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Roland Chilton (1890- ) was a prolific designer of over 150 aviation engine and accessory mechanisms. Born in Wolverhampton, England, Chilton immigrated to the United States in 1918, becoming a naturalized citizen in 1941. Chilton started his career working at Sunbeam Motor Car Co., LTD, in Wolverhampton, England, before moving to London where he was in charge of the engine section of B. Napier & Son. In 1914, Chilton became the Chief Engineer for Fergus Motors and entered the United States to work in Fergus' American offices. Chilton then joined Aeromarine Plane & Motor Co. as the Chief Engineer for Aero Engines, Starters and Buses in 1920. Ten years later, he was hired as a Consulting Engineer for Wright Aeronautical Corporation. He retired from Wright Aeronautical Corporation in 1949, and by that time held over 150 United States patents, ranging from articulated propellers to the Chilton Damper.

 Identifier

NASM.2005.0042

Creator

Chilton, Roland.

Date

bulk 1914-1965

Provenance

Bonnie Hampton, Gift, 2005

Extent

0.91 Cubic feet ((2 boxes))

Archival Repository

National Air and Space Museum Archives

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of the following items documenting Roland Chilton's aviation patent career: photographs; two 11 x 7 inch black photo albums, labeled "Healey-Aeromarine Bus Co., Inc. Keyport - New Jersey USA," which contain photographs of engines from Aeromarine Plane & Motor Co.; log book for a Wright R 760 engine; Chilton's pilot log books; World War I registration cards and passports; newspaper clippings; patent and tax paperwork; reports on Chilton's trip to the United Kingdom in 1941; an Aeromarine S-12 Engine report; and drawings of Blade Rolling Machines.

Rights

Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests

Restrictions

No restrictions on access.

Citation

Roland Chilton Collection, Accession number 2005-0042, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Topics

Airplanes -- Motors

Aeromarine S-12

Type

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Patents

Photograph albums

Reports

Drawings

Logs (records)

Patent applications