The Fitzgerald Gasket Company was where my father - Eddie Ryan, worked for 30 years or so.

Here is something from the Torrington Historical Society about the answer to one of their Facebook Quizes.

First the Quiz Question:

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Torrington-made gasket was used in 'The Spirit of St. Louis', the plane in which Charles Lindbergh made his historic first non-stop flight from NYC to Paris in 1927. What was the name of the company who made the gasket?
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Answer: The Fitzgerald Mfg Co.
Then, the reply from the THS Librarian:

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Ms Ryan,

Thank you for your inquiry regarding the Fitzgerald connection to Lindbergh's historic flight.

The information came from a news article in The Torrington Register, May 26, 1927, page. 5 The article notes that the Wright Aeronautical Corporation of Paterson, NJ, sent a telegram to Fitzgerald Manufacturing Company in Torrington which read in part:

Gaskets furnished by you were used in the Whirlwind engine which

carried Captain Lindbergh to Paris. You have thus taken part in the most

daring and brilliant adventure of our time.

We agree.

Carol Clapp

Librarian

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My father was a Tool Designer and Draftsman for Fitzies. Maybe he worked on that gasket design?

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Here's a photo of Elspeth Ryan (grandaughter of Eddie Ryan) at the Air and Space Museum under the Spirit of St. Louis.






These photos are of the Wright production line where the engine was built.