every 10 men had a job, so food was scarce on most of the tables. Fuel for heating stoves was supplemented by lumps of coal that teenagers would gather and haul from the train yard. Quite often, the coal tenders would drop a small amount of coal on the ground, enough – eventually – to fill the youths’ small wagons.

Such was the practice during the exceptionally cold winters. These teens would share the coal with families whose little children were too young to help.

On March 20, one of the youths dropped off a load of coal in front of the Goldsborough residence, where May Goldsborough was about to give birth to her second son. The nurse looked out of the window and noticed the coal being delivered to the little house, while at the same time, the doctor pulled up in his carriage.

Mrs. Goldsborough is about to deliver, doctor, the nurse said as she opened the door to let him in. She closed the door quickly. Charles Francis, now 3 years old, wondered about the commotion. Who were these people? Why were they here? What’s happening? These questions ran through his mind. He went to his mother’s side and placed his little hands on her arm, looking for an answer.

Charles started to cry. His mother lightly squeezed his small hand to comfort and reassure him. The strange man came around the bed and placed his hand on the boy’s quivering shoulder.

Here now, little fella, everything is going to be fine. Don’t worry. Your mama is going to have a baby, the doctor said.

May gave a big sigh as the moment of birth drew near. The attending nurse, a young thin woman with light brown hair tied up in a bun, took Charles into the adjoining room and placed him on an upholstered chair. She patted him on the head and looked at him with a big smile on her face.

It looks like there will be another member in the family, she said.

Charles looked up at the nurse.

Why?

She smiled but gave no response as she returned to the bedroom to assist the doctor. He sat quietly not knowing what to do except stare at the bedroom door. The cry of a new born brought Charles to attention.

It’s a boy! the nurse announced. It’s a cute little tyke and as fresh as a daisy. She placed the new born baby in its mother’s arms after gently washing him with warm water. Charles dashed into the room and went up to his mother.

Say hello to your little brother, Brice Herbert, his mother said proudly.

Charles Francis let go of his mother’s hand and circled the bed.

Take it back! he said, pointing at his newborn brother.

The doctor and nurse looked at each other and smiled knowing how Charles must have felt about the intruder.

Four years later, on February 8, 1893, May gave birth to a daughter who she named Nellie Blythe. The boys became quite fond and protective of their baby sister. The three children enjoyed a quiet peaceful life growing up together. They spent the summer evenings chasing fireflies and chasing each other around the house. There was always the picture puzzle that needed someone’s attention. Brice, the most mischievous of the kids, would periodically hide a couple pieces of the puzzle, making it a little more difficult – if not impossible – to complete. He would, all of the sudden, find the missing pieces and place them in front of his brother Frank.

Where did you find the missing pieces, Frank? He couldn’t keep a straight face and would break into laughter. Nellie would join in the fun and Frank would try to even the score.

Winters were spent doing chores as routine and important as helping keep the little house clean and making sure there was enough firewood. After his chores were finished, Brice would often sit quietly by himself in deep thought contemplating the many complications of life.

By 1900, they were all in school. Frank had entered the ninth grade in high school, while Brice was in the fourth grade and little Nellie in the first. Frank didn’t mind school too much and took it in stride. Brice did well in reading and arithmetic, but wasn’t excited about the rest of the curriculum. He was always trying to figure out how things worked. Instead of doing his home work, he would take apart an old clock or work on some other dismantling job, always showing great satisfaction when he was able to rebuild what he had taken apart.

Since jobs were hard to find their father, George, decided to try his luck in the gold fields of California. In 1894 he and his friend, Walter Davidson, headed west, hoping to strike it rich. Like many who ventured into the wilderness, they never returned and the family never found out what had happened to them. This was a painful loss for the family. As the children grew, so did their individual interests. Charles Francis, now called Frank, would find his brother Brice staring at cloud formations and asking why they were different colors and shapes, and what made it rain in the summer and snow in the winter. Frank didn’t have the answers, and neither did Brice’s teachers.

