Painted Aviation Objects

Art Deco / midcentury large DC3 desk aviation model. Pan-Am wooden airplane model. It was in an office of the company in South America. Very good restored conditions. Slight age wear. History Pan American Airways began the first transatlantic passenger service on this day in 1939. Pan American World Airways, as it was to be known, commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal United States international air carrier from the late 1920s until its collapse on December 4, 1991. Founded in 1927 as a scheduled air mail and passenger service operating between Key West, Florida, and Havana, Cuba, the airline became a major company credited with many innovations that shaped the international airline industry, including the widespread use of jet aircraft, jumbo jets, and computerized reservation systems. The history of Pan American Airways is inextricably linked to the expansive vision and singular effort of one man – Juan Trippe. An avid flying enthusiast and pilot, Trippe, only 28 years old when he founded the airline, lined up wealthy investors and powerful government officials from his personal acquaintances in the high-society of the 1920s. However, Pan Am’s first flight was an inauspicious start to its epic saga. In 1927, facing a Post Office deadline for the commencement of mail carriage, Pan Am had no working equipment for its sole airmail contract between Key West and Havana. Fortunately for Pan Am, a pilot with his Fairchild seaplane arrived at Key West and was willing to carry the mail to Cuba for the start up operation. It is fitting that Pan Am’s first flight would be over water, since the airline would Pioneer overseas routes throughout its history. Pan Am’s fortunes took a turn for the better in the fall of 1927. Through the heavy lobbying efforts of Juan Trippe, Pan Am was selected by the United States government to be its “chosen instrument” for overseas operations. Pan Am would enjoy a near monopoly on international routes. Added to Pan Am’s Cuba route were lines serving Mexico, Central America, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Puerto Rico. Most of these destinations were port cities, which could be reached only by landing on water. Therefore Pan Am made good use of its “flying boats,” the Sikorsky S-38 and S-40. Flights were eventually expanded to serve much of South America as well. EnlargePan Am’s fleet of Clippers allowed the airline to conquer the Pacific in the mid-1930s. The flying boats would later be put to military use in WWII. Just a few years later, Pan Am launched its effort to cross the world’s largest oceans. Survey flights across the Pacific were conducted with the Sikorsky S-42 in 1935, but passenger service required bigger and better aircraft. Accompanied by much fanfare, the Martin M-130 was introduced in 1936, followed by the Boeing 314...

This extremely rare example of World War II-era Art Deco/Moderne design, produced by the Chad Valley Company in England, served as a coin bank, with a slot on one side to accept coins by young men and women motivated to save their pennies. The painted metal bank...

Francesco Baracca (Lugo, 9 maggio 1888 – Nervesa, 19 giugno 1918) è stato il principale asso dell'aviazione italiana durante la prima guerra mondiale, nel corso della quale gli venne...

This handcrafted Folk Art model of a Lancaster Bomber is signed on the base, but the artist could not be identified so is posted as Unknown. This wooden airplane model...

This vintage back glass was made by Genco of the United States for their 'Four Aces" military inspired pinball arcade game. The back glass is presumably silk screened in multiple col...

Folk Art, hand executed modernist, Art deco Airplane sculpture with hand built and painted trinket box.

1930s Folk Art, wood and metal airplane / fan... amazing design, working motorized fan blade, hand build and hand painted.

Midcentury advertising mirror "Airliner" San Telmo Cigar Co. Bay City Michigan on a chain Some wear on the edges.

This vintage back glass was made by Exhibits of the United States and titled "Contacts" in 1939 in the period Art Deco style. This back glass depicts bi-planes flying around an aircr...

Mid-century large-scale wood carved Folk Art Cargomaster C-133A. An actual barn find discovered in Washington State farm country. Hand-carved and painted. Two pieces: wing piece atta...