Charles F. Ritchel
American inventor
About Charles F. Ritchel
Lived 1844 – 1911 (aged 66). Charles F. Ritchel was an American balloonist and patent inventor.
Charles Frances Ritchel (December 22, 1844 – January 21, 1911) was an American inventor of a successful dirigible design, the fun house mirror, a mechanical toy bank, and the holder of more than 150 other patented inventions.
Dirigible
Ritchel designed and built a small, one-man dirigible powered by a hand crank. He patented his "Improved Flying Machine" on 12 March 1878 (Patent No. 201200).
A coin is put on a tray held in the monkey's upturned palms. A lever in the back is pressed. The arms rise, tilting the coin toward a slot in the monkey's belly. Ives Manufacturing in Bridgeport may have produced the bank.
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Important facts
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Charles F. Ritchel?
American inventor (1844-1911)
When was Charles F. Ritchel born?
Charles F. Ritchel was born on 22 December 1844 in Portland.
When did Charles F. Ritchel die?
Charles F. Ritchel died on 21 January 1911 in Bridgeport.
What was Charles F. Ritchel's occupation?
Charles F. Ritchel was a balloonist and patent inventor.
What nationality was Charles F. Ritchel?
Charles F. Ritchel was American.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Charles F. Ritchel
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Charles F. Ritchel. https://biography.guide/charles-f-ritchel/
MLA: "Charles F. Ritchel." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/charles-f-ritchel/.
Chicago: "Charles F. Ritchel." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/charles-f-ritchel/.
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