Swiss-born race car driver and pioneering automotive engineer (1878–1941) who founded the company that bore his name and created one of the most familiar and durable brand names in history. TLS, one page, 8.5 x 11, embossed colorful Glenn L. Martin Motors Company letterhead, March 12, 1931. Letter to Walter Clayton, Chief Engineer at Pitcairn Aircraft. In full: “Your letter of March 11th received, and in regard to the Hartzell Propeller Company would say that at present we have no spare hubs. The few we have are being used on test propellers on your ship and our own. I am inclosing [sic] a set of blue prints which you may send to the Hartzell Propeller Company yourself. I am not sending those blue prints directly to the Hartzell Propeller Company because you might want to use some other propeller as you are getting experimental propellers from the Paragon Propeller Company. Of course, this is up to you.
I had a telephone call last night from our Mr. McLeay who is with you, telling me that the new carburetor which was installed by Mr. Cordes of the Zenith-Detroit Corporation performed a lot more smoothly than the one we had before. He also told me that he had to take the motor apart again, removing the pistons and rods for you to do some more work on account of your gear box. Of course we are just as anxious as you are to get the thing definitely settled on which carburetor installation you wish. If this new carburetor does the work right, we will have to have some made in aluminum for your show job. Naturally, the sooner we reach a decision on this the better. I expect to come back to see you Friday, when if possible I would like to reach a decision on what carburetor installation you are going to use.”
In fine condition, with light fingerprint to middle of signature, and pencil notations to right of first paragraph.
Clayton, the recipient of this letter, was an engineer with the company that developed the Pitcairn PCA-2, during the 1930s the first ‘gyrocopter’ design to sell in quantity. The interesting correspondence touches on Chevrolet’s foray into flight after developing a new type of aircraft engine and teaming up with aviation pioneer Glenn Martin to put the new motor into production. A number of engines were built, with one used in what is now considered as the forerunner of the modern day helicopter. As evidenced by the letterhead, the Chevrolet Aircraft Corporation was purchased by Glenn Martin shortly before this letter was composed, with Chevrolet briefly kept on as vice president and general manager. Interesting content marrying two automotive and aviation pioneers, and a historical connection to the company that later developed into Lockheed-Martin. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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