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General control line discussion => AS TIME GOES BYE => Topic started by: Mike Gretz on March 29, 2012, 07:52:45 AM
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EXCITEMENT just oozes out of this old picture, from a Minneapolis newspaper 1925. I found this on the web site of the Minnesota Historical Society and loved it so much I bought an 8x10, which is now framed an hanging in my office.
See the pride of ownership. The almost uncontrollable emotions of the qawkers. I think the second kid from the left has already wet his pants.
If there is a model airplane "disease", I think at least three of these boys had it for life.
Mike
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Great picture, Mike, and it shows a time when "flight" was a major excitement in America. I think kids today do not view airplanes and flight even as exciting as our generation did.
BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM
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Mike![b
]LV that photo....cool hats and clothing! Got any more vintage photos like these? THANKS FOR SHARING! [/b] BW@
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Well thiss is my Dad and I on his ww1 harley. I too love these old pictures-This one scanned fron a 11/2 by 2 inch pictue HB~> HB~>
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Thanks..Leo! REALLY BEAUTIFUL SHOT!
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Even though the title of this thread is "favorite model airplane picture", motorcycles are sure fun too. They are the "closest thing to flying while you stay on the ground."
Some of you may not know that SIG Mfg. Co. started out as a motorcycle shop. Glen Sig was a lifelong motorcycle rider and model airplane builder. Born and raised in another small town about 30 miles from Montezuma, he breezed into town in 1942 on his Indian motorcycle to go to work for the local newspaper. The motorcycle was Glen's only mode of transportation year round. Before long he was dating a young tomboy named Hazel, and they were married in 1943. (see first photo: Glen and Hazel on the Indian during the winter).
They both worked for the local newspaper office and talked of owning it someday. But since it wasn't for sale, they opened a motorcycle shop instead and became an Indian dealer. Soon Hazel had her own Indian. (see next photo: Hazel, left, in front of the motorcycle shop, along with one of their riding buddies Gina Mahanna.)
Ever the innovator, Glen designed and marketed aluminum full wheel covers for the Indians - the very first SIG product! (next photo: Hazel on her Indian with the wheel covers).
To highlight their bikes and draw attention to the wheel covers, they chromed both their Indians to the max. (next photo: Hazel with their all chrome Indians.)
They sold a lot of the wheel covers until the Korean conflict cut their aluminum supply entirely. They were out of business. So in 1951 they decided to get into the balsa business. But they never lost their love of motorcycles. The last pair of Indians they owned were the 1953 model, both yellow, with consecutive serial numbers. Those two Indians still exist, both of them owned by a collector in Missouri. (last two pics: the yellow 1953 Indians, then and now).
Mike Gretz
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MIKE!
Thanks for sharing those beautiful vintage MC photos and stories about the SIG history. Brings back sooo many memories in those early days..when I too lived just a few miles from where those photos were taken.
Those were the formative years for so many of us from that part of the USA that started a life long addiction to every thing that flies...including that feeling of the wind while riding a MC down a long dirt road....(what an Adrenalin rush...while trying to keep our MC tires down the middle of those gravel free strips where car and truck tires had blown the gravel away-----flying over the pot holes was an added challenge...(that proved a couple of times to take tole on my torn grass stained pants, jackets, bloody skinned knees or buttskun's.
GADS MIKE!
You must have a GOLD MINE of vintage photos and stories of the midwest..that I WOULD BET WOULD MAKE AN AWESOME COFFEE TABLE HISTORY BOOK?
These photos and stories are such a treasure..
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Fthanks for the story and pics. Did not know that about one great lady. H^^
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Awesomw history. Thanks for sharing.
Dan
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H^^ 8) What a great photo Mike! Having to wear a tie to go out and play! No tank tops, Jesus boots flip-flops, shower shoes and shorts here! y1 H^^
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the VD~ made me do the edit job... BW@
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Makes me think of my Dad. He had an Indian in the late 30s early 40s. He used to talk about it. Unfortunately I have no pictures of him with the Indian.
In more recent times, Indian had a short revival, but unfortunately could not compete with Harley, Honda, etc, etc. The Indian motorcycles are now probably gone forever.
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Wow! Great pictures. Randy Ryan has an old Indian, can't remember what year for sure. I started out back in the 50's on an old 1942 "45" Flat Head Harley, and I have been riding off and on all my life. It is amazing how many modelers ride motorcycles.
I did not know that about the Sig's. That is so cool. If I remember right, when I went through the Sig plant years ago, there were a lot of bikers that worked there. I just love those old pictures. I can see why you have the one with the kids and plane in your office. When I was growing up, model airplanes and motorcycles were magic. I was the kid with the loudest cards in the spokes on my bicycle. I will be 72 years old in a few months, and hope I still have the ability to ride my Harley for a few more years.
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Found a couple of favorites. First is of my uncle, who was my hero and introduced me to guitars, and airplanes, and his Les Paul Jr. 1955. The second is 1958 and his neighbor ready to cover a Tri-Pacer. The last is my aunt with a Novi or one of my uncle's original designs. Brushed Aero-Gloss.
