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Auction: 317 - The Collector's Series
Lot: 441

Extraordinary Pitcairn Aircraft Archive.The Pitcairn Aircraft Company was an American aircraft manufacturer of light utility aircraft. An early proponent of the autogyro, the company, later known as the Autogyro Company of America among other names, would remain in business until 1948. Our consignor acquired the certificates for Pitcairn Aircraft and its related companies, and we offer them here as a single lot. Also included are some original brochures and advertising materials.

Harold F. Pitcairn (1897-1960) was an American aviation and pioneer and inventor. He played a key role in the development of the autogyro. He got his start in aviation as an apprentice at Curtiss.

What follows is a list of the companies in the archive, and how many issued (I), or unissued (U) certificates are present:

Pitcairn Aircraft, Inc. 34 (U); Pitcairn Aeronautics1929 fractional. 3 (I); Pitcairn Aeronautics plain preferred 3 (I), 97 (U); Pitcairn Aeronautics 1929 common. 4 (I), 96 (U); Autogiro Co. of America 1932-39. 17 (I), 31 (U); Pitcairn-Cierva Autogiro Co. of America 1930 common. 1 (I), 99 (U); Pitcairn-Cierva Autogiro Co. of America 1st preferred. 1930. 3 (I), 97 (U); Pitcairn-Cierva Autogiro Co. of America 2nd preferred. 1930-31. 19 (I), 80 (U); Autogiro Co. of America 1940 capital. 4 (I), 43 (U); Autogyro Specialties 1930-31. 19 (I), 81 (U); Autogyro Specialties. 46 (U); Autogiro Co. of America 1932 1st preferred. 1 (I), 49 (U); Autogiro Co. of America 1931-33 2nd preferred. 7 (I), 93 (U); Autogiro Co. of America class A common. 1 (I), 49 (U); Autogiro Co. of America class B common. 7 (I), 43 (U).

There are a total of 89 issued certificates and 938 unissued certificates. Most of the issued certificates in the archive are issued to Harold F. Pitcairn and signed by him as President.

As a point of reference, according to our consignor a single Pitcairn-Cierva Company of America 2nd preferred brought $400 in a Smythe sale about 15 years ago.

Estimate
$7,500 to $12,500