 | |
| Founded | 1922 (1922) inGlendale California |
|---|---|
| Founders | |
| Defunct | 1957 (1957) |
| Fate | Merged with International Glass |
| Headquarters | , |
| Subsidiaries | Timm Industries, Inc |
The O.W. Timm Aircraft Company was an American aircraft manufacturer founded byOtto William Timm, based inLos Angeles, California.
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Between 1911 and 1922O.W. Timm built several aircraft with varying success before he founded, in 1922, the O.W. Timm Aircraft Company. Timm manufactured six models of a parasol design, the Collegiate. In 1934 Otto and his brotherWally Timm joined to form a new company named theTimm Airplane Company to produce the Timm T-S140, a high wing twin engine aircraft using new features developed atNACA such as flaps and tricycle landing gear.[1] Wally Timm formed his own Glendale based aviation company later on, the Wally Timm Inc.[2]
The company developed a "plastic" material made of resin and wood similar to theDuramold process. The Duramold and Haskelite process was first developed in 1937. Followed byGene Vidal's Weldwood and later the Aeromold process. The Aeromold process differs in that it is baked at a low 100 °F (38 °C) at cutting and forming, and 180 °F (82 °C) for fusing together sections after the resins are added.[3]
In 1939, at the onset of World War II, the company operated as theTimm Aircraft Corporation, building the PT160K trainer prototype using the aeromold process. By 1941, the U.S Navy ordered the aeromoldN2T-1 with a production run reaching 260 aircraft along with other small aircraft parts made of the aeromold process. Profits increased to $70,000 from $240 the year prior.[4] The company also license-built 436 of theCG-4A glider used by allied troops.[5] A Plywood construction variant, the CG-4B was developed by Timm in case of material shortages, but did not go into production.[6]
In some episodes of the 1941 movie serial,Sky Raiders, aircraft hangars of Timm Aircraft Corporation are clearly visible. They were located adjacent to theVan Nuys Airport inVan Nuys, Los Angeles.
After World War II, the company specialized in returning surplusDouglas C-47 aircraft back into airliner configurations.[7] The company also created a subsidiary, Timm Industries, Inc to manufacturevending machines such as the Frank-O-Matic and Coca-Cola bottle dispensers.[8]
By 1948, production had ceased to the point where the company leased out its production facilities to theMarquardt Corporation, a maker of Ramjet engines.[9]
In 1953, a proxy war among shareholders was started, with C. D. Rudolph winning control of the board. The company did not produce any new aircraft after this point.[10] In 1957, the company merged with the International Glass Corporation.[11]
| Model name | First flight | Number built | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timm Skylark | 1923 | 1 | Twin engine biplane transport |
| Timm Argonaut | 1927 | 1 | Single engine cabin biplane |
| Timm Curtiss Pusher replica | 1927 | 2 | Single engine biplane |
| Timm Aircoach | 1928 | 1 | Single engine cabin biplane |
| Timm Collegiate | 1928 | 8 | Single engine sport monoplane |
| Timm T-S140 | 1934 | 1 | Twin engine monoplane transport |
| Timm 160 | 1937 | 4 | Single engine sport monoplane |
| Timm Aerocraft 2AS | 1938 | 1 | Single engine monoplane trainer |
| Timm T-840 | 1938 | 1 | Twin engine monoplane transport |
| Timm S-160 | 1940 | 1 | Prototype single engine monoplane trainer |
| Timm PT-160-K | 1941 | 1 | Prototype single engine monoplane trainer |
| Timm PT-175-L | 1941 | 1 | Prototype single engine monoplane trainer |
| Timm PT-220-C | 1941 | 1 | Prototype single engine monoplane trainer |
| Timm N2T Tutor | 1941 | 262 | Single engine monoplane trainer |
| Timm AG-2 | 1940s | 0 | Unbuilt assault glider |
| Timm CG-4A | 1942 | 434 | License built assault glider |
| Timm CG-4B | 1943 | 1 | License built assault glider |
| Timm monoplane | 1 |
