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Advertising ➔ Piper & Stinson Sign
Identifier:
1989.40.2Description:
Horizontal metal sign. Top border is yellow, central area is blue, bottom border is yellow. Block letters. Bolts at each corner. Sign reads: 'Central Air Service/Dealer/Piper &/Stinson/Sales & Service';place: Central Air Service, old Grand Rapids Airport.;Belonged to donor's uncles, Floyd & Ross Becker, owners of Central Air Service, Grand Rapids, MI..;Belonged to donor's uncles, Floyd & Ross Becker, owners of Central Air Service, Grand Rapids, MI.Date:
1934 – 1956Materials:
Metal, PaintDimensions:
36" h 72" w 1" dCurrent Location Status:
In StorageCollection Tier:
Tier 2Source:
Gift Of Susan LedyRelated Entities:
Ledy, Susan (donor) Gerald R. Ford International Airport (is related to)Alternate names: Kent County Airport, Kent County International Airport Central Air Service (used by)
Central Air Service was owned by Floyd and Ross Becker and was originally founded in Battle Creek, Michigan. After being convinced that Grand Rapids would be more promising, the Becker brothers moved their business to the old airport in 1934. Stinson Aircraft Corporation (identified by)
Alternate names: Piper & Stinson
Eddie Stinson was a barnstormer and stunt pilot who learned to fly under the instruction of the Wright Brothers. He would go on to establish his own flight school in San Antonio, Texas, where he trained Canadian and American pilots. In 1920 he went into business manufacturing aircraft himself in Dayton, Ohio. He would soon move his headquarters to Detroit, Michigan, at the site of the present Detroit Metropolitan Airport. While still working as a stunt pilot, Stinson released the SM-1 Detroiter. The company would also produce the Stinson Reliant, the first aircraft preferred by corporate executives, as well as the Voyager, which would be adopted by the U.S. Army during World War II. Following Stinson's death, the company was bought by the Piper Aircraft Corporation.