The Freedman-Burnham Engineering Corporation was a manufacturer of light aircraft propellers located in Cincinnati, Ohio.
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1937 |
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters | , United States |
Key people | Donald B. Miller[1] (Chief Engineer) |
| Revenue | $500,000+ (mid 1940s[2]) |
Number of employees | 16[3] (1937) |
History
editThe Freedman-Burnham Engineering Corporation was founded in 1937 after Gordon L. Freedman, a student at Tri-State College in Angola, Indiana went into business with his professor, Walter E. Burnham.[4][3] Their new product debuted at the Chicago Air Show in 1937.[5] The company was originally located in Detroit, Michigan, but later moved to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1938.[6][7]
After moving to the city, it set up shop on the third floor of the Daylight Building at 659 East Sixth Street. However, in 1941 the company moved to the fifth floor due to the need for additional space to accommodate increased production.[8][9]
Burnham left the company in 1944 and went to work for the Beech Aircraft Corporation.[10] Following his departure, the company's assets were sold at auction in 1946.[11] It moved to Michigan that same year.[1]
Products
editIts propellers were somewhat unusual in that they were both wood and adjustable pitch.[9] Wood was chosen over metal as the latter was seen to be too heavy and too expensive.[4][12] By 1943, it was producing propeller blades from plastic impregnated wood manufactured by the Formica Insulation Company.[13]
References
edit- ^ a b "Donald Miller Promoted by Aircraft Firm". Altoona Tribune. 26 March 1947. p. 7. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ Freedman Burnham Engineering Corporation and International Association of Machinists, A. F. of L., 62 Decisions and Orders 9–R–1820 (National Labor Relations Board 12 June 1945).
- ^ a b Helmer, Bob (3 November 1940). "Along Aviation Lanes". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 15. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ a b Helmer, Bob (11 June 1939). "Along Aviation Lanes". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 14. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ Burnham, Walter E. (December 1942). "Controllable Propellers for Lightplanes". Flying. pp. 58–60, 140. The article is available from a page on the website Not Plane Jane. The name of the magazine is not mentioned, but the style matches that of Flying.
- ^ "Top Performance". Aero Digest. March 1938. p. 41. The article is available from a page on the website Not Plane Jane. The name of the magazine is not mentioned, but the style matches that of Aero Digest.
- ^ "Aviation Lanes". Cincinnati Enquirer. 2 January 1938. p. 18. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ Smith, Kirby C. (20 August 1939). "Along Aviation Lanes". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 7. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ a b Helmer, Bob (22 December 1940). "Along Aviation Lanes". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 12. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ "W. Burnham, Pioneer in Aviation Dies". Wichita Eagle. 9 February 1976. p. 2A. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ "Auction". Cincinnati Enquirer. 28 April 1946. p. 15. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ Freedman, Gordon L. (June 1939). "Development and Productions of the New Freedman-Burnham Propeller". Aero Digest. pp. 73, 74, 77, 78. The article is available from a page on the website Not Plane Jane. The name of the magazine is not mentioned, but can be confirmed via a newspaper article in the Angola Herald.
- ^ "Cincinnati Company Producing Propeller of Impregnated Wood for Air Forces". Cincinnati Enquirer. 3 August 1943. p. 16. Retrieved 2 September 2021.