Space Exploration

Space Exploration

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 17.  X-248 ALTAIR ANIMATED LIGHT-UP CONTRACTOR'S ADVERTISING MODEL, HERCULES POWDER CO., CA 1960.

X-248 ALTAIR ANIMATED LIGHT-UP CONTRACTOR'S ADVERTISING MODEL, HERCULES POWDER CO., CA 1960

Auction Closed

July 20, 09:53 PM GMT

Estimate

3,000 - 5,000 USD

Lot Details

Description

X-248 ALTAIR ROCKET STAGE

A LARGE ANIMATED LIGHT-UPCONTRACTOR’S ADVERTISING MODEL FOR THE X-248 ALTAIR ROCKET STAGE, made by the Chemical Propulsion Division of the Hercules Powder Company Incorporated, Wilmington, Delaware, ca 1960


Large stand up advertising model in wood and metal on wood base (24 by 20 3/4 by 10 1/2 inches). Cutout revealing rocket launching a satellite into space, with rotating plate covered in stars behind rocket. Model plugs in, lighting up stars and actioning the rotating plate. A second window reveals a series of key rocket features, rotating on a circular metal plate. Base with "X-248 Altair" in large red 3D block letters, "Reliability in Space" in raised turquoise block letters. 


A FANTASTIC AND RARE MODERNIST STYLE CONTRACTOR'S ADVERTISING MODEL FOR THE ALTAIR ROCKET STAGE, WITH BEAUTIFUL MOVING LIGHT-UP STAR BACKGROUND. The Altair was a solid-fuel rocket manufactured by Allegamy Ballistics Laboratory (ABL) as the X-248. Starting in 1946, ABL was operated by the Hercules Powder Company, a chemical and munitions manufacturer based in Wilmington, Delaware. Starting in 1956, Hercules Powder Co. began to develop solid-fuel rocket motors for NASA & the US military, including the Altair rocket stages for Vanguard rockets.