dirtybird

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Whatever happened to Phill Kraft? Anybody Know?

GrnBrt

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He died a long time ago, big loss to the hobby. Loved his radios way back when!

tailskid

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Yep, those were the days when you used Kraft or Pro-Line radios - or you were 'out of it' (spoken by the owner of a World Engines Blue Max)!

Jerry

Allie33

you got that right.

saw the classified ad for an old plane and original world engines radio the other day. this is a very unlikely combination.

MinnFlyer

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Back in the late 60's and early 70's you were laughed off the field if you had anything other than a Kraft radio. I still have several kicking around.

IronCross

I still have to complete radios in my closet. Wonder if the batteries are any good :-]

ramcharger

I lived about 30 miles north of World Engines when they were located on Rossash Rd in northern Cincy and there were quite a few Blue Max Radios. At the time I was in the WORKS Club. There flying field was located next to the River Bend golf course west of West Carollton and north of Miamisburg Ohio. I had a Kraft Series 71 and a Sport Series and I must admit the Blue Max was as reliable as the Sport Series. I later sold the Sport and bought a Citzenship. It was no better. They also were popular in western Ohio.

joefox

I've got a couple of my old Kraft radios, though not complete sets. Remember the Kraft with Bonner sticks? They were only made one year (the year my dad and I decided to move up to Kraft). The radio was great but the sticks were terrible! As soon as the temperature went down they would be very difficult to move. We got a couple of Gold Medal series a few years later with the chrome Cliff Weirick sticks. They were a joy to use. Anybody remember what they called those sticks?

flicka5

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Do you suppose that all these plastic RC transmitters today will still work 25 yrs. from now as all these 25 year old Kraft's still do. Or do you suppose they will all be dust from exposure to ultraviolet rays over the next 25 yrs?

flicka5

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Just read a listing in current AMA discussion issue thread (Clubhouse)for past AMA RC honorary members, including Phil Kraft. Doesn't show him as deceased. Others in this list are shown as deceased, Carl Goldberg, etc. If he is still among us, I am sure he would like to know this. Since I have 25 Kraft radios, I think I would remember if I had seen his demise which would have been in the AMA mag and others. I don't remember anything in print.
The old Kraft company is still in existence I believe but do not produce RC systems but electronics for defense, etc.

dirtybird

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This is why I asked the question. I don't remember reading anything about his death. But then I was out of the model business for 20 years.
I was the Kraft rep for the Seattle area in the early 70's until I got to cosy with Logictrol and they fired me. With that, and losing an RPV contract when I worked for Boeing, I gave up RC modeling for awhile.

ramcharger

Wow, I wish I hadn't responded even though I didn't attempt to answer the original question in this thread.

flicka5

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If he is deceased, it was not a long time ago.
Never had the trouble with Kraft glitching that I have had with JR and Futaba over more recent years. Maybe it is the too narrow band systems today that make these more recent negative experiences happen. Flew my Kraft systems prior to '91 without a hitch at a lot of RC meets.

tailskid

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Anyone know Pete Waters' email addy? I'm sure he would know.

Jerry

Goinstraightup

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I don't think there will ever be a day when some manufacturer doesn't make some variant of the "Ugly Stick"

flicka5

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Did a search for "Phil Kraft" on Google. Lots of items of historical modeling interest. Will attach a site from the Weschester Radio Aero Modelers sponsors of the WRAM show every year, above NY city. Please note the list of well known modelers and RC manufacturers that were given awards at the show every year. Phil Kraft for 1978. Also, note no (D) after his name but (D)'s for others who I know have passed on. One of the Good brothers died last year and already shows up in this list. Also, note (D) update at bottom with 11/07/01 date. My guess is that Phil Kraft is still around unless something has happened in last 14 months. Also, noted same information in list of AMA award winners over last thirty years as still alive. I am sure the museum curator at AMA, Muncie as well as Pete Waters (Kraft Midwest) could verify this.

www.vintagercsociety.org/hall of fame.doc

dirtybird

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A post on another forum says he is alive and well living in Ca.

Fly4Fun2

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Wow - Kraft radios. I still have one too. I plugged it up a couple of years ago and tried it out. Still worked, but it is amazing how slow the servos are when compared to the ones of today - granted I am using 8411's today, but even standard servos are much faster.

I also remember buying that Kraft radio. It was for my 8th birthday and my dad paid around $350 for it!!! That was in 1976 when a new car cost about $2,500! Can you imagine paying $3500 today for a simple 4 channel radio without ANY bells and whistles??

Still, it was a great radio and gave my dad and I some of our fondest memories of my childhood. I still have the Wanderer 99 glider we used to learn how to fly. It is missing the outer wing panel on one wing. Hopefully, I can find an extra kit somewhere or cut the other wingtip off to make templates. My son is getting old enough to start flying and I can't wait to teach him with the Wanderer. (Probably will use a newer radio though )

flicka5

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Slow servos never bothered me; just push the Tx sticks around faster to compensate! Yuk, yuk!

IronCross

Now if I could find a Sterling Fledgling, and K&B Torpedo 40 to put my old Kraft in I would be back to square 1.

flicka5

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Would you settle for a deBolt Custom Bipe kit (1958) which is in my basement along side a Fox .59RC engine with low miles? For a senior member, you look awfully young? Must be those above freezing temps. you enjoy all year around that keeps the wrinkles away!

ramcharger

I have a Sterling Fledging with a ST 35 hanging in my basement. It has lots of patches. Painted silkspan. It had a Kraft Sport Series radio. Servos still in it but receiver gone. In fact I believe it only about half the wing. It most likely hasn't been flown in over 20 yrs. That plane was really mistreated by my bad flying.

IronCross

Well I still have two complete Sport Series Radios. Probably about due for a battery change though. Half a wing is no big thing :-]

flicka5

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The other thread states that Phil lives in Mountainside, Ca. but has the Parkinson health problem. Just knew that I would have remembered if he had passed on.
Best wishes to a great person who contributed so much to our RC hobby.

GaryB-RCU

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...i flew Futaba AM's in the early '80's - even a couple of electrics - zero interference problems - more interference problems today with all the high dollar FM narrow band computer radios...

...isn't it wonderful what the AMA has done for us? - they obsoleted all of our old radios by going to 50 frequencies - 25 would have been plenty and then we could still be using our old equipment - cost me a bunch of money...