Interesting Centuri Chute Package

[Earl]

Anybody know the story behind these pre-assembled (?) Centuri chutes?

I got several of these in an eBay purchase several weeks ago, but I have to say I have never seen a 'pre-assembled' Centuri parachute before. I know pre-assembled chutes are pretty common in the industry these days, but this one (I got three: a 12" and two 16", along with some 'standard' 24" chutes) would have to be early 1970's vintage. Certainly, NO older than 1970-71 timeframe (note the ejection baffles advertised on the back of the package, which were first announced, I believe, in the 1971 Centuri catalog, which would have been released around late summer/early fall of 1970).

At the lower right of the back of the package is printed "Made in Hong Kong".

I just don't recall ever seeing 'pre-assembled' parachutes ever offered in the Centuri catalog. Were these 'retail only' offerings by Centuri? Anyone have a guess?

Also, the logo on this particular one (the only one like it of the three) is different than any other Centuri chute I have. Most Centuri chutes had the 'Mercury capsule orbiting the Earth' graphic or the older Centuri logo which showed a rocket 'streaking' past in the forground with a latitude/longitude globe in the background. The logo on this particular chute is like the graphic on the T-shirt iron-ons they used to include in your Centuri Aerospace Team Member kit.

Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone had ever seen these pre-assembled chutes before or not. Please share if you have any background on these.

BTW, the shroud lines in these appear to be the older red shroud line material.

Earl

[SEL]

Yeah, you beat me on those chutes - nice catch :D . I know they're shown in the '69 catalogue ( http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/rockets/nostalgia/69cenp62.html ), not sure if they were offered in any later ones. I have at least one of the chutes with the stars in the center, but don't know anything about them. Mojo may know more - mine were in a batch I bought from him on Ebay.


S.


Anybody know the story behind these pre-assembled (?) Centuri chutes?

I got several of these in an eBay purchase several weeks ago, but I have to say I have never seen a 'pre-assembled' Centuri parachute before. I know pre-assembled chutes are pretty common in the industry these days, but this one (I got three: a 12" and two 16", along with some 'standard' 24" chutes) would have to be early 1970's vintage. Certainly, NO older than 1970-71 timeframe (note the ejection baffles advertised on the back of the package, which were first announced, I believe, in the 1971 Centuri catalog, which would have been released around late summer/early fall of 1970).

At the lower right of the back of the package is printed "Made in Hong Kong".

I just don't recall ever seeing 'pre-assembled' parachutes ever offered in the Centuri catalog. Were these 'retail only' offerings by Centuri? Anyone have a guess?

Also, the logo on this particular one (the only one like it of the three) is different than any other Centuri chute I have. Most Centuri chutes had the 'Mercury capsule orbiting the Earth' graphic or the older Centuri logo which showed a rocket 'streaking' past in the forground with a latitude/longitude globe in the background. The logo on this particular chute is like the graphic on the T-shirt iron-ons they used to include in your Centuri Aerospace Team Member kit.

Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone had ever seen these pre-assembled chutes before or not. Please share if you have any background on these.

BTW, the shroud lines in these appear to be the older red shroud line material.

Earl

[Rocket Doctor]

Never seen pre-assembled Centuri chutes before, but, Estes did have pre-assembled chute around the same time period, they were 8" in idameter, i still have a couple of them floating around.

[Earl]

Yeah, you beat me on those chutes - nice catch :D . I know they're shown in the '69 catalogue ( http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/rockets/nostalgia/69cenp62.html ), not sure if they were offered in any later ones. I have at least one of the chutes with the stars in the center, but don't know anything about them. Mojo may know more - mine were in a batch I bought from him on Ebay.


S.

I have that '69 catalog, but do not see any 'pre-assembled' chutes listed there. As I mentioned, these are COMPLETELY ASSEMBLED, ready-to-use parachutes (see the top front package photo). That was my point: I've never seen a parachute like this from Centuri. I know pre-assembled chutes are much more common now days, but these have to be from the early 70s. I have looked through all the Centuri catalogs I have ('67 through their last one in '83) and I don't see these listed anywhere.

As can be seen in the back package photo, it is indicated they were made in Hong Kong. Maybe this is something they 'test marketed' for a short time or were offered in 'retail only' settings. Not sure.

But, I was just wondering if anyone might have known when/how these were specifically offered and where. Minor thing, all-in-all, but was just curious.

Earl

[SEL]

Oops.... my bad. Didn't have my glasses on when I sent you that link :o . I found them in a catalogue somewhere while the auction was still running - I just have to find it again.

S

I have that '69 catalog, but do not see any 'pre-assembled' chutes