Wonderful Estate Sale Find!
RARE 1936 Aviation Model Building Course Book by Lieutenant Bertram (Bert) Phillips Pond US Army Reserve Air Corps. Bert helped to create the Academy of Model Aeronautics
Titled: Paul Jones step-by-step course in Model Aviation, Learn to build model airplanes that fly.
Book measures approx 16 1/4" tall x 10" wide
All the pages are there but the cover has separated from the book. All pages are legible and have all the models and instructions.
This book was sold by the Paul Jones Company and distributed through the Kresge Chain Stores
Sebastian Spering Kresge (July 31, 1867 – October 18, 1966), was an American businessman. He created and owned two chains of department stores, the S. S. Kresge Company, one of the 20th century's largest discount retail organizations, and the Kresge-Newark traditional department store chain. The discounter was renamed the Kmart Corporation in 1977, and evolved into today's Sears Holdings Corporation, parent of Kmart and Sears.
The AMA History Project Presents:
Biography of
BERTRAM (BERT) PHILLIPS POND
Modeler, Pioneer, Manufacturer
AMA Organizer, Author
May 31, 1901 – June 30, 1999
Started modeling around 1916
AMA #F6
Written & Submitted by BPP (08/1996); Transcribed by NR (08/1996); Edited by SS (2002), Updated by JS (10/2007, 05/2014), Reformatted by JS (01/2010)
Career:
An engineer and a modeler and with a broad and extensive background
1936: Helped create the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA)
Produced several thousands of air-powered motors, 3 cylinder radial
1925: Won first in Nationals at New York Air Races
Wrote a book, “6 steps from glider to scale model” – like a textbook
Wrote articles for two years for Popular Aviation magazine
Wrote three articles for Popular Science Monthly
Honors:
1977: Model Aviation Hall of Fame
1978: National Free Flight Society Hall of Fame
1989: Society of Antique Modelers Hall of Fame
1996: Kits and Plans Antiquitous Hall of Fame
The following was written by Bertram P. Pond in 1996.
Name: Bertram Phillips Pond.
Date of Birth: 31 May 1901, Chicago, Illinois
Father: Harvard University
Me: University of Illinois; Mechanical Engineering, 1925, took all aero courses available then
ROTC Air Unit Major
Engineering Officer for six weeks at Chanute Field, flying daily in Canucks & Jennies
Saw crude model in Peru, Indiana in 1913. Thought could do better so read all old Colins books
and Langley memoirs. Built 12" biplane, which flew well enough that I was invited to join
Illinois Model Aero Club (I.M.A.C.) in Chicago. Learned how to really make all types of rubber
models tractors, twin pushers, scale, including SE5 and Junkers (copy of mail plane from actual
measurements on real plane with armed guard looking other way). Held several records. In 1922,
tried to get NAA interested in running a National Contest (Nats). In 1923, was successful and
first Nats were run in St. Louis at Air Races. Won fourth or fifth place.
In the 1924 Nats at Dayton, I placed third or fourth. Won first in 1925 Nats at New York Air
Races. Helped compile booklet of best contest plans to date. Schoolteacher in Detroit, whose
young entrants in 1924 and 1925 were not very hot or good, persuaded Garber at 1926 Nats in Philadelphia to allow Jack Laughner to fly after the event was officially over. Jack barely made
first even then, pushing me down to third from second.
Wrote a book for the Paul Jones Company, which was sold through the Kresgy Chain stores.
Book had six steps from glider to scale model; like a textbook. Joe Ott copied this idea with a
five-step series book.
Rubber models were boring so designed and produced several thousands of air-powered motors,
three-cylinder radial. Still assemble a few from residue of parts. I currently import an Air Motor
from Italy along with a model kit.
I wrote articles for two years for Popular Aviation magazine in Chicago, Illinois. Also wrote
three articles for Popular Science Monthly. (They paid more!)
With a family - wife and four children - I got better position in Springfield and moved from
Minneapolis where I had formed the Minneapolis Model Aero Club, which is still going strong
today. Joined the Pioneer Valley R.C. Club here.
Worked on Life Support Systems for the moon walkers, jet engine controls, and assorted projects
at Hamilton Standard.
During war, was at Wright Field in Equipment Laboratory and Engineering Officer of the 11th
Air Force. Am retired Air Force LT.COL.
The following is from the April 1978 issue of Model Aviation magazine, pages 60 and 63.
Bert Pond (Bertram P.), age 74, has been an active aeromodeler for nearly 60 years.
His long span of activity is unique. From the Illinois Model Aero Club of 1916 to the Pioneer
Valley Radio Control Club of 1976 (in New England), Pond’s involvement has been continuous.
His achievements and distinctions are many - world record holder, writer, designer,
manufacturer, contest director, historian, and competitor. However, his greatest contribution to
model aeronautics was his efforts in leading and organizing during the early years, particularly
his role in helping organize contests, which were national in scope.
In 1923, Bert Pond accompanied a contingent of model airplane fliers from Chicago to St. Louis
with the sole purpose of persuading the St. Louis Air Board to include in the National Air Races
a “Model Airplane Race.” After several days of energetic contact with then new National
Aeronautic Association by telephone, the model airplane event was included.
This was the first time NAA involved itself in models, and the 1923 National Air Races is
viewed today as the very first “Nats” by NAA’s affiliate – the Academy of Model Aeronautics.
