MS-343 WACO Aircraft Company Photographic Collection (also known as Raymond H. Brandly Collection) Collection Number: MS-343 Title: WACO Aircraft Company Photographic Collection Alternative Title: Raymond H. Brandly Collection Dates: 1923-1965 (bulk 1923-1946) Creator: WACO Aircraft Company Summary/Abstract: The WACO Aircraft Company of Troy, Ohio produced aircraft from 1923 through WWII. During that period, the company maintained professional photography services to record images of their products. Following the company’s decision to cease all operation and during the liquidation of the original assets, Mr. Raymond H. Brandly legally acquired the WACO Aircraft Company’s original factory photo negatives from the management of the company. This large collection of negatives and prints contains the actual images recorded by WACO Aircraft Company photographers throughout the company’s history, during the manufacturing of WACO airplanes. Brandly used some of the images in his series of books, which were printed in the 1980s. At that time, Brandly had prints made of many of the negatives. Also included are 17 films, most of which are training films depicting WACO gliders. Quantity/Physical Description: 5.5 linear ft. (approximately 1100 negatives and prints, and 17 films) Language(s): English Repository: Special Collections and Archives, Paul Laurence Dunbar Library, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435-0001, (937) 775-2092 Restrictions on Access: Researchers must use the prints when possible. The collection contains nitrate and safety film negatives housed in cold storage. Restrictions on Use: Copyright restrictions may apply. Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder (WACO Historical Society). Preferred Citation: [Item number], MS-343, WACO Aircraft Company Photographic Collection, Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio Acquisition: The collection was physically deposited on August 29, 2005. The deposit was renewed in 2013. 1 Custodial History: Following WACO Aircraft Company’s decision to cease all operation and during the liquidation of the original assets, Raymond H. Brandly legally acquired the WACO Aircraft Company’s original factory photo negatives from the company. In the 1980s, Brandly made prints of many of the negatives. WACO Historical Society received the collection, including copyrights, from Raymond H. Brandly in 1996. In August of 2005, WACO Historical Society deposited the collection with Special Collections and Archives for a minimum, renewable period of 5 years. Ownership remains with WACO Historical Society. The motion picture films came from the Mike Murphy estate before WACO Historical Society assumed custody of them. Alternative Form Available: As part of a grant from WACO Aircraft Company, a small number of images from the collection were digitized in 2006. These images are indicated in the box and folder inventory of the collection by a “scan #”. In addition, all negatives without a corresponding print, were scanned and printed in 2013 to allow the negatives to be placed in cold storage. Separated Material: Of the 1100 negatives, only 48 total were in advanced stages of image loss due to the inherent instability of nitrate and safety film and could not be saved. However, 28 of the 48 images were able to be scanned or had corresponding prints. The negatives are in cold storage for long term preservation. Related Material: MS-109, Clayton Brukner Collection, co-founder of WACO. Additional Sources: "Ask Any Pilot" - The authentic history of WACO airplanes and the biographies of the founders, Clayton J. Brukner and Elwood J. "Sam" Junkin by Raymond H. Brandly (1979). TL686.W3 B72 1979 , TL686.W3 B727 1981 , TL686.W3 B72 1984, TL686.W33 B73 1988. WACO Airplanes: The Versatile Cabin Series by Raymond H. Brandly (1981) WACO Airplanes: The Famous F Series by Raymond H. Brandly (1982). TL686.W3 B69 1982 Taperwing WACOs by Raymond H. Brandly (1984) TL686.W3 B7 1984 WACO aircraft production, 1923-1942 by Raymond H. Brandly (1986) TL686.W3 B72 1986 Images of Aviation WACO, by Rod Simpson and Charles Trask(2000) TL686.W33 556 20 U. S. Civil Aircraft: Vol. 1 – 9 by Joseph P Juptner TL670.U15 v.1 to v.9 Processing Information: When the collection was accessioned, the negatives and prints were placed into new acid free enclosures, with all information on the original acidic sleeves transferred to the new sleeve. At that point, each print and each negative was given a sequential number in the order they were originally received. That number is the scan #, which only appears on the inventory if the image was scanned. The scan # is written on each negative enclosure. 