Rocket PoweR, InteRstellaR tRavel and eteRnal lIfe

Boyles has said Hungerford, when finished shaving
would wipe the razor blade clean to prevent rusting. He
claimed that the razor blade industry could make a
rustless blade but to preserve its market would not. Of
plumber’s helper Floyd Hungerford, Boyles says he
was an alcoholic, “high all the time.” Of the Hungerford
facility, Boyles observed one would walk through
waist-high piles of newspaper to get to the machine
shop in the back of the barn. “Dan never threw anything
away.” Boyles also notes that George Mapes, three
years his senior, was a “kind of mentor.” 133
In the 1990s Boyles recalled riding in the rocket car.
He told Star Gazette writer Tom Page he was pleased the
rocket car had been preserved. “But I hope no one ever
tries to take a test ride in it again. . . . It provides a very
hot and scary ride.” 134
Shirley Hungerford Hyde wrote to the author in 1992,
“Just before World War II, Dan was offered a very lucrative
job with Bell Aircraft in Buffalo, NY – but he
refused. He would never consider working for someone
else and/or leaving Floyd. How sad he did not team up
with a company which could have provided more
sophisticated equipment and access to engineering
libraries, etc. Or. . . .backing from some affluent entrepreneur
who could channel his talents more productively.”
135
Spajic observed:
When one considers the Bell Aircraft offer with
hindsight, one is left staggered by the irony of this
lost opportunity. Bell was not only in the forefront
of rocket-propelled aircraft development after the
War, but this culminated in the X-1, which broke
the sound barrier for the first time. Daniel’s refusal
rates as a mistake of epic proportions. That symbiotic
kinship with his brother that had served him so
well, now utterly betrayed them both. For that was
the unique talent and tragedy of the
Hungerfords. 136
One Hungerford acquaintance who did go to work in
the aircraft industry in Buffalo was Joseph R. Farrell, Jr.,
who wrote to Daniel Hungerford in early 1942 he was
working seven days a week at the factory. Still Farrell
maintained an interest in rockets. Instead of constructing
an operating model rocket ship, he planned to put a
rocket into a small car. He asked if Hungerford could
locate “a small Austin Roadster or a coup, or we can use
a Crosly [sic] . . . We have looked every were [sic] up
here and have had no success. So if you find one find
out the price and let us know.” In 1964, Hungerford
wrote to Marvin on the Farrell letter that “’Red’ Farrell
was a good boy – Easily taken advantage of. Floyd S.
Hungerford – liked ‘Red’ a lot. Red had a son. . . .’Red’
had no home – was a victim of circumstances.” 137
Another time Hungerford observed that “Mr. Farrell
drove our rocket car on many occasions - and quite on
his own [had innovational?] ideas.” 138 Farrell and
Mapes were the only drivers other than Daniel
Hungerford of the rocket car.
In the late 1950s, the rocket car was exhibited “in a
local museum – that failed.” The likely institution was
the Strathmont Museum, which opened in 1958 and
closed shortly thereafter. 139 After having the car towed
home, Daniel Hungerford became involved in his only
rocket car motor vehicle accident. He wrote that he
“jumped in drove 3 or 4 blocks to the gas station”. There
he checked the tires and received gratis two gallons of
gasoline. Then he
Swung out of the station – to the left – coming on
my left a car – on my right a parked car – there’s a
fiber bushing in the steering column this had
expanded to make steering difficult. I continued to
turn the car stopped or slowed. I struck the left rear
fender of the Parked car, a Ford – brushed a chrome
strip of the Ford fender – knocked my Right front
Hub cap off. Picked up the pieces –drove home (no
Plates) was getting in my [other] car to go make
amends – when the station manager drove in –said
you better get down there. I did – that same night a
–second car came of Walnut Street on to Second –
swung wide –struck the same fender. Smashed it
completely – the Station man – drove in about 10
ocl. – said you won’t need to bother to fix the Ford.
The second man will do it. I was greatly relieved
but didn’t do any shouting or clapping of Hands. 140
ENDNOTES
76 Keith Marvin, “Misguided Missile”, Special Interest Autos,
February 1980, pp 26–27. The “picture painted by a sign
painter” likely was Daniel Hungerford’s erstwhile brotherin-law,
Robert N. Hopkins.
77 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics website,
“History–Austria” notes the last title was available until
1930. The Library of Congress catalogue lists nine different
Valier titles.
78 Quoted by Marvin, “The Wizards of West Second Street”.
79 Marvin, “The Wizards of West Second Street”, manuscript
version. Emory L. Johnson of Horseheads noted he had a
photo of a 1911 Cadillac; the picture was forwarded by
Daniel Hungerford “just before he passed away.” Emory L
Johnson to Paul Garber, October 2, 1967.
30 Daniel and Floyd Hungerford: Rocket Power, Interstellar Travel and Eternal Life, by Geofrey N. Stein