balsa model airplanes of all types

Now to know more about balsa wood. Although hand-made airplane-like (or bird-like) flying toys appeared in the 1800's, it's unclear exactly when company-made RTF toy airplanes first became available. Some model airplane kits reportedly appeared as early as 1910. 1911 issues of "Aircraft" magazine (about "real" airplanes) had numerous ads from several manufacturers for model airplanes in kit and RTF form. Most of these were expensive to buy. In a time when $20-25 per week was a really good, working-class salary, the Ideal Model Aeroplane Co. (which became the Ideal Toy Co.) advertised airplane kits for $4-6. RTF versions sold for as much as $20. Most of the Ideal RTF airplanes were "factory built" examples of their kit aircraft.
From 1914-20, Ideal offered wood and fiber board RTF gliders for 45 cents. Though not inexpensive by any means, these can probably be considered some of the fore-runners of our "toy" airplanes.
In the 1920's and 30's, balsa wood became more readily available and the number of simple RTF toy gliders increased. Certainly the Charles Lindbergh phenomenon also boosted sales of toy and model airplanes of all types. However, most were still only available from hobby shops, finer toy stores or through mail order. Many of the companies that would become household names in the toy and model airplane world … American Junior aircraft, the Paul K Guillow Co., the Cleveland Model & Supply Co., the Testor Corporation and Comet Model Airplane & Supply Co. … all had their beginnings in this period.
During World War 2, balsa wood was considered to be a "strategic material", so toy airplane production was reduced dramatically. However, AJ aircraft founder Jim Walker cleverly developed a launching platform for his folding wing balsa gliders. This provided the Army with a quick and effective system for gunnery practice. As a result, AJ aircraft received significant supplies of balsa and over 120,000 Walker gliders met their doom for the war effort.The reklated article go to http://www.balsafactory.com/.