Genesis of Model Rocketry, 1957
Letters between G. Harry Stine and Orville Carlisle (and others) from early 1957
The magazine article that started a worldwide hobby: Mechanix Illustrated, February 1957 issue.
Orville Carlisle responds to the article in a letter to Stine, dated January 23, 1957. Hw introduces himself and his invention, the Rock-a-Chute.
Harry writes back with some safety and reliability tips and confirms his interest in receiving samples in this letter from January 28.
Carlisle gives his background and explains the origins of the Rock-a-Chute in a letter dated January 31.
A few days later, Carlisle ships rockets and motors to Stine, accompanied by this letter giving detailed instructions.
Stine witnesses his first model rocket flights and sends his impressions to Carlisle on February 10.
The same day, Stine sends a rundown of the events of the past few days to Larry Sanders, his editor at Mechanix Illustrated.
Stine writes Carlisle again on the 12th, tells him more about his and his colleagues’ experiences with the rockets, makes suggestions, and asks for more motors.
Stine and Carlisle had their first phone conversation on the 13th. The next day both men send letters to each other with more ideas about how to improve both rocket airframes and motors. Carlisle explains how he can create multi-stage rockets. Carlisle’s letter. Stine’s letter.