Convair Photograph Collection

Convair Photograph Collection, 1952-1957

Overview of the Collection

Photographer

General Dynamics Corporation. Convair Division

Title

Convair Photograph Collection

Dates

1952-1957 (inclusive)

Quantity

54 photographic prints ((1 box))

Collection Number

PH0593

Summary

1950s publicity photographs from the Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation and Convair

Repository

University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu

Access Restrictions

Open to the public.

Request at UW

Languages

English

Sponsor

Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

In 1923 the E.F. Gallaudet Aircraft Co. acquired patents and manufacturing rights from Dayton-Wright (U.S. Army Air Corps headquarters) and founded Consolidated Aircraft Corp. Consolidated Aircraft merged with Vultee Aircraft Corp. of San Diego, Calif., in 1941 and produced mostly military aircraft. The name was changed to Convair in 1943. Convair became a division of another military contractor, General Dynamics Corp., in 1953.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection consists of publicity photographs of Consolidated Vultee and Convair designs from the 1950s. It is divided into five sections: Commercial Airplanes, Military Airplanes, Production, Static Test Center, and Solar Furnace. The collection primarily contains photographs of military aircraft, including some showing the famous B-36 Peacemaker and B-58 Hustler bombers. The most well documented sections, however, are of experimental military designs, the Static Test Center, which tests metal fatigue, and the experimental "Solar Furnace" (solar-powered laser).

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

The collection has been compiled from items in the repository's transportation-related subject photographs file.

Processing Note

Processed by Tim Held, 2002.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Convair AirplanesReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/1	1	[Number not used]
1/1	2	Convair Skylark 600 airplane Convair (photographer) Artist's depiction.	Apr. 11, 1956
1/1	3-4	Convair Golden Arrow airplane Convair (photographer) Artist's depiction.	June 21, 1956

Military AirplanesReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/2	5	Convair R3Y flying boat hull section under construction Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp (photographer)	May 2, 1952
1/2	6	Convair flying boat hull section under construction Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp (photographer)
1/2	7	Convair R3Y-1 Tradewind flying boat Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp (photographer) Artist's depiction.	Mar. 25, 1953
1/2	8	Convair R3Y-1 Tradewind flying boat, first flight Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp (photographer)	Feb. 25, 1954
1/3	9	Convair C-131A Samaritan airplane cut-away model Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp (photographer)	Jan. 26, 1953
1/4	10-12	Convair XFY-1 experimental airplane in stages of launch sequence Convair (photographer)	Mar. 17, 1954
1/4	13	Convair XFY-1 experimental airplane tethered in hanger for initial flight trials with F. "Skeets" Colman as test pilot Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp (photographer)	June 17, 1954
1/4	14-19	Convair XFY-1 experimental airplane undergoing flight trials with test pilot J. F. "Skeets" Coleman at Brown and Moffett Naval Air Stations Convair (photographer)	Aug. 1, 1954
1/5	20-24	Convair F-102 Interceptor airplane undergoing flight tests at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp (photographer)	Feb. 27, 1954
1/5	25-30	Convair F-102A interceptor airplane undergoing flight tests with test pilot Richard Johnson at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and Lindberg Field, San Diego, Calif. Convair (photographer)	Jan. 5, 1955
1/6	31	Convair Terrier anti-aircraft guided missile launching from USS Mississippi Convair (photographer)	July 19, 1955
1/7	32-36	Convair XF2Y Sea Dart experimental navy fighter plane undergoing flight tests Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp (photographer)
1/8	37	Convair NB-36H airplane, the first aircraft to fly with an operating atomic reactor aboard Convair (photographer)	Aug. 6, 1956
1/9	38	Convair B-58 Hustler airplane, America's first supersonic bomber Convair (photographer)	Dec. 26, 1956

Convair ProductionReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/10	39	Convair Liner 340 under construction at the San Diego, Calif., plant Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp (photographer)	Aug. 28, 1952
1/10	40	Convair trisonic wind tunnel Convair (photographer) Artist's depiction.	Mar. 21, 1955
1/10	41	Convair electronically controlled milling machine Convair (photographer) Artist's depiction.	Mar. 28, 1955
1/10	42	Ellis Barron and Robert Whaling with the Convair "Addaverter" electronic and digital computer Convair (photographer)	May 14, 1957

Convair Static Test CenterReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/11	43-47	Convair Static Test Center, San Diego, Calif. Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp (photographer)	Jan. 6, 1953

Convair Solar FurnaceReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/12	48	Convair Solar Furnace, San Diego, Calif.	Apr. 15, 1954
1/12	49-51	Convair Solar Furnace in operation Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp (photographer)	Apr. 15, 1954
1/12	52	Display of ceramic materials burned in Convair's Solar Furnace Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp (photographer)	Apr. 15, 1954
1/12	53	Smoker demonstrates the solar furnace principle by lighting a cigarette with a flashlight reflector Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp (photographer)	Apr. 15, 1954
1/12	54	Solar Furnace made from a search light Convair (photographer)	May 26, 1955
1/12	55	Thermodynamic test specialist operating the solar furnace Convair (photographer)	May 26, 1955

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