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Found a couple of favorites. First is of my uncle, who was my hero and introduced me to guitars, and airplanes, and his Les Paul Jr. 1955. The second is 1958 and his neighbor ready to cover a Tri-Pacer. The last is my aunt with a Novi or one of my uncle's original designs. Brushed Aero-Gloss.
I loved your pics Steve. The Tri-Pacer is really cool. People creating something useful and fun with their hands. Wish there was more of that nowadays.
Mike (certifiable old foggey)
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Hey Mike, thanks for the great photos and history.
Glen and Hazel will always be a big part of our memories.
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Found a couple of favorites. First is of my uncle, who was my hero and introduced me to guitars, and airplanes, and his Les Paul Jr. 1955. The second is 1958 and his neighbor ready to cover a Tri-Pacer. The last is my aunt with a Novi or one of my uncle's original designs. Brushed Aero-Gloss.
Hi Steve:
Are you certain that guitar is a Les Paul Jr.? It sure looks a lot like a 1961 Melody Maker! Always wanted one of those...
Bob Hunt
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Here are some of favorite pictures. We were passenger hopping at the EAA Fly In. This was the last one held at Rockford, Ill. Flew the "Breezy" from St Louis. There were several "Breezys" there and we had a long line of people waiting for rides.
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Hi Steve:
Are you certain that guitar is a Les Paul Jr.? It sure looks a lot like a 1961 Melody Maker! Always wanted one of those...
Bob Hunt
Bob that is the gold sunburst Les Paul Jr. and the first guitar that I ever played. I thought the Melody Maker was a double cutaway...what's that you're playing?
Steve
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Bob that is the gold sunburst Les Paul Jr. and the first guitar that I ever played. I thought the Melody Maker was a double cutaway...what's that you're playing?
Steve
Here is a shot from the net...showing a close up of maybe a similar Les Paul guitar?
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Bob that is the gold sunburst Les Paul Jr. and the first guitar that I ever played. I thought the Melody Maker was a double cutaway...what's that you're playing?
Steve
Hi Steve:
That's a pre-Gibson Epiphone ES 230 TD Casino that I was playing there. That photo was taken around 1991 or so at Scott Smith's house. Rick Campbell, Andy Lee and I jammed for a while.
Yes, I know there was a double cutaway Melody Maker (It looked a lot like an SG...), but there was also a single cutaway Melody Maker available for one year (1961 I think...). I'll do a bit of research on that. At any rate, I'd love to have one of those old single cutaway Gibson models! I had a later Les Paul Junior and it looked completely different from the one you posted a photo of. I also had a "Fretless Wonder" Les Paul Custom around 1971. Nice guitar, but heavy!
Later - Bob Hunt
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I found a lot of references to the single cutaway Melody Maker on the Internet. Try this one:
http://www.garysguitars.com/catalog/1961-gibson-melody-maker-single-cutaway-gie0486
Later - Bob Hunt
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Hey Mike, thanks for the great photos and history.
Glen and Hazel will always be a big part of our memories.
Thanks Les. FYI, Hazel turned 90 last April and while she no longer flies airplanes or rides motorcycles, she still drives her Corvette down the highway WAY too fast, while the local deputies look the other way. "It's just Hazel!"
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Wow! Great pictures. Randy Ryan has an old Indian, can't remember what year for sure. I started out back in the 50's on an old 1942 "45" Flat Head Harley, and I have been riding off and on all my life. It is amazing how many modelers ride motorcycles.
I did not know that about the Sig's. That is so cool. If I remember right, when I went through the Sig plant years ago, there were a lot of bikers that worked there. I just love those old pictures. I can see why you have the one with the kids and plane in your office. When I was growing up, model airplanes and motorcycles were magic. I was the kid with the loudest cards in the spokes on my bicycle. I will be 72 years old in a few months, and hope I still have the ability to ride my Harley for a few more years.
I actually have 2 Jim, a '48 and a '50. The chrome Chiefs in your pictures are '48s and the other couples picture are '50-'53 vintage, the '50-'51s had that post seat while the '52-'53s had a rigid seat that was changed out often because it was so uncomfortable. Guess I need to poke around the site more, I hardly ever look past the Open Forum anymore.
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I actually have 2 Jim, a '48 and a '50. The chrome Chiefs in your pictures are '48s and the other couples picture are '50-'53 vintage, the '50-'51s had that post seat while the '52-'53s had a rigid seat that was changed out often because it was so uncomfortable. Guess I need to poke around the site more, I hardly ever look past the Open Forum anymore.
Randy,
Thanks for the insight on the years of the SIG Indians. I have presumed that the one with both Glen and Hazel aboard in the winter (snow) would be the oldest. I'm sure that pic was taken before Hazel had one of her own. Can you see enough of that one to date it?
