The History: In 1904, the Wrights were at a crossroad. They could continue their experiments as time and their own funds permitted or they could devote all their energy and financial resources to solve the problem of flight. They chose the latter. They would ease themselves out of the bicycle business and sell the remaining bicycles in production. Charlie Taylor could continue to handle repairs - that is when he wasn't busy working with the Wrights on a new Flyer in the workroom behind the bicycle shop.

Charlie Taylor With Permission From Special Collections Wright State University Libraries

Years later, Charlie Taylor, their bicycle shop mechanic who worked on the original 1903 Flyer's engine, recalled the Wrights return home from Kitty Hawk in December, 1903. They knew they needed a new engine and did not concern themselves with the shortcomings of the 1903 engine. They immediately set their minds to design a new one and did not focus on the past shortcomings.

Orville's diary for January 1st contains a drawing of a muffler for the engine. He noted that engine patterns were sent to a Harry Maltby for fabrication.

Octave Chanute wrote Wilbur a letter and outlined what he discussed at the American Association for the Advancement of Science winter meeting in St. Louis. Chanute mentioned the Wrights successful flight of December 17th but provided no details, reserving that information for the Wrights to make public. Chanute did appropriately stress that it was only after 3 years of experimentation and " ... after they had obtained thorough command of their movements in the air that they ventured to add a motor."

On Saturday, January 2nd, Orville made a deposit and collected interest on the money in their two jointly held building association accounts. They had a total of $4,900 and would use this money to live on and experiment.

Quotations from the book The Papers of Wilbur and Orville Wright, Volume 1 by M. McFarland.