Idlewild (JFK) Airport Air Traffic Control Tower, 1952

Originally called Idlewild Airport, it was renamed JFK Airport in 1963, after the President’s assassination. This workman-like, competent but hardly spectacular cutaway illustration by Sloane shows the 11-story so-called “supertower” that allowed air traffic controllers in the early Fifties to track and guide up to 1,000 aircraft a day (real capacity was likely much less).… Continue reading Idlewild (JFK) Airport Air Traffic Control Tower, 1952

Mercury Moll: Mrs. Linda Plannette

We’re barely out of the 1940s–1952, to be exact–and this lovely lady is presaging the Sixties already by wearing cut-off jeans shorts, no doubt called “dungarees” at that time.  She’s a missus, too:  Mrs. Linda Plannette.  Looks like a sunny but cool Spring day in Southern California, judging by the long sleeves.  My guess is… Continue reading Mercury Moll: Mrs. Linda Plannette

Turtle Personal Tank, 1952

Turtle Personal Tank 1952

As far as I know, this one-man tank never left the mind of Les G. Scherer. Scherer designed this personal-sized tank to weigh 7,000 pounds, pack two .30 caliber machine guns, and have 650 ports arrayed around the driver with each port containing a shotgun shell that could be electrically fired.  Main selling point of… Continue reading Turtle Personal Tank, 1952

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