American Airlines DC-3 Flagship Model Airplane Kit, circa 1945

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Artifact Overview

Model airplanes have been a popular hobby since the 1920s. Early modelers built from scratch, but entrepreneurs soon saw the business possibilities in making and selling model kits. Balsa wood was a favorite building material due to its strength, light weight, and the ease with which it could be shaped.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Model airplane

Date Made

circa 1945

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

2009.45.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Bob Brasie.

Material

Wood (Plant material)
Cardboard
Casein glue

Color

Blue
Red
White (Color)
Yellow (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 1.5 in
Width: 3.25 in
Length: 12.25 in

Inscriptions

On front of box: StromBecKer/ FIRST IN SOLID MODELS On front of box: SOLID MODEL ASSEMBLY KIT/ AMERICAN AIRLINES/ DC-3 FLAGSHIP/ NO CARVING TOOLS NEEDED/ ALL PARTS READY-SHAPED On end of box: StromBecKer/ C-35/ AMERICAN AIRLINES/ DC-3 FLAGSHIP/Scale 7/64" to 1'/ Wingspan 10 1/2 inches On back of box: 1 WITH THESE FINISHED PARTS/ 2 YOU SIMPLY ASSEMBLE/ 3 THIS REALISTIC MODEL/ NO CARVING TOOLS OR WOODCARVING SKILL REQUIRED/ .../ Strombeck-Becker Mfg. Co. On side of box: /.../ MADE IN THE U.S.A. BY THE STROMBECK-BECKER MFG. CO., MOLINE, ILLINOIS
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