National Air Races | Glossary | Medallic Art Collector

Description

The medal's obverse bears art deco style bust of a pilot in a leather flying helmet with laurel leaf crown, up-turned wings behind pilot, star above. To left and right of pilot, around edge, THE OLYMPIAD - OF THE AIR; signed at lower left, OSKAR J W HANSEN Sc.

The medal's reverse bears relief of two art deco style winged pilot figures in flight above tower. Above, CHICAGO; Along background arc, 1930 NATIONAL - AIR RACES - 10TH ANNIVERSARY

Oskar Hansen (1892-1971) designed this art deco bronze medal to celebrate the 1930 National Air Races that took place in Chicago. It was the 10th anniversary of the races and the first year for The Thompson Trophy. Hansen is best known for his bronze works in connection with The Hoover Dam.

This medal measures 63mm (2.5in) in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References: MACo 1930-053

Medal Details

This section contains a table of detailed medal information. Currently, I am not aware of any variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any or if you find incorrect or missing information.

material	Bronze
edge6
diameter	63mm
mintage	unknown

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 16:44

Bronze with brown patina

Description

The obverse bears a central pylon flanked by two aircraft and two Art Deco-style winged heads. Above, NATIONAL AIR RACES / 1932; below, MERITORIOUS / PARTICIPATION / AWARD.

The reverse shows a Bellanca P200 plane in front of clouds. Above, HAPPY LANDINGS; below, PRESENTED BY / MISS FIDELITY / HOME PORT / WHEELINGS WEST VIRGINIA.

The Bellanca P200 airbus was built for $45,000 for the Fidelity Investment Company of Wheeling, West Virginia. It was one of nine built by the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation of New Castle, Delaware, and was one of the most advanced and economic commercial airplanes of its day. In 1934 federal regulations prohibited single engine transports on United States airlines, virtually eliminating the airbus' market. In Canada the P200 and its successor, the P300, were used into the 1970's to ferry ore, supplies and the occasional passenger from and to remote northern mining sites.

One of these small medals was awarded to every participant of the 1932 National Air Races held in Cleveland. The winged heads on this medal are reminiscent of Oskar Hansen's better known Olympiad of the Air medal from two years earlier.

The medal measures 36.7mm (1.5in) in diameter and was struck in bronze in an unknown mintage.

Variant Details

This section contains a table of detailed variant information. Currently, I am only aware of 2 variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any others or if you find incorrect or missing information.

material	Bronze
patina	Bronze with brown patina
edge6
diameter	36.7mm
weight	15.5g
mintage	unknown

material	Silver
edge6
diameter	36.7mm
weight	18.3g
mintage	unknown

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 16:39

Description

The medal's obverse bears a rendering of the Thompson Trophy with a figure of Icarus at center, surrounded by ten stars with two single engine planes flying across from left to right. Around,on a raised band, a 2 line legend detailing the names of the trophy winners through 1941. Rx: At top are the company logos and below an inscription: DOUG / DAVIS - SPEED / HOLMAN - LOWELL / BAYLES - JIMMIE / DOOLITTLE - JIMMIE / WEDELL - ROSCOE / TURNER - HAROLD / NEUMANN - MICHEL / DETROYAT - RUDY / KLING - THE / THOMPSON / THROPHY.

The reverse bears corporate logos of Thompson Products and Thompson Aircraft Products Companies over oak branch; at bottom, aircraft parts. Across, COMMEMORATING / THE DEDICATION OF THE PLANT OF/THOMPSON AIRCRAFT PRODUCTS COMPANY, EUCLID OHIO, / SUBSIDIARY OF/ THOMPSON PRODUCTS, INC. / CLEVELAND, - OHIO, / U·S·A; around bottom, A.D. - 1941.

The Thompson Trophy came about when a volunteer at the first National Air Races in 1929 approached Mr. Lee Clegg of the Thompson Products to see whether he might sponsor an award. Clegg was amenable to the idea and purchased a trophy for the sum of $25 plus $10 for the engraving. After the races were a smashing success, Clegg suggested that the National Aeronautic Association authorize a permanent Thompson Trophy and that was done. A committee of judges then chose Walter Sinz's design which is depicted on the medal's obverse.

The trophy was awarded 11 times before 1941 but Roscoe Turner won it three times.

The circular medal measures 89mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. Neither artist nor mintage are reported and any additional information would be highly welcome.

Medal Details

This section contains a table of detailed medal information. Currently, I am not aware of any variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any or if you find incorrect or missing information.

material	Bronze
edge6
diameter	89.5mm
weight	245.5g
mintage	unknown

Last modified: Nov 30, 2017 09:51

Description

The medal bears a flying eagle and nude man, holding GOODYEAR banner in eft and small plane in right, over swirling clouds. Above, NATIONAL AIR RACES; below, GOODYEAR TROPHY RACE; to right, signed (monogram PRC).

Chambellan did a lot of work for Goodyear. In addition to this trophy medallion, he designed several medals for Goodyear dealers and business partners.

It is not known when Chambellan designed this medal but it was first awarded in 1947. The Goodyear Trophy Race was a newly introduced event at the Cleveland National Air Races in 1947. At the end of the first post-war Cleveland National Air Races, a lot of specators had walked out because the ex-military airplanes were too similar and as a consequence the races were not as exciting to watch as the pre-war competitions that had sported highly individual racing airplanes. The organizers resurrected an old idea for small, low-powered, custom-built "midget" airplanes that could race around a smaller track closer to the spectators. The Goodyear Trophy Race was born.

There is no information about the medal itself that I could locate and I would appreciate any help. My copy is mounted an a 268mm x 200mm (10.5in x 7 7/8in) wooden board with a name plate reading ROBERT S. HOPKINS / RACE PLANE BUILDER / 1947.

References: MACo 1947-023

Medal Details

This section contains a table of detailed medal information. Currently, I am not aware of any variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any or if you find incorrect or missing information.

material	Bronze
edge6
mintage	unknown

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 16:20