2 The negatives are on cellulose nitrate and cellulose acetate film, both of which are inherently unstable. While the majority of negatives are viewable, a relatively small number were in late stages of deterioration and either the image was overcome by deterioration or the negative adhered to its original enclosure. Efforts were made to scan images that were in late stages of deterioration, and a print from the scan is noted and included in the inventory. During processing, the prints were separated from the negatives for proper housing. Where possible, the print was cross referenced with its negative. In addition to the 5”x7” negatives, there were binders of 5”x7” and 8”x10” prints (no negatives). Effort was made to match these prints with negatives in the collection. Photographs without a corresponding negative or photographer number, are in Series III. The order of the collection was determined with the help of Andy Heins, Curator at WACO Historical Society. Processed by: Toni Vanden Bos, 2012 with assistance from Crystal Royal and Sara Boteler, 2011 and from volunteer Ed O’Shaughnessy in 2012. Arrangement: The collection is arranged into 4 series: Series I: Barton Images Series II: Images by Photographer Number Subseries A: A-1 to S-18 Subseries B: A to Z Subseries C: AA to ZZ Subseries D: AAA to ZZZ Series III: Images Without Photographer Number Subseries A: Negatives (Reference prints available in print boxes) Subseries B: Prints Series IV: Motion Picture Film Historical Note: The WACO Aircraft Company was founded in 1920, as the Weaver Aircraft Company, by George ‘Buck’ Weaver (president and general manager), E.J. ‘Sam’ Junkin (Secretary), and Clayton Brukner (treasurer). The company was located at 554 Broadway, Lorain, Ohio. The first aircraft built by the company was the ‘Cootie,’ which wrecked on its maiden voyage with Weaver at the controls. In April 1922, the men decided to leave Lorain and moved to Medina, Ohio, where they built the Model 5. They were not very successful in Medina, so they decided to move to Troy, Ohio, in the winter of 1922- 23. Troy, Ohio, was an excellent choice for the WACO Company because it had access to many aircraft suppliers located in Dayton, Ohio. Troy was also in close proximity to McCook Army Air Field. With the surplus parts left over from WWI Curtiss Jennies, the men of WACO began creating designs and new models of airplanes. Junkin acted as designer and Brukner served as the plant manager. 3 Weaver did not follow the others to Troy, but he remained the active president of the company. To help finance the company, Clayton Brukner got a loan from a Tipp City, Ohio family. In exchange for the loan, Brukner was to train the family’s son in aviation mechanics. The training was never completed, but with the loan, Brukner bought out Weaver’s share in the company. In April 1923, the Weaver Aircraft Company’s name was changed to the Advance Aircraft Company and Clayton J. Brukner was listed as corporate manager. They began making new airplane models (Model 6 through Model 10) and became very successful. WACO’s organization and facilities expanded rapidly in Troy. On November 1, 1926, Elwood Junkin died which left Clayton Brukner as President. New senior managers were appointed, including Lee Brutus as vice-president and secretary, Freddie Lund as chief test pilot, and Russel F. Hardy as chief engineer. In 1929, the company changed its name to the WACO Aircraft Company and moved into a brand new factory in Troy. This factory was constructed on land purchased by the citizens of Troy who wanted to keep the company from moving away. Soon, Troy, Ohio became known as the civilian aviation capital of the United States. During the year of 1930, WACO started producing their Model F series, which began replacing the Model 10 aircraft. The following year, the Model QDC was produced. This was WACO’s first successful cabin model. Soon, WACO was making many models of airplanes, including the Model C, A, D, and E. All of the WACO aircraft were noted for being very strong and highly maneuverable. WACOs were used for everything from carrying passengers to performing stunts. The last powered aircraft made by the WACO Aircraft Company was in 1946. Clayton Brukner died on December 26, 1977, leaving behind the most successful of all the American pre-war aircraft manufacturing companies. Over the course of its lifetime, the WACO Company produced 3,723 units, not including WWII gliders. Today, there are more than 700 surviving WACOs in existence. For a list of models and their manufacture date, please see the book WACO aircraft production, 1923- 1942 by Raymond H. Brandly (1986) TL686.W3 B72 1986. Scope and Content The collection is an invaluable photographic history of the WACO Aircraft Company from 1923 through WWII. Included are negatives and prints (mostly black and white) of aircraft and glider models, instrument panels, engines, owners with their WACOs, pilots (including Freddie Lund), company executives, and interior and exterior views of the WACO factory in Troy, Ohio.