Brice became increasingly more curious and more frustrated. He was curious about almost anything mechanical, inquisitive about weather patterns and aerodynamics and was becoming more disappointed with the placid book learning in school.

Someday, I’ll find out! Brice thought.

Time has a habit of ignoring us and proceeds at its own pace. In 1905, at age 19 and after high school graduation, Frank had a good job at Metz’ Bakery. As young men do, he met a girl fell in love and married her. Her name was Julia Ethel Davidson. After their wedding in Council Bluff, Iowa, the newly married couple planned to honeymoon for a few days in Omaha. The accordion player, who played at their wedding, lived in Omaha and offered to give them a ride.

It would be a great pleasure indeed to escort this lovely, fine, newly married couple across the Mighty Missouri River. I could sing and play my musical instrument entertaining them along the way, but, first I need to lubricate my throat with a wee bit of something before we leave, he said with a fine Irish brogue.

The remaining guests applauded.

I think he’s lubricated enough already, Julie said to Frank.

They boarded the carriage and seated their benefactor in the back, where he couldn’t take the reins, and wouldn’t fall out. He found a comfortable position, leaned back and started play, Who Put the Overalls in Mrs. Murphy’s Chowder? Frank and Julie started the journey to Omaha. The rest of the party returned home to Sioux City, Iowa, by train. Nellie watched out the window of the moving train as it progressed north along the Missouri River.

Brice recalled the Irish accordion player falling off his stool and continuing to play.

Wasn’t he funny, Ma? Brice attempted to mimic the Irish accent with his arms holding an imaginary accordion. Soon, the rest of the wedding party joined in and tried to talk with an Irish accent while singing Irish songs. Laughter abounded.

Brice looked out at the Floyd Monument as the train entered Sioux City and asked his mother about its origin.

She looked at Brice and smiled as she answered him.

That is in honor of Sergeant Floyd, a man who died here while traveling with Lewis and Clark years ago. The thought of the adventure inspired Brice.

Pulling into the train station, they saw a surrey waiting for them with Frank Fisher standing by, waving with a big smile. As they left the train station, Brice and Nellie both talked at the same time telling Frank about the wedding and the accordion-playing Irishman. Frank listened to every word while he helped their mother into the surrey.

I’m glad you two had a good time. Come on, get on board.

Brice, now 16, had thoughts other than returning to the same old routine at home.

Chapter 2

BRICE AND FRANK MAKE MAJOR DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR FUTURES

What’s the matter Brice? May looked at her youngest son sitting at the table deep in thought…

Mom… Mother, Brice felt that this was the time to tell her his feelings about school. I’ve just completed the eighth grade, well, almost completed it anyway, I feel like I’m not learning about the things that interest me.

May looked lovingly at her son.

What is it you want to do? You can’t go to high school unless you finish the eighth grade.

That’s the point, Ma. I don’t want to go to high school. I want to quit and get a job where I can learn about how things are made… maybe even build some new things. School isn’t for me, but I can thank them for teaching me to read and write.

What do you plan to do if you quit school?

I’ll get a job working at different things. I’ve been thinking a lot about electricity and how it works. I want to learn more about it.

Sounds like a big challenge Brice, May said, wiping her hands on her apron.

It is Ma! Brice had expected his mother to chastise him. Instead, she felt sympathy.

I am not going to try to talk you into going back to school, Brice. It seems you have already closed the door on that idea, she said. Brice felt relieved.

I’ve been talking to the city electrician. He needs a helper and would be willing to teach me while working on the job. From there, who knows where I could go? Brice wondered.

You have a good head on your shoulders. Remember, the knowledge you gain cannot be taken away from you. Work with it, and make it work for you. She said.

Brice kept thinking about what his mother had told him. He didn’t want to become locked into a dull and routine job. At the same time, he was no longer in school, and he felt the need to help support the family. An additional income would surely help.

*     *     *

Frank and Julie were living at May’s house upstairs in Frank’s old bedroom. Julie was about to have their first born. The morning of March 31, 1906, their son was born — Frances Leroy Goldsborough. Brice thought about the name LeRoy and