Early Model Rocket Timeline

For the past 3 years I have been collecting information about the early
history of model rocketry. I am a firm beleiver that this infomation should
not be lost to potential future generations of Model Rocketers. I feel by
placing it here in RMR along with several others online sources, it will
survive digitally into the future.
This current lsiting is incomplete. It is NOT meant to be the last word on
our history. As I gather more data I will add the new and additional
information. I hope all of you will enjoy this. If anybody has any
additional timeline points they know or think would be of interest on this
timeline, please email me offline.
Terry Dean
aka shockie B)
Historical Model Rocketry Timeline...Version 2 9/2005
5-6/52 G.Harry Stine graduates from Colorado College in Colorado,Springs,CO
with a B.A. In Physics
1953 Robert(Bob) Carlisle (NAVAL Reserve pilot) approaches his brother Orv
with the idea of a model rocket for use in his lectures on the history of
aviation presentation.
8/30/54 Orv H. Carlisle applies for Toy Rocket Patent #2,841,084
1955 G.Harry Stine goes to work at White Sands
5/6 1956 Lee(Leroy) Piester future owner of Centuri Enginnering graduates
from high school.
1/57 G.Harry Stine receives 1st letter from Orv.H. Carlisle after Carlise
read 2/57 G.Harry Stine article titled, "Conquest of Space",in Mechanix
Illustrated.
2/57 G.Harry Stine article appears in Mechanix Illustrated
2/57 G.Harry Stine Receives Orv Carlisle Rock-A-Chute package in the mail.
3-5/57 G.Harry Stine and Orv H. Carlisle INDEPENDENTLY develop electrical
ignition systems for Model Rockets. Also during this time frame, Orv H.
Carlise and G.Harry Stine jointly(?) develops first multi-staged model
rocket, called the Parabee.
SUMMER 1957 G.Hary Stine and Orv H. Carlisle meet for the first time.
SUMMER 1957 G.Harry Stine and Orv H. Carlisle get BOE approval for model
rockets motors as ICC Class C Toy Propellant Devices.
9/57 Dope Can notice about Model Rockets appears in AM magazine
10/57 Sputnik 1 is Launched
10/57 Mechanix Illustrated Article about 1st Model Rockets called
Rock-A-Chutes published; titled, " Shoot Your Own", by G.Harry Stine. The
article begins: " Amateur Rocketeers who have been waiting for a chance to
shoot their own rockets skyward may be just a step away from lighting the
fuse"
10/57 Model Missile,Inc is formed by G.Harry Stine,and Orv H. Carlise.
10/57 G.Harry Stine with the help of Orv H. Carlisle get Lawrence and
Herbert Brown (Father/Son) of Brown Manufacturing (Zenith Fireworks)to make
the Rock-a-chute Model rocket motors.
11/57 The Model Missile Assn was formed by G. Harry Stine
(predecessor to NAR) The Model Missile Association was incorporated on
November 5, 1957 with original signers Orville H. Carlisle, G. Harry
Stine,and Barbara K. Stine. [That's the date on the notarized articles.] The
filing date was November 7, 1957. The three signers were designated as the
founding trustees of the Association.
11/57 Sputnik 2 was launched
EARLY 1958 "Handling the Amateur Rocketry Problem" by the NFPA FOUNDER is
published
1/58 1st meeting of the MMA takes place in the Hammond Organ Studio on
ColoradoBlvd.; Denver, CO; 150 people attended and 100 people signed on as
charter members. Werner Von Braun was both an ARS member and a NAR member (#
18) ( As G.Harry Stine also was an ARS member)
1/58 "Skip" and Richard.D Keller, G.Harry Stine's Father and Brother-in-laws
invest in Model Missiles,Inc
2/58 First issue of Model Rocketeer published.
4/58 First MMI "Aerobee-Hi" Model Rocket Kit 001 becomes available
4/58 American Modeler magazine article about model rockets By G.Harry Stine,
titled, "The Do-It-Yourself Rocketters". The Cover states: Safety's the
Watchword with the Model Misile Association: The Do-It=Yourself Rocketeers."
Has some extensive anti-AR propaganda in article.
5/58 American Modeler magazine article by G.Harry Stine about MMI Model
Missiles Inc the worlds first Model Rocket company titled, "Manufacturing
Model MIssiles Sounds As Difficult As Turning Out Real "Birds"."
7/1/58 Orv H. Carlisle receives patent # 2,841.084 on "Toy Rocket"
7/58 Vernon Estes walks into MMI offices and announces he can make model
rocket motors "better and cheaper."
7/58 Vernon Estes starts work on creating "MABEL-1".
9/58 Positive review of Rock-A-Chutes in AM magazine by Cal Smith titled, "
Smith & Smith try Aerobee-HI"
10/58 MMA becomes NAR->On October 25, 1958 an amendment to the articles of
incorporation was filed with the state of Colorado to change the name of the
association to the National Association of Rocketry, define the Board of
Trustees as a body not to exceed thirteen members, and to define Junior,
Senior, and Honorary membership classes.
11/58 The ARS report/study is done based on the NFPA Report data from early
1958. The propaganda war against Amateur Rocketry begins in full force.
12/58 Another positive article about Model Rocketry by G.Harry Stine titled,
"Colorado's Little Canaveral".
1958 Reaction Motors,Inc merges with Thiokol Chemical
1/59 Vern Estes' "MABEL-1" spits out 1st Model Rocket Motor for MMI
1/59 Model Rocket article titled, " Jupiter-C" appears in Flying Models
magazine, authored by Eugene Thomas.
1/59 ARS passes the following Motion:
"The American Rocket Society reaffirms its strong stand in opposition to any
amateur experimentation whatsoever with rocket propellants or rocket
propellant materials of any kind."
Early 1959: the ARS report "Amateur Rocketry; A Delineation of the Problem ,
a Policy Statement and a Program for Action by the American Rocket Society"
is published.
2/59 G.Harry Stine, MMI and model rockets are discussed in Congressional
Record by James. G. Fulton , rep. from PA.
5/16/59 Ist NAR Model Rocket Competition held Hogback Range Green Mountain
Denver,CO
July 24, 1959 Vernon Estes applied for "Toy Model Rocket" patent #
3,125,955.
July 30, 1959 G.Harry Stine loses control of MMI at a board meeting to
Richard D. Keller.
8/59 issue of AM magazine publishes article entitled, "Rocket College for
Model Makers", an amateur rocket seminar series hosted by Capt. Bertrand R.
Brinley, held in NY and Washington,DC.
EARLY 1960 Estes Industries,Inc is formed and 1st Estes Industries catalog
is published
July 1960 G.Harry Stine moves to New Canaan, Connecticut in with only a
minority shareholders interest in the company.
8/60 NARAM-2 held in Colorado Springs,CO
1961 Centuri Enginneering starts up.
6/7 1961 Estes Industries moves from Denver,CO to Penrose,CO