Thus, Bert Pond participated in, and made substantial contributions to, the beginning of the first
national championships for model aircraft. Even more important, historically, was the basic
decision by NAA to involve itself in model airplanes. This eventually resulted in the beginning of
the AMA.
Bert Pond is a retired Air Force Reserve Lt. Colonel, a professional engineer currently working
on the Space Shuttle Program. He has manufactured and sold model airplane components
through the years and has published extensively. His Free Flight designs have had a profound and
lasting influence on rubber outdoor models. His national Rubber-Powered Free Flight records
include Indoor and Outdoor in 1921, and Twin Pusher Hydro in 1922. He has worked at National
Contests since 1933; his latest contribution was at the 1975 Nats.
Initial letter from Bert to Orville
Dated January 28, 1929
126 E. Sixth Street
Peru, Indiana
January 28, 1929
Mr. Orville Wright
Dayton, Ohio
Dear Sir:
I am instructing a number of boys in the making of model airplanes. In connection with the
model airplane instruction, they are being given considerable history and theory of airplanes.
A question has come up to which I would appreciate an answer from you very much. Several of
the boys have shown me a picture of a Dandreaux butterfly model, similar to the enclosed sketch,
and they want to know if this butterfly model is the same kind of model as the one which you
experimented before you began work on the large machine.
Any information you can give me on this subject will be greatly appreciated by the boys in my
classes.
Yours very truly,
---------------------
Bertram P. Pond
Response from Orville to Bert
Dated January 30, 1929
ORVILLE WRIGHT
DAYTON, OHIO
January 30, 1929
Mr. Bertram P. Pond,
126 East Sixth Street,
Peru, Indiana
Dear Sir:
I have your letter of January 28th. The small flying model given to me by my father in
1878 was of a Penaud type, dating from 1870. The Dandrieux butterfly appeared in 1879, a year
after the toy was given to us. Dandrieux’s models were also on Penaud’s. I am sending enclosed
a sketch of the Penaud model which we copied.
In “Building and Flying Model Aircraft” it is stated that “their father brought home a
small model similar to a Dandrieux butterfly (See figure 187)”. It does not say that it was a
Dandrieux model. The only reason I can see for Dandrieux’s name being used in this connection,
and not Penaud’s, was that the book was written by an employee of the Smithsonian Institution,
and that Institution, except during Langley’s time, has studiously avoided using the name of
Penaud.
My opinion of the book is shown in my telegram replying to a letter from the Playground
Association asking me for a letter commending it, and also in my reply to a letter from another
asking why we had “avoided Penaud”. The telegram and several paragraphs from the letter
follow:
“To- Mr. T.E. Rivers,
National Playground and Miniature Aircraft Tournament, New
York, N.Y.
Can not recommend Building and Flying Model Aircraft by Garber. It is
another piece of Smithsonian Propaganda perverting the history of model flying.
Does not even mention the greatest model pioneer. Please delete pages six and
seven.
(signed) Orville Wright.”
“I have assumed that by the expressing ‘ignored Penaud’ you meant to
indicate failure on our part to use, rather than failure to appreciate, the work of
Alphonse Penaud. Penaud had one of the greatest minds that ever wrestled with
the problem of flight. He
Mr. Bertram P. Pond ----2
contributed several important inventions, one of which was his system of
inherent stability. Apparently however, among its valuable qualities he did not
recognize also some qualities not so good and some actually dangerous for manflight.
Penaud was the inventor not only of the system of inherent stability used
in most flying models today, but also of the rubber band motor used in practically
all of them. We have always looked upon him as the father of the modern flying
models, and have repeatedly stated that our first flying toys were copied from one
of his.
“We always appreciated the great ability of Penaud, and hope we shall
never learn to use the methods of one of our prominent scientific institutions in
ignoring great pioneers. In a recent book on “Building and Flying Model
Aircraft’, written for boys by the creator of models in the Smithsonian Institution,
Penaud’s name does not appear once, although every model described in the
book used one or more of his inventions. Nor does his name appear in the
Smithsonian’s official “Hand-book of the National Museum’s Aircraft
Collection”, although Langley used the Penaud system of inherent stability in all
of his models and in his full-size machine. The responsibility for this failure to
recognize Penaud belongs not to Langley, but to the administrations of the
Institution after Langley’s time. Langley himself repeatedly mentioned Penaud.
Very truly yours,
(signed) Orville Wright
Response from Bert to Orville
Dated February 11, 1929
126 E. Sixth Street
Peru, Indiana
February 11, 1929
Mr. Orville Wright
Dayton, Ohio
Dear Mr. Wright:
Your fine sketch of the toy helicopter and your friendly letter were greatly appreciated by the
boys and by myself. Some of the boys are making toy helicopters of this type and another very
similar type. In fact, they have become so efficient that they have made 37 seconds stop-watch
time indoors with one of these machines.
They boys were especially interested in your remarks about Penaud, and several of them
reminded me that your father at one time lived very close in the vicinity of Peru, and often visited
with friends here.
Should I ever be in the vicinity of Dayton, I would appreciate your permission o call on you at
your convenience and have a short talk with you, providing I let you know when I expect to come
in advance.
Yours very truly,
------------------------
Bertram P. Pond
BPP: NLP
Item is being sold in as found, as is condition.
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