What year, rocket and manufacturer is it?

Anyone know exactely?

__________________
Leo

My rocket fleet and more @ Leo's Leisure Site and on YouTube - My latest project: ALTDuino

It would have to be MMI's original rocket (Aerobee Hi or Arcon) from around 1958 I'd guess. Am I correct, Shockie?

__________________
Scott D. Hansen
Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe - Your One Stop BAR Shoppe!
Ye Olde Rocket Plans - OOP Rocket Plans From 38 Companies!
Ye Olde Rocket Forum
WOOSH NAR Section #558

I would think that the MMI Aerobee is the oldest (first to be produced).
If you are talking the longest production run, it would probably be the Estes Big Bertha that is still in production.

__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, TURMOIL, FIASCOS, and HAVOC !

No, I'm talking about the first ever mass-produced rocket (in the world for that matter).

Are you sure 1958 is the oldest?

__________________
Leo

My rocket fleet and more @ Leo's Leisure Site and on YouTube - My latest project: ALTDuino

I'm sure the Aerobee from MMI is the oldest, but do not know the year.
I do know that Estes first year of model rocket operation was 1958 (50yr anniversary is coming in 2008), not sure about MMI.

__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, TURMOIL, FIASCOS, and HAVOC !

Without going into my archives, off the top of my head I would say the MMI Aerobee-Hi is the oldest mass produced model rocket. G. Harry stated that the 1st one came off the assembly line on April 14, 1958.


Some might say that the Mark 1 was the first commercial model rocket as Orv tried to sell it under the company name of BAL-Rock in 1954; its my understanding from Randy Lierberman's article about Orv in LAUNCH magazine that there were no buyers. I don't beleive the Carlisle MARk-2 was ever offered for sale as a kit.

I suppose either answer would be correct.

terry dean
nar 16158


ps the ONLY reason I can see that Estes is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2008 is that in the summer of 1958 G.Harry Stine and Vern Estes met for the first time and discussed Vern making a motor making machine which later became MABEL.

As we all know from recent SR and Launch articles, Estes Enterprises sold MMI 500 motors in January 1959 and continued to sell these "Rock-A-Chute labeled motors during 1959. As Vern stated, at some point in time EE and EI both coexisted and Vern doesn't remember exactly when he incorporated EI and sold off EE. We do know that there was an explosion in MABEL in OCT 1959 so EE was still in Vern's backyard at Tejon St in Denver CO. We also know that there was another explosion of MABEL in early 1960 at the same address. WE also know from what Gleda told us in the SR article that they placed an AD in the May 1960 issue of Popular Mechanics or Popular Science. I am still trying to obtain that 2nd denver newspaper story and the actual magazine that had the add in it. For an Ad to appear in the MAY 1960 issue of a magazine back then it had to be entered at least 90 days in advance of the publication date.

hth

__________________
"Old Rocketeer's don't die; they just go OOP".....unless you 3D print them.

Year was 1957, shortly after Sputnik.

I was just wondering as I have a toy model rocket made in France from 1953 and a pamphlet from 1952 and thought maybe their are older ones.

__________________
Leo

My rocket fleet and more @ Leo's Leisure Site and on YouTube - My latest project: ALTDuino

but does it use a black powder model rocket motor? does it have an recovery system to it? care to post some pics/scans and such? it would be much appreciated.

Leo, you know this begs the question: what exactly is a model rocket. What makes a model rocket a model rocket? I have pictures and diagrams of "model rockets" from the 1930's..... and guess what they look like? our modern day model rockets, some even had parachute recovery systems and were even STAGED!. But are they TRUE "model rockets" when you take into consideration that they didn't use model rocket motors, but pyrotechnic (fireworks) black powder rocket motors?

a FELLOW country man of your, Reinhold Tiling had parachute, glider and helicopter recovery "model rockets" as they were called in an 1931 Time magazine article, as early as 1928!. Where they "rocket models" "model rockets" ? I guess its in the eye of the beholder?


terry dean
nar 16158

__________________
"Old Rocketeer's don't die; they just go OOP".....unless you 3D print them.

Yes to all your questions.

I'll see if I make a pic of the rocket over the weekend.

I don't remember where I stashed the pamphlet.

__________________
Leo

My rocket fleet and more @ Leo's Leisure Site and on YouTube - My latest project: ALTDuino