The Last Lunken...

[gptjr]

I recently became the steward of a 1939 65LA. The data plate indicates it was built at Lunken on Dec 4, 1939. I understand that production started at Middletown in 1940. So, when did production at Lunken actually end? Could my plane be "The Last Lunken", or perhaps Aeronca continued to use their stockpile of Lunken data plates after the flood... what happened to production between the 1937 flood and the move to Middletown? This period of time is really murky, just wondered if anyone has details...

[Paul Agaliotis]

I think the plates were used until they were gone. I looked at the drawing for the 7AC plates and it says Lunkin Field.
Paul

[gptjr]

Well, that's plausible, but I still wonder where my plane was made. Did things at Lunken come to a halt after the flood, and recommence only after the move to Middletown in early 1940, or perhaps they cleaned up what they could and finished some planes at Lunken until the new factory was ready... I don't know, but this period, between the flood in 1937 and the move to Middletown in 1940 is glossed over in most of what I have read.

[Paul Agaliotis]

Check with Cincinnati about the flood. I don't think any operations were continued there after the flood.
Paul

[gptjr]

I found a brief comment in the Bob Hollenbaugh & John Houser book (Aeronca, A Photo History)-they mention that after the flood (Jan. 1937), production restarted in April (1937). So for a couple of months production was stopped, then restarted until the move to Middletown in 1940. That doesn't prove my plane is the last made in Cincinnati, but it must have been near the end of the line...