Of Rockets, Books, and Men

 This week we take a look at a book. (why did I suddenly go into Dr. Seuss mode?) Anyway, I just finished this book written by Vern Estes and his daughter, Betty Estes Geer. 

If you were a kid in the 50s and 60s the space race was pretty all consuming. Space was featured on TV, toys, hobbies, and even international politics. In the late 50s, kids were handling (and igniting) dangerous chemicals in metal tubes to get their own space programs going. Unfortunately, there is a fine line between what they were making and a pipe bomb, and several kids were very badly hurt and even killed. Early hobby rockets sought to take care of that issue by producing safe kits made from lightweight materials (cardboard, balsa wood) that used single use replaceable rocket motors. G. Harry Stine and Orville Carlisle invented the system, but it took Vern Estes to create a workable company to produce and promote them.

I can remember reading my cousin's Estes catalog (I think it was the 1972 catalog 1972 Estes Catalog) and being thrilled with the wonders in it! A year or so later, my journey into model rockets began!

This book looks at the founding of the largest model rocket company in the world, Estes Industries and the blood sweat and tears (literally) that went into it. 

The title, "Dear Mr. Estes" is based on the general premise of the structure of the book, which is a young rocketeer (much like a Mouseketeer, but with fewer ear hats) would write to Vern and ask him about some aspect of the founding of the company, and he would reply with a chapter of the book. It's an interesting idea, but I don't think the book gains much from it; especially when you learn that several of the "letters" were based on memories of letters he received over the years and not actual mail. Still, it works.

The book is a pretty easy read, although it's fairly clear that the authors are not overly polished in the writing game (Vern himself says he didn't do well in English classes as school). Still, it's interesting info, especially to a kid from the 60s. 

I found out things I didn't know. For example, Vern shares how "Mable," their rocket engine making machine got it's name and how it almost killed not one, but two operators. Most of the facts were less exciting, though, but the story of the family's journey from a building contractor business in Denver to a small model rocket business in Penrose is worth the read.

So, I recommend this book, available on Amazon. 

By the way, the rocket in this picture was produced by the Semroc model rocket company a few years ago. It's based on the cover art from an early Estes catalog. VF-261 means "Vern's Fantasy February, 1961"

Until next time, keep searching for treasure!