Just checked a Feb. 1948 Air World magazine. The U-Reely handle was available and offered by several hobby shops.

Jim Walker patented the U-Reely control system. You may have seen plans with instructions in the general vicinity of a bellcrank mount, "install your favorite control system here" but no image of the patented bellcrank system. He apparently expected modest royalties from those using it for their own profit. There was a lengthy lawsuit about patent infringement. Charles Mackey's book Pioneers of Control Line Flight, if I remember the name right, covers the early days very well. It is still available, possibly through PAMPA sales. I'll check if that IS a source, and advise how to contact them, and the price. I doubt you'd need to be a member to buy from them.

Walker liked "stunts", not what we call precision aerobatics today, but odd capers that earned publicity. That magazine included a photo of him flying three CL models at a time, and quoted him as saying it wasn't too hard if they flew about the same speed. (3rd model controlled via a modified football helmet with a handle turning on a post. I'd guess at least two of them had spark advance speed control, too. He was quite an inventor.

There was a major hobby and recreational show at a large armory either way uptown Manhattan or in the Bronx in the late 1940's or early 1950's. Don't know if Jim Walker got there. He may have, as one legend tells of him in a cab in front of the NYC Main Library, stuck in traffic. He 'just happened' to have a Fireball fueled, charged and with lines connected. He stood up by the cab door, started the engine, launched the Fireball and, releasing the brake, paid out the lines. Flew it a while and reeled it back in about the time the light changed...

My Dad and I got to the armory show. I remember the 'cage.' A few other old timers recalled flying CL in it - they're mostly, if not all, gone now. It was way too small. Possibly 50' diameter. Spark .23s, .49s and I expect, even .60s on less than 25' lines? No mufflers... Fuel 3 to 1 gasoline and motor oil... Wonderful sound and aroma! Great memory! I was 10 or so at the time. Made a lasting impression, obviously.

Mackey's book has a copy of Walker's patent, with the dates. I may dig my copy out to verify, but I seem to recall patent was either applied for or granted in 1939! WW2 and the tail end of the 1930's depression years somewhat delayed the production and sale of U-Reely goodies. Very popular items after the War, though.