Aircraft photo album put together by Grumman employee #6 who had been an employee of the Sperry Corporation/Fairchild Caminez Engine Co. Sikorski/Cox Klemin Aircraft Corp. from the mid 1920's.
New York: 1931. Card covers. An album assembled by an employee nicknamed "Pop" who must have worked as a welder for the Sperry Corporation in the mid-20's, the Fairchild Caminez Engine Company, Sikorski, and Cox Klemin Aircraft Corp before he joined Grumman in 1930. Grumman was founded December 1929.
Photos are primarily of planes, fuselages, fuel tanks, workshop shots - some with hand written captions such as: "Leading edge fuel tank for Sikorski Trans Atlantic flight Pop welded. Plane crashed 1926 (?)", "Ambulance fuselage" with an arrow pointing to 'Pop', "Early Sperry days, Farmingdale L.I. mid 20's". Official photograph of the '2nd Annual Outing of the Fairfield Aviation Corp. Employees at Glenwood on the Sound Sept. 10, 1926."
Planes pictured include the Sperry Verville Ragea, Cox Klemin Stelling Amphibian, Challenger, Air Ambulance, Byrd Antarctic Expedition plane "Stars and Stripes" built by Fairchild, and others unnamed. The Fairchild 71 monoplane, the Virginia, was taken as one of three aircraft by Richard E. Byrd on his 1928-1929 expedition to the South Pole, used for test flights and reconnaissance. The Good Year blimp is also featured in venacular photo's.
Also pictured is Dan Beard, Fairchild chief test pilot, and John Carisi who was a pilot and pioneer aircraft maker. Captain June is in front of the The Byrd Expedition aircraft "Stars and Stripes" and has signed the photo.
Dan Beard [1896 - 1974] was a diesel engineer for Ingersoll Rand Company for 1925-1927, before joining Fairchild Caminez Engine Company (later Fairchild Aviation Corporation) from 1927 until 1930, first as an Installation Engineer and then as a test pilot. His career extended beyond WWII and he donated his large aviation collection to the Smithsonian Institution.
John Carisi [1881 - 1960] was a pioneer aircraft maker and pilot who designed and flew planes from Long Island airfield. He organized the first transatlantic passenger flight only 15 days after Charles A. Lindbergh's historic New York-to-Paris flight.
Album 11 1/2 x 9", thick blue card covers, with "1931 Airplane Photos" as title on front. Three metal fasteners at spine. 64pp of which 60pp have professional photos (numbered in lower right corner),and some smaller vernacular photos. (48) photos approximately 8 1/2 x 6 1/2", (82) photos 4 1/2 x 2 3/4". Photos in very good condition, covers rubbed at edges. An interesting collection of early aviation photographs. Item #27613
Price: $650.00