Gustave Eiffel accuses Junker-Fokker aircraft designers of plagarism

Eiffel, Gustave, French civil engineer and architect (1832-1923). Autograph letter signed ("G. Eiffel").

Paris, 16. VI. 1920.

4to. 1 page. Attached are 3 pages comprising 3 typed letters in related correspondence addressed to Eiffel.

 4,800.00

Accusations of plagiarized aircraft designs, addressed to Ernest Lemonon (1878-1956), lawyer at the Court of Appeal in Paris. Eiffel states confidently, "L'avion Junker-Fokker est en effet un plagiat de notre avion L.E. et on m'a dit que cela avait été construit d'après un bleu. qui avait été communiqué." He goes on to direct Lémonon to the relevant pages of his recent book, "Résumé des Principaux Travaux exécuté pendant la guerre au Laboratorie aerodynamique G. Eiffel", which Eiffel feels will prove that his designs were indeed published first, and then copied by his German competitors.

While it is unclear that Eiffel's complaint had any effect, Anthony Fokker of Junker-Fokker did have something of a reputation for acquiring designs through dishonourable tactics, though from his reluctant business partner, Hugo Junkers, rather than Gustave Eiffel.

Gently creased along folds and at corners. Glued to the reverse is the first of three typewritten letters, the other two of which are also pasted together at the top left corner. The additional typed letters are on much thinner paper, which has browned and lightly chipped along the edges.

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