Circa 1938 Los Angeles Mobil Gas Station with airplane

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

I remember an old thread on this one but I can't find it. Not sure if this was the same photo posted or not!

JDK · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:47 am

Neato!

Nice find bdk. I'd certainly fuel up my Model T there.

The Inspector · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2009 2:50 am

That was a FOKKER 32 formerly operated by WESTERN AIR EXPRESS (later Western Airlines, nice job on that one Neil Burgdt) It featured four engines two back to back on each side. WAE had to install catch cages around the rear propellers as occasionally an engine would toss a rocker box cover and a few passengers wound up getting hit as the rear prop fired it into the cabin through the fabric. I think the gas station in question was on Wilshire and Hollywood Blvd. Oh, and BDK, that's a Model A

The Inspector · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2009 2:53 am

Sorry-JDK not BDK is my Freudian slip showing?

JDK · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2009 4:19 am

I'm the tall thin one in upper case, bdk's the other guy.

I didn't even know it were a Ford. :roll:

I wonder how many four engine aircraft had that configuration? Only other one I can think of is one of the French bombers - the Farman F.223 - first to bomb Berlin, IIRC.

ww2John · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2009 8:32 am

Always something new to learn here, in this case about the a/c and the engine/prop configuration.
Thanks.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2009 8:35 am

Is it me or are there some lines there that look similar to the B-24? What an interesting airplane.

rreis · **Joined:** Tue Aug 04, 2009 4:42 pm **Posts:** 441

JDK wrote:

I'm the tall thin one in upper case, bdk's the other guy.

I didn't even know it were a Ford. :roll:

I wonder how many four engine aircraft had that configuration? Only other one I can think of is one of the French bombers - the Farman F.223 - first to bomb Berlin, IIRC.

Some of the WWI german giants also had forward and backward. And several Farman types, especially the famous Farman Goliath (which should be the best representative of the French airliner of the early 20s)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farman_F.60_Goliath

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

My favorite non-authenticated source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fokker_F.32

Thanks for the aircraft ID The Inspector, but no thanks for accusing me of not only being JDK but also not being able to identify a Model A vs. a Model T! :wink:

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

Where is the DELETE button?

Chris Brame · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:49 pm

There was a shot of this plane in the 1937 movie The Stand-In during a scene where Leslie Howard is being driven around Hollywood and sees all the "themed" buildings; it showed the props turning slowly. The 1942 film International Squadron has a shot of it (or a sister ship) in the background painted up as a German transport.

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

Apparently there were a couple of them based at (or rotting at) Alhambra Airport during that time period.

rreis · **Joined:** Tue Aug 04, 2009 4:42 pm **Posts:** 441

I also remember seing a patent for this kind of stuff...

from here: http://patentroom.com/portable-gasoline-filling-station

airnutz · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2009 4:54 pm

bdk wrote:

I remember an old thread on this one but I can't find it. Not sure if this was the same photo posted or not!

Yep, I remember the thread but can't find it either. The photos I'm thinking of were from a
university or municipal collection from your neck of the woods Brandon. They were high rez
with a zoom accessory..top shelf..you could count rivets. :wink:

I'll dig a bit..

The Inspector · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2009 5:20 pm

Sorry about the mis-identification BDK, I always thought you were a Studebaker man- :wink:

Warbird Information Exchange

Circa 1938 Los Angeles Mobil Gas Station with airplane

Who is online