Update-Cradle of Aviation Archives: The 1948 purchase of Aircooled Motors, Inc by Tucker Corporation from Republic Aviation
Josh Stoff, curator of the Cradle of Aviation, has forwarded this typed March 20, 1948 press release from the Tucker Corporation announcing the $1.8 million purchase of Aircooled Motors Inc. from Republic Aviation of Farmingdale, New York.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
The press release was dated March 20, 1948 and issued by the Tucker Corporation.
The $1.8 million ($22 million today) purchase of Aircooled Motors, Inc allowed Tucker to begin large-scale production of their water-cooled 6-cylinder Franklin engines for the Tucker '48.
Aircooled Motors was purchased in 1945 by Long Island based Republic Aviation to build engines for their RC-3 Seabee amphibious sport aircraft.
The former Republic subsidiary was "reported to be the largest Aircraft engine producer."
"One of the aircraft models currently in production is said to be the only vertical power plant designed for helicopter installation." Franklins powered 75% of the helicopters built from 1946 to 1956.
The Republic label accompanying the press release with the mailing address to R.N. Parsons of the Tucker Corporation.
Aircooled Motors, Inc., Syracuse, New York, March 1947. Courtesy of the Cradle of Aviation.
Franklin Vertical "335" Helicopter Engine. Courtesy of the Cradle of Aviation.
"335" Helicopter Engines .Courtesy of the Cradle of Aviation.
The March 21, 1948 The New York Times article based on the press release.
The engine for Tucker 1044 was manufactured at the Aircooled Motors plant in Syracuse. Image is the copyright of Jerry Keefer, Keefer Fine Art, 2022. All rights reserved.
Comments
Such a significant and pleasing connection between our combined lives for Tucker and The history of Long Island!
Prior to the Aircooled motor, Tucker apparently built a couple of water cooled 6 cylinder motors, one of which can be seen in the Museum of American Speed in Lincoln, NE.
Most of the original buildings of Air Cooled Motors in Liverpool, NY just north of Syracuse, NY still stand. If you crawl under a Tucker and look up at the base of the engine you will see the name Franklin cast into that.
Carl Doman and Ed Marks were the two chief Engineers at Franklin in Syracuse,NY and formed Air Cooled Motors after the Franklin car ceased production in 1934. I owned a 1931 Franklin for over 40 years and drove it tens of thousands of miles. I was active in the research of Franklin history and knew Carl Doman and Ed Marks. Carl for only a brief time as he passed away very early. His son Dave Doman was an engineer at Ford in Michigan and was an active member of the Franklin club. He and I were good friends . Mr. Marks ( you never ever called him Ed) was full of information if you knew how to get him to talk. I organized for years the annual reunion of former Franklin employees when the annual Franklin Club car meet was held. Got to know a lot of people who built the cars and then engines at Air Cooled Motors. I have lots of stories I recall of their experiences. Dave Doman was a great guy - he and I and 3 others went to a house in north Syracuse decades ago to look at a barrel of new old stock Franklin rampant lion hood ornaments that were owned by the family of a fellow who worked for Franklin. The club bought them and resold to its members. Many still had the casting sand in them . Yes another story! I bought two car heavy lap robes from the same family that were new from the 1920s and used in cars of that era to keep the passengers warm due to lack of heaters! The trip to get those was most interesting as was the ability to pay for them even at a very reasonable price as there were 100 of them!
I wonder if my father, who spent part of his life in Syracuse and was an aeronautical engineer, knew them.
Thanks for the story!