Requests - The Early Years of Sport Ballooning

I've had vague, generalized requests for contributions on this site from the beginning, but I thought it might be more helpful to specify just what I think these pages need most. If you've got digitized images, images and a scanner, or if you're willing to "snail-mail" me materials for me to scan/photograph (and, of course, return at my expense), I'd be most grateful if you'd read on. Likewise, I'm always in the market for new information, and corrections to the information I have.

I'd like to build an authoritative compendium of information on ballooning in the '60s and '70s - a "virtual museum," if you will, but I can't do it alone. I've had some wonderful contributions of images, facts and writings, but I know there's a lot more out there. What I don't know is whether people will actually be willing to help me build these pages by sending it along. That said, however, I believe this subject is too important, and too poorly represented on the Internet, for me not to try. I've broken my requests into categories based on the pages within this site, plus a "general" section. As with everything else on these pages, please let me know if you know of a better way to organize all this. Unless otherwise noted, requests are generally limited to the years on which this site focuses: 1961 to 1980 (oh, what the heck - '81).

I'll close by saying that it's difficult for me to ask for things, both here and in person, but I'm heartened by the encouragement and enthusiasm I've seen from ballooning fans worldwide. Even if you send nothing, please accept my heartfelt gratitude for visiting my site, and especially for glancing over this page. If you do have something requested below, or just something cool I didn't think to ask for, please let me know at (or just send it to) dave (at)

ballooninghistory.com.

*Unfortunately, I've had to implement anti-spam measures. Therefore, when you use the e-mail links on this site, you have to remove "*REMOVE_THIS* from the e-mail address in your e-mail application. Also, I've had some pretty serious e-mail problems lately, with my new address, dave (at)

ballooninghistory.com (and my old one, ballooninghistory (at)

devnbave.com). If you've written me and haven't received a response, please try again at my alternate address: dreg.stallion (at)

gmail.com.

General

Advertising materials, product literature, etc. - All makes, any year 1961-1980.

Shots of festivals, gatherings, etc. - the earlier the better

Photos, information, etc. about ballooning around the world (i.e. in countries that are un- or under-represented on the site)

Magazine / newspaper articles on balloons and ballooning - the earlier the better

Photo credits, throughout the site

Fact correction, sitewide

Feedback, suggestions on the site (pictures too big / not big enough? Broken links? Features not working? Site logo looks stupid? Too "U.S.-centric?" Etc.)

Images of the "pop top," both in action and closeups of components

Images of the "MultiVent," both in action and closeups of components

A photo of the original KFC "bucket" basket

Timelines, etc. - when features introduced, milestones, etc.

Information about the life and work of Mike Adams

Corporate history, information, anecdotes, etc.

(Thanks to Robert Kerr and his dad for crossing off a couple of items on my Adams wishlist; specifically, some great shots of the 4-can burner, the "turkey thermometer" and some idea how the KFC "bucket basket" was put together. Thanks, too, to Lance Terry, for digging up a good shot of a 2-can burner, and, of course, for about a thousand other contributions on these pages.)

Images / information on the crown / venting/deflation mechanism(s)

More shots of burners

Corporate history, information, anecdotes, etc.

Any shots of anything, early '70s

Any shots of anything that's done differently now

Corporate history, information, anecdotes, facts about Tracy Barnes

Mostly Western stuff - shots of baskets, burners, components, etc.

A timeline of design changes - years features were introduced, burners redesigned, etc.

Images, information, etc. on venting, deflation mechanisms

Unusual baskets, including the "monocoque" and models with rigid uprights

Timelines, corporate history, etc. (when components / models were introduced, etc).

A good shot or two of the plastic (fiberglas?) Rally basket

Timelines - when 2-cans gave way to 4, when Square Shooter I came out, etc.

Anything on unusual / abandoned / prototype components, rigging, etc.

Images / information on venting mechanisms

Closeups / diargams of various burner designs

Corporate history, information, timelines, anecdotes

Anything about venting / deflation

Anything about baskets (birds, whatever).

Timelines, general information, anecdotes, etc.

(thanks to "Professor Bob" Willbanks, who sent information very early on, that took me WAY too long to put on the site! Also, HUGE thanks to Tom Oerman, for sending an unbelievable collection of Balloon Stuff, that crossed off more than one of my Stokes requests, as well as some facts and personal recollections.)

Images / information on non-parachute venting/deflation systems

Timelines, design changes, etc.

Differences between the A and Z series

Any information / images, etc. on:

Transcom-Commodore

Montgolfier Moderne

Chaize

National Balloons

Fantasy Balloons (pre-'81 type certification [thanks, Eric!])

Sheldrake-Merritt (post "Spirit of Canada")

Any other '60s-'70s homebuilt or manufacturer not represented on the site

Any other information on balloons / manufacturers on the "Other" page