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The Thompson Brothers Balloon & Parachute Company was established in 1903 to manufacture balloons but they soon shifted to exhibition work, as manufacturing and sales became a sideline for the company. In 1933, the company was operating out of Aurora, Illinois, and was manufacturing and distributing balloons, parachutes, and aerial apparatus for performers as well as furnishing parachute leaps from airplanes and balloons. The company closed in 1939.

 Identifier

NASM.XXXX.0014

Creator

Thompson Brothers Balloon & Parachute Company

Date

[ca. 1903-1939]

Provenance

Frank H. Thompson, Gift, 1971, XXXX-0014, not NASM

Extent

0.4 Cubic feet ((1 flatbox))

Archival Repository

National Air and Space Museum Archives

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of memorabilia and records relating to the company, including clippings, copperplates, expense accounts, photos, and so forth. The collection also includes a manuscript by Frank H. Thompson (1971) giving a history of the company.

Rights

Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests

Restrictions

No restrictions on access

Topics

Parachutes

Balloons -- Exhibitions

Balloons

Aeronautics, Commercial -- United States

Aeronautics, Commercial

Aeronautics -- Exhibitions

Aeronautics

Type

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Business records

Manuscripts

Photographs

Financial records

Clippings