Today (July 25^th, 2004) it is exactly 95 years ago that Louis Blériot took off with his little plane from a Normandy beach and landed exactly 31 minutes later at the other side of the Canal near Dover. That was incredibly fast for that time, but more important.... nobody ever did before. The watertower in Blériot Plage still commemorates his effort. Yet Blériot was known not only for flying in that time. Since the end of the 19th century his name is known as a manufacturer of electrical switches and headlamps that were mounted on many kinds of cars and motorcycles. I guess that gave Blériot the resources for his expensive 'hobby'. Looking for a Blériot switch? Why not try PreWarParts?

(text: Rutger Booy and Joris Bergsma)

photo Rutger Booy

July 25, 2004