EARLY SEAL BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AIRPLANE MANUFACTURER
Two brochures and two letters from The Crawford Motor and Airplane Manufactory, an early Seal Beach, California, designer and builder of high-powered motors, hydro-airplanes, airplanes, hydroplanes, and propellers for pleasure and commercial purposes.
The letters, handwritten and signed by founder William Crawford in 1928, concern the potential order of a small airplane by Raymond Garrett of Key Drug Co. in Ponca City, Oklahoma.
One of the brochures is a four-page pamphlet (6” x 9”) about the Crawford Monoplane Model A-1. The second piece measures 11” x 17” and is printed on both sides. It includes an article by Crawford titled "Simple Aerodynamics and the Aeroplane", a price list of propellers, and a schematic for wing designs.
Crawford traces its roots back to 1912 when Harvey Crawford, William’s brother, placed an entry in the Third International Air Meeting at Dominguez Hills. A year later, the brothers established the Crawford Flying School at Sunset Field near Los Angeles. Four years after that, the company expanded its interest to designing aircraft and became known as the Crawford Airplane and Motor Manufactory, which designed several powered aircraft, including the Crawford Monoplane Model A-1 released in 1928. They manufactured the parts and consumers assembled the airplane. According to Aeorpedia.com, 600 kit planes were sold to interested builders. In later years the brothers designed a series of powered gliders. Crawford continued to offer a flight school and the local airfield, called Crawford Field and later Seal Beach Airport, operated until the 1940s. It is now part of the Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach and residential housing.
The brochures and letters are a little toned, with folds for mailing; otherwise very good. Scarce. Item #80804
Price: $300.00