Model Historian
Visits AMA

L-R: Sidney Bradd, John Jacox, and H.L. "Herm" Schreiner at the July 11
book-signing ceremony at the National Model Aviation Museum.

    Which came first: the airplane or the aviator? No matter what the answer is, history has marked the pointed occasions when aviation made a giant leap.

    Where would we be if Jimmy Doolittle said, "No way am I flying that funny-looking airplane!"? Maybe he thought it, but he rose to the challenge and rode the Granville Brothers Gee Bee racer into the history books.

    We have our heroes in aeromodeling too. One of them was Ed Packard, who founded the Cleveland Model & Supply Company.

    His fascination with aircraft and flight drove him to lead the modeling industry. The result was not only a successful career but also the legacy of instilling the love of aviation in millions of people through modeling.

    H.L. (Herm) Schreiner's book Aviation's Great Recruiter is an excellent account of Ed Packard and the Cleveland Model & Supply Company's 70-plus-year history. The 277-page volume uses actual accounts, historical photographs, and detailed illustrations to recognize this amazing individual's unwavering efforts and his dream to popularize aviation through modeling.

    AMA welcomed Mr. Schreiner at the National Model Aviation Museum July 11 while he passed through on a cross-country tour promoting his recent book release. His visit was a superb opportunity to meet an icon of aviation history and have a personal copy of his book autographed.

    As a man who knew everyone through aviation's Golden Age, he was happy to share stories about a few of his good friends, who included Charles Lindbergh and Orville Wright. Listening to his accounts was a moving experience.

    The conclusion of his all-too-short visit was met with a surprise presentation by John Jacox: the new owner of the Cleveland Model & Supply Company. He announced that the traditions of the company would live on and that plans were in place to begin releasing new products in the near future.

    Thank you, Mr. Schreiner, for taking the time to share your experiences with us. MA

 —Michael Ramsey
MA Associate Editor

Return to main In The Air page