DANIEL AND FLOYD HUNGERFORD: ROCKET POWER, INTERSTELLAR TRAVEL AND ETERNAL LIFE BY GEOFFREY N. STEIN Record 4 f Daniel and Floyd ungerford: Rocket Power, Interstellar Travel and Eternal Life, by G o fr y N. St in Daniel and Floyd Hungerford: Rocket Power, Interstellar Travel and Eternal Life Daniel ungerford in the Rocket car circa 1933. New York State Museum Record 4 TH UNIV RSITY OF TH STAT OF N W YORK Regents of The University MERRYL H. TISCH, Chancellor, B.A., M.A., Ed.D. ....................................................................................................... New York ANTHONY S. BOTTAR, Vice Chancellor, B.A., J.D. ........................................................................................................ Syracuse ROBERT M. BENNETT, Chancellor meritus, B.A., M.S. ............................................................................................... Tonawanda JAMES C. DAWSON, A.A., B.A., M.S., Ph.D. ................................................................................................................ Plattsburgh GERALDINE D. CHAPEY, B.A., M.A., Ed.D. ................................................................................................................. Belle Harbor HARRY PHILLIPS, 3rd, B.A., M.S.F.S. ............................................................................................................................ Hartsdale JAMES R. TALLON,JR., B.A., M.A. ................................................................................................................................ Binghamton ROGER TILLES, B.A., J.D. ............................................................................................................................................... Great Neck CHARLES R. BENDIT, B.A. .............................................................................................................................................. Manhattan BETTY A. ROSA, B.A., M.S. in Ed., M.S. in Ed., M.Ed., Ed.D. ................................................................................. Bronx LESTER W. YOUNG,JR., B.S., M.S., Ed. D. ................................................................................................................... Oakland Gardens CHRISTINE D. CEA, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. ......................................................................................................................... Staten Island WADE S. NORWOOD, B.A. ............................................................................................................................................. Rochester JAMES O. JACKSON, B.S., M.A., Ph.D ........................................................................................................................... Albany KATHLEEN M. CASHIN, B.S., M.S., Ed.D. .................................................................................................................... Brooklyn JAMES E. COTTRELL, B.S., M.D. .................................................................................................................................... New York T. ANDREW BROWN, B.A., J.D. ...................................................................................................................................... Rochester Commissioner of ducation President of The University of the State of New York JOHN B. KING,JR. xecutive Deputy Commissioner ELIZABETH R. BERLIN Deputy Commissioner for Cultural ducation JEFFREY W. CANNELL Director of the New York State Museum MARK A. SCHAMING Director, Research and Collections Division JOHN P. HART The State Education Department does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, religion, creed, disability, marital status, veteran status, national ori- gin, race, gender, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or sexual orientation in its educational programs, services and activities. Portions of this publication can be made available in a variety of formats, including braille, large print or audio tape, upon request. Inquiries concerning this policy of nondiscrimination should be directed to the Department’s Office for Diversity, Ethics, and Access, Room 53 , Education Building, Albany, NY 12234. ii f Daniel and Floyd Hungerford: Rocket Power, Interstellar Travel and ternal Life, by Geo frey N. Stein Daniel and Floyd Hungerford: Rocket Power, Interstellar Travel and Eternal Life By Geoffrey N. Stein New York State Museum Albany, New York New York State Museum Record 4 © 2 13 The New York State Education Department Published in the United States of America ISSN: 2156-6178 ISBN: 1555572642 Front cover: Rocket car, 1932 iv f Daniel and Floyd Hungerford: Rocket Power, Interstellar Travel and ternal Life, by Geo frey N. Stein CONT NTS Forward ...................................................................... vii Acknowledgements ........................................................... viii Chapter ne: The Early Years ................................................................. 1 Chapter Two : The Aviation Business ........................................................... 7 Chapter Three: Family ........................................................................ 15 Chapter Four: The Hungerford Rocket Car ..................................................... 21 Chapter Five: Politics ........................................................................ 33 Chapter Six: Hungerford Inventions ......................................................... 41 Chapter Seven: “Electro-Magnetic Space Drive” ................................................. 49 Chapter Eight: The Final Years ................................................................ 59 Bibliographic Notes ............................................................ 77 Contents v vi f Daniel and Floyd Hungerford: Rocket Power, Interstellar Travel and ternal Life, by Geo frey N. Stein FORWARD At the New York State Museum in early 1979, I encountered Schuyler Lathers, who, as I, had lived in Elmira. Our conversation turned to inven- tors and mechanics in Elmira’s past, especially to Daniel Hungerford. Recalling in the 195 s I had seen the rocket car built by Daniel and his brother Floyd Hungerford, I contacted the Chemung County Historian, Thomas Byrne. I wrote, “Hungerford is dead, and, I think, his house is gone. But I wonder if any of his engines or airplanes or automobiles or manuscript material have [sic] survived.” As both historian and newspaper writer in Elmira for many years, Byrne responded, “He [Daniel] was so destitute in the terminal years. Possibly the Curtiss Museum at Hammondsport might have an item or two.” Byrne sent me clips from the Chemung County Historical Society archives about the Hungerfords. And he suggested, “Look this material over and keep in touch, will you?” I replied with thanks to Byrne, hopeful I would learn about relics at the Curtiss Museum. I added, “I was interested to note that the rocket car was being rebuilt near Albany in the 196 ’s. Perhaps I’ll find someone who remembers it here.” Then, in a short time, I found the rocket car. And now, many years later, I’ve written about Shirley Lois “The Moon Car” and the Hungerford brothers. Forward vii ACKNOWL DG M NTS The story of Daniel D. and Floyd S. Hungerford has video of the Hungerfords’ exploits. To that end while fascinated observers and writers at least since the traveling the country to investigate potential sources, he 193 s, when the Elmira newspapers reported inventive performed prodigious and comprehensive research. exploits, principally of the older brother, Daniel. In the While his production seems not to have been mid-196 s, Keith Marvin’s “The Wizards of West completed, he shared his findings in the forms of a large Second Street”, a biographical essay published by number of photocopies, as well as photographs as Automobile Quarterly, brought the brothers’ exploits to a electronic images in disk form, deposited at the Glenn much wider audience. That piece prepared the way for H. Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport, New York and additional Marvin articles which inspired local Elmira the Chemung Valley History Museum in Elmira. Staff writers as well as authors as far away as Sidney, members at both institutions have been generous in Australia (Igor Spajic in Restored Autos). To the late making that material available to me. Former and Keith Marvin, in particular, I am indebted, not just for present curators at the Curtiss Museum also have his several Hungerford stories, but also for the donation shared information about the Hungerford material in of his Hungerford files to the New York State Museum. the collections there. Among the items received by the Museum (where I After the deaths of the Hungerford brothers and of served as a curator for over 4 years) are informative Ralph L. Hodge, who had acquired the Shirley Lois “The and invaluable letters from Daniel Hungerford to Moon Girl” rocket car, the vehicle became the property Marvin as well as photos and other documentary of Daniel S. Dwyer. Shortly before his death, he present- materials. ed the car to the New York State Museum, where thanks Over several decades members of the Hungerford to his generosity the vehicle has been displayed in family have written to me with their observations and Albany as well as elsewhere in other museums for the thoughts about the Hungerford brothers. Notable are enlightenment and entertainment of visitors. Daniel Hungerford’s daughter, the late Shirley Lois Helpful and careful readers of the manuscript of this Hungerford Hyde, and