Mike
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Randy,
Another question. Being an Indian collector, have you ever seen any of the full disc aluminum wheel covers like Glen Sig made? I wonder if there might still be an original set around? Don't know if they were marked in any way. I'll ask Hazel about that next time I see her.
Mike
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Randy,
Thanks for the insight on the years of the SIG Indians. I have presumed that the one with both Glen and Hazel aboard in the winter (snow) would be the oldest. I'm sure that pic was taken before Hazel had one of her own. Can you see enough of that one to date it?
Mike
Hi Mike,
Difficult to date that bike specifically, but late 30's for sure, I guesstimate '37. As far as the aluminum wheel covers I have seen them but they are few and far between. Things like that were purchased and installed then when service was required they were ditched because they were a pain to work around. They also corroded fairly fast and had to be continually polished or look like crap.
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I was a bass player myself. Picture from the 60's. Sure wish I still had that old Fender precision bass.
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My favorite plane pictures. probably 1966-67.
Steve
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I love this photo because it shows two kids who loved CL stunt enough to build and fly them in a war zone. (Republic of Vietnam)
Sadly, my very good friend Karl Kelly, lost his life in a plane crash just before being rotated back home. This is my only picture of him and I miss him dearly.
Linheart
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I love the picture in the first post. The proud builder surrounded by a bunch of encroaching onlookers who all want to put their grubby hands on it. I learned a long time ago to keep my hands in my pockets when looking over someone else's treasured work, and that applies to bikes too unless you really want to get into serious trouble.
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Right you are on the narrow headstock on the Melody Maker. Not only that, but my Melody Maker with three single coils had a neck that was around .040 narrower than the LP's. I didn't really like the neck, so swapped it off. I had a Les Paul Special, a '57 I bought new in '58 that was the single cutaway and not the SG style - kept that rascal for over 40 years. Got a BUNDLE for it when I let it go!!
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Right you are on the narrow headstock on the Melody Maker. Not only that, but my Melody Maker with three single coils had a neck that was around .040 narrower than the LP's. I didn't really like the neck, so swapped it off. I had a Les Paul Special, a '57 I bought new in '58 that was the single cutaway and not the SG style - kept that rascal for over 40 years. Got a BUNDLE for it when I let it go!!
Just for the memories
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The model airplane picture that I treasure, is the December 1976 cover of Model Airplane News. It shows The Great Hanno Prettner performing a Knife-Edge fly-by, in front of the Flughafen Klagenfurt Airport (in Austria, I believe) of his incomparable CURARE!
I had been cobbling together control line airplanes from library books, and from my imagination for several years, and at 13 years old...That amazing magazine had just began a new, profound desire in me, to be able to fly R/C that well, with such a brilliant airplane! I had to collect a better condition of the magazine, some years later, as my original copy was no longer in pristine condition.
I acquired an MK kit of the Curare at the yearly auction in the winter of 1988, and built it for the upcoming contest season, on my In-Law's pool table. Great kit, superior wood-went together very well. Flew it in Novice class in the region, and received 3 First Place awards, and one Second Place trophy with that airplane. All that gave me a big head-but it was still just Novice Class.
Well, there is another cover picture that struck a chord with me: the November 1977 RCM, which features a large scale CITATION model and a cute girl, taken near Century II, in Wichita. The picture, not the girl! George Sauer was the builder and pilot of the model, and one of the very fine gentlemen who would take time from their flying activities, to teach me, a punk kid, how to fly, and set engines, and everything. I miss George. He was a GOOD guy!(http://)
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That is one amazing cover shot with that young lady on the bleachers holding that huge model plane.
Just for the memories..think I'll go out to the garage and dig through some old MAN or AAM magazines and just take a look at just how YOUNG so many of us addicted model looked back then? ''
Hey fellow model geeklet's!!
Dig through your old photos and post some of your first model photos...(also dig through some of your old magazines and post a few of your favorite first time photos in those old tatter'd and yellowed old model mag's n rag's
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This is about as old as I go. Four years old, circa 1987.
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I have many ... but these two are probably tops for C/L
(http://www.pbase.com/lakebiker/image/101011700/original.jpg)
(http://www.pbase.com/lakebiker/image/101011701/original.jpg)
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Technically, not model airplanes ... but huge favorites.
My father in the first pic ... Ernie Huber in the second .... 1972.
Ernie Huber built the first helicopter made in the USA ... it was called the "LunchBox".
While my dad, and another fellow Lou P. provided support ... Ernie Huber flew RC helicopters in 3 movies:
Towering Inferno
Blue Thunder
Capricorn 1
Exciting times while I was growing up
(http://www.pbase.com/lakebiker/image/101011719/original.jpg)
(http://www.pbase.com/lakebiker/image/101011713/original.jpg)
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I have many ... but these two are probably tops for C/L
(http://www.pbase.com/lakebiker/image/101011700/original.jpg)
(http://www.pbase.com/lakebiker/image/101011701/original.jpg)
Thanks for posting these! (WOW! TIME also FLIES!