Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum in Cleveland

[cooper9411]

I knew about Goodyear donating their cockpit section to MAPS, but there is another group trying to bring a Corsair back. I'm still trying to remember who!

[tom d. friedman]

that place is on the skids financially. they've sold a number of artifacts out the back door to keep it afloat, meanwhile pissing off many donors. the crawford museum was a highly respected institution, but now is a victim of the poor economy. they've sold numerous priceless auto & aero artifacts to the dismay of many generous people who were guaranteed that their contributions would be their for posterity. they've re -negged numerous times within the last few years.

[Jerry O'Neill]

The unfortunate thing about people's perceptions when donating their items to a museum is that they believe their item is perhaps the most important artifact in the collection and expect it to, 1: be on display immediately, and 2: never leave the possession of the museum to which they donated it.

No matter what the staff may say, if there is not a written stipulation in the accession form stating that the artifact can never be sold nor given away unless the donor approves, then the museum can do anything they see fit to do with the artifact donated.

I know when I was a curator at the New England Air Museum (20 years ago!), we didn't accept anything that had "strings" attached unless it was on temporary or semi-permanent loan, or that it was something the museum curators believed was "very special" to the museum's mission or display needs.

With most museum's, even to this day, it's donor-be-ware if they think it will be in the collection for ever. They should choose the museum they items donate to carefully and understand the policies in place before making the donation.

NEAM caught some flak from members when they traded the Boeing 299Z to Tom Reilly, but that decision saved one aircraft (B-25H) from languishing outside in damaged pieces and put another B-17 in the air, though tragically, only for an all-to-brief period.

I'm not disagreeing with the way Crawford de-accessioned items, but unless it was in writing, nobody should be too upset. The museum business is tough and this economy isn't helping matters at all.

Blue skies,
Jerry

[cooper9411]

Just a sign of the times

[barnbstormer]

Across the grass from the CW hangar, at the Aviation Heritage Centre.


http://www.omaka.org.nz/

Hi Dave; I have been enjoying your NZ aviation website (Wings Over Cambridge)for a long time now.
For those of us, still unfamiliar, could you please describe what the "CW hangar" is and has? I googled it, with "Omaka" and the airpark, and even on your own website, but found no description? I'm well aware of the Aviation Heritage collection and its contents. I sent them my original Curtiss Seagull brochure and catalogue. But the CW abbreviation eludes me. Thanks, in advance.

[DaveM2]

Across the grass from the CW hangar, at the Aviation Heritage Centre.


http://www.omaka.org.nz/

Hi Dave; I have been enjoying your NZ aviation website (Wings Over Cambridge)for a long time now.
For those of us, still unfamiliar, could you please describe what the "CW hangar" is and has? I googled it, with "Omaka" and the airpark, and even on your own website, but found no description? I'm well aware of the Aviation Heritage collection and its contents. I sent them my original Curtiss Seagull brochure and catalogue. But the CW abbreviation eludes me. Thanks, in advance.

Hi. You have me confused with Dave Homewood, a buddy of mine who runs the excellent site you mention.

CW (Classic Wings magazine) operates on the top floor of a hangar opposite the AHC. Inside the hangar today there is a Stearman, Fleet 16B, Nieuport N.11 (replica) and an Aeronca, all of which are flyable. Other aircraft in various states of repair include the wreck of an historic Aeronca K (ex Antartica expedition), P-40 wreck from PNG, Penguin trainer, Pietenpol, Stinson frame plus sundries, some nice wings but a munted frame of a replica Fokker Triplane, the beginnings of a Sopwith Pup replica project and a nearly completed replica Nieuport 16.

regards
Dave

[tom d. friedman]

They sold their Curtiss Seagull seaplane (civilian, early 1920s) a year ago at auction for $500,000. Anybody know where it went to?

it was auctioned to a private collector. was originally flown from cleveland to cedar point amusement park which held a short time world record of near 70 miles east to west to sandusky. it will be static, not flying.

[barnbstormer]

My apologies for the incorrect assumption, Dave. And there is the Classic Wings info, right in your signature! (Can't seem to get that "embarrassed" smilie to work, here..) Thank you for your response.
Thanks so much for the info. I notice quite a few WWI aircraft projects there, in the ones that you mention. Been down to NZ a few times on aviation matters and loved it. (29 hour trip each way for us..) Wife & I had great fun with our cameo "in King Kong." AHC is certainly a World Class Collection and museum. Kudos to all involved..I suddenly have a thirst for some of that great NZ wine

[DaveM2]

My apologies for the incorrect assumption, Dave. And there is the Classic Wings info, right in your signature! (Can't seem to get that "embarrassed" smilie to work, here..) Thank you for your response.
Thanks so much for the info. I notice quite a few WWI aircraft projects there, in the ones that you mention. Been down to NZ a few times on aviation matters and loved it. (29 hour trip each way for us..) Wife & I had great fun with our cameo "in King Kong." AHC is certainly a World Class Collection and museum. Kudos to all involved..I suddenly have a thirst for some of that great NZ wine

And we don't mind 'Yanks' down this way either We are surrounded by vineyards here, infact if you wanted to put down due to engine failure around here, the sea would be the best bet!

I would agree that WWI aviation is becoming more and more popular here, largely due to TVAL of course. Look out for some spectacular additions this year. With the 100 year anniversaries coming up in a couple of years I expect that era to be even more high profile in the foreseebale future

regards
Dave