Description:

CURTISS AEROPLANE AND MOTORS LETTER ARCHIVE
Very large archive of almost one hundred pieces of correspondence between various corporations owned or created by aviation pioneer GLENN CURTISS and their subsidiaries. The most prominent of these was Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company, an aircraft manufacturer that went public in 1916 with Glenn Curtiss as president. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the company was the largest aircraft manufacturer in the United States. After Curtiss left the company, it became part of the Curtiss-Wright Corporation. This grouping consists mostly of correspondence sent to Henry Woodhouse in his cap[acity as editor of Aerial Age magazine. The letters are almost all 1p. 4to., and virtually all date from 1912 to 1918. Content is often fairly routine: sending photographs for use in advertising, remitting fees and commissions due, purchasing subscriptions, but about 30% is fairly good. The archive breaks down as follows: 38 T.L.S.s on "Curtis Flying Boat" letterhead, with content concerning: "...if we had not what we consider an absolutely non-infringing machine we should not dare to offer flying boats to the American public... copy of the Wright patent...has just come to hand...I notice that the Wright Company is using a full page...is this their regular position?...we will not be able to complete the altitude tests...the Flying Boat, which is to be presented to the National Guard, has been shipped...", 36 letters on "Curtiss Aeroplane Co." (and similar) letterhead, in part: "...this machine [by a competitor] is equipped with 300 horsepower...this sort of copy should be censored. We really do not believe such a machine could be built...we are receiving inquiries from the militia groups...blueprints of the OX Motor and the JN-4 machine...were duly mailed...we got a nice order for 25 more large flying boats...the sketch of the torpedo plane has reached you safely..."; three T.L.S.s on the letterhead of the "Curtiss Exhibition Co."; five letters on "Curtiss Motors" letterhead, with a notice of the company's dissolution; six T.L.S.s signed with initials by EARLE OVINGTON on "Curtiss Flying Station of Atlantic City" letterhead; two T.L.S. on "Curtiss Aviation Camp" letterhead concerning competitions; one each T.L.S.s on "Curtiss Engineering Corporation" and "Curtiss Northwest Airplane Company" letterheads, both with good content, two original photos of a Curtiss flying boat, stock information, and a ca. 1916 catalog. Overall fine condition.

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February 11, 2015 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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