Modelling History

[williame3590]

Arrived at 2:00 this afternoon and I just came down off the ceiling moments ago.
This engine is a true piece of modelling history.....it won the Nationals in 1937 in Detroit, Mi. Tuned before flight by none other than Bill Brown himself for WW 2 veteran Fiske Hanley who resides in Texas and is only 91 yrs young.

The model in which Fiske designed and competed with against Carl Goldbergs Valkyrie was given to one of the neighborhood kids once Fiske went off to war. Fortunately Fiske's mother removed the engine before hand and Fiske has had this engine on his desk all these years.
Fiske also sent me a few extra items which he used during his modelling years, I especially like the very unique handmade fuel tank.:cool:

I could go on and on but I need a drink.....here are some photos.

[williame3590]

More......

Bill

[williame3590]

couple more..

Bill

[What Tree]

Cool! How did you score that?

[roscoe]

Nice find! Thanks for sharing, Bill.

[Glenn Nigh]

Congratulations Bill, more nice pieces to add to your collection. Very nice indeed!

Glenn

[Spitball]

Oh WOWEE Bill, now that is something else - no wonder you needed to come down from the ceiling to get a drink!!
Recognized the Brown box from a description an old fellow I used to know back in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, now sadly passed on to higher altitudes hopefully, and who had actually flown in SEVEN different Air Forces, some as a mercenary, told me about over a beer.
It had been up on the luggage rack in the compartment of the passenger train down from Rhodesia and he had popped off to the dining car for some liquid refreshment but when he returned his pride and joy, his NIB unrun Brown Jr was gone!
A most interesting old fellow with many a good yarn stretched over many a beer on many an evening sitting outside for a 'sundowner' - ahh forgive me, nostalgia badly!

[Larry Pierce]

Hello There:

Brings back old memories, I did not own one, but as I remember Howard Bissel
and Clyde Dickout did . these fellows lived in Port Colborne at the time.
Larry

[williame3590]

Thanks alot guy's, not only do I have an engine that I know the complete history on but the motor was fine tuned by the designer (Bill Brown). The motor also competed and won and was owned and flown by a WW 2 veteran and a survivor from one of the worst POW camps.
I also get to speak to him on the phone whenever I like:)8)8)

Bill

[Frank Klenk]

That is a nice addition to your collection. You can make up a display just for that with your photos and engine and by gawd you have the box too! A real piece of history. Looks to me like you are our Brown collector here in Canada! You need to talk to Reed Martin, I think he is in PA, he's a Brown collector and maybe he can hook you up with an "A". I know he has been scrounging for years to find one, but he has some interesting Browns on his shelf.

[williame3590]

I guess Frank if I concentrated on Brown's only I could be. Just too many other cool engines out there. I will always be looking:)
So many engines so little coin.:)

Bill

[JohnM]

Bill: I know you know this but that engine and other material received with it has quite a provenance which could significantly add to its value some day. Your grand children may thank you some day. . . All the best - John M.

[williame3590]

Thanks John, I'll have quite a few new ones for the Christmas Party display.
Hope it's as good as last year with only one guy passed out:D

Bill