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Andrew Carnegie Letter & Corresponding Lockheed Historical Context

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:400.00 USD Estimated At:600.00 - 1,200.00 USD
Andrew Carnegie Letter & Corresponding Lockheed Historical Context
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CA. In 1900, Berton Rodman was driving near Santa Barbara, California, when he saw a man stuck in the mud along the side of the road. When he stopped to assist, he saw that the man driving the moored vehicle was none other than Andrew Carnegie. Upon helping the car exit the mud, Carnegie gratefully offered Rodman the Carnegie Medal, awarded to those who have risked their lives in saving or attempting to save others. Rodman refused, despite Carnegie's insistence. Rodman and Carnegie went on to become friends, with Rodman working as his chauffeur for a brief time. Lot includes a 1910 letter (including autograph) from Andrew Carnegie to his colleague, Chas. L. Taylor, remarking on how much he enjoyed having Rodman as his chauffer, "I found him in all respects perfect, never had a more delightful experience..." It was through Carnegie that Rodman met Chas. L. Taylor, who was then the President of the Carnegie New Fund Commission. The two men went into business together, and formed the Western Machine and Foundry Company in 1911, with Rodman as President, Taylor as Vice President. Lot includes two letters on Western Foundry letterhead, written by Rodman to Taylor. Lot also includes a 1952 newspaper article on Lockheed Aircraft Corporation's Management Club dinner which honored "Old-Timers" from the pre-World War Lockheed Company, with Bert Rodman highlighted and photographed in the piece. The paper goes on to state that Rodman was President of the Loughead Aircraft Manufacturing Company (the predecessor to Lockheed). The company went out of business in 1920, however was revived in 1926 by Allen Lockheed and John K. Northrop, eventually becoming the behemoth known today as Lockheed Martin. To summarize, lot includes: 1910 letter with autograph from Andrew Carnegie; An envelope addressed to B. R. Rodman with Taylor as the sender; Two letters on Western Machine and Foundry Company letterhead, written by Bert Rodman to Chas. Taylor; Two photographs of a Victory Liberty Loan medallion with Bert Rodman's name engraved as the recipient; Two copies of a photograph placed on cardstock (one of the men may be Rodman, but difficult to determine); And a photograph of an early plane (perhaps a Lockheed model). Unique lot of rare items with a fascinating and undisputable historical context.