ORIGINAL: pimmnz
You lucky dog.
I know, and I am grateful. [8D]
Here are some additional photos taken during my visit with Helen. Tom's shop was full of quality tools he used to produce all the custom hardware found on his planes. The hardware we take for granted now was just starting back then...many, (most) pilots fabricated at least some of their own hardware. The idea of an ARF wasn't even a glint in the manufacturer's eyes...you either built your plane or you didn't fly. Even I sewed my hinges on and soldered my own pushrod keepers on my first plane back in the mid-60s.
Tools in Tom's shop included a full-size lathe, and a machine used to bend metal/music wire, (such as the intricate landing gear on the TBX). There were other tools around that I wasn't even familiar with, (I've never owned or used lathes, drill presses etc which would probably help my model building). Later Tom used these same tools to build his homebuilt Pitts Special, (which was not completed).
Inside the box is a "jewler's lathe". Helen told me he used this to build the brake units found on the TBX landing gear. The name tag I believe was his from work at GM. Finally there is a picture of Toms gold-colored silk used on his planes. The whole plane was silked and doped, (you can see the fine weave if you carefully look at the painted sections of the wing and fuselage), but you really see this silk's beauty in the open unpainted areas of the wings found on Perigee, Apogee, Nimbus III, and Cirrus.
Finally, look at the extra fiberglass cowl Helen was describing.
Duane