1932 Glenn L. Martin SIGNED Letter / Aviation ENGINE DESIGN + Pitcairn Autogyro

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1932 Glenn L. Martin SIGNED Letter / Aviation ENGINE DESIGN + Pitcairn Autogyro:
$575.00

- Aviation Pioneer Glenn L. Martin SIGNED Letter -- SUPERB CONTENT – Designing Airplane Motor -- Addressed to PITCAIRN AIRCRAFT COMPANY -

EXCELLENT, typed letter (TLS) on two separate pages - signed by aviation pioneer Glenn L. Martin - on “THE GLENN L. MARTIN MOTORS COMPANY” letterhead.

The letter is dated November 3rd 1932 and addressed to Mr. E. T. Asplundh, Vice-President and General Manager of PITCAIRN AIRCRAFT, INC. - with SUPERB airplane-related CONTENT. In it, Glenn Martin’s Company offers to build a “NEW” engine for Pitcairn, a “special design job”, referencing a recent four cylinder engine they had built for the Army Air Corps and a six cylinder engine contract they were awarded by the Department of Commerce.

This letter offers a fine association between two of the more important, early names (Martin + Pitcairn) in the American aviation industry. The letter would frame up and display nicely with a photographic likeness of Glenn Martin.

The letter reads in full, “Dear Mr. Asplundh, In reference to your letter of September 29th, wish to state that a special design job could be worked out for you, giving you 1400 r.p.m. on the propeller, and if 85 octane fuel were used, 140 H.P. crosses the power curve at 2300 r.p.m. for the motor, which is good for 2500 r.p.m. or better. We have not at this time such a perfected motor, but would be interested in studying your needs further in this respect. We have just finished a recent contract on the four-cylinder engine for the Army Air Corps, where 120 H.P. was guaranteed at 2100 r.p.m., in accordance with their own calibrations, we had no difficulty in exceeding the horsepower on the motor. In reference to the six-cylinder engine, we were awarded an A.T.C. by the Department of Commerce after the 50-hour run, granting us 170 H.P. at 2100 r.p.m. The six cylinder is very smooth at high revolutions, and would also take gears perfectly with some slight amount of re-designing in the front end. We have not had the slightest difficulty with cooling with either the four or the six, and therefore feel that if increased horsepower were required, we would not have difficulty in this regard. The six cylinder engine, however, gets to be a long engine, but this may not interfere with your plans. If, after you have given further consideration to the motor, it seems likely that you might be interested, we would then like very much to meet with you on the question, and take some further steps to determine more exactly what you might expect from this development. Thanking you for your letters, and with best regards to you and Mr. Pitcairn, I beg to remain, Yours very truly, Glenn L. Martin (SIGNED) President.”

GLENN L. MARTIN (1885 - 1955) began his aviation career as a barnstormer. His first aircraft manufacturing company, founded in 1911, was merged with Wright in 1917. He would organize another company soon after which he moved to Baltimore, Maryland in 1929. Martin would eventually design and build airplanes for over four decades, many of which were produced for the military. One of Glenn Martin’s most successful planes was the Martin 130 trans-oceanic China Clipper.

CONDITION: both pages measure about 8 3/8 x 10 7/8 inches in size each and are in EXCELLENT overall condition. With the exception some mailing folds and a small staple hole in the upper left hand corner of the two pages, there are NO rips / tears or other problems to note (see scans). Glenn L. Martin’s signature / autograph is guaranteed authentic. FREE shipping, postage & INSURANCE for U.S. buyers. Shipping charges to Europe to be determined after the sales close andcalculated on the basis of destination & desired shipping options. Please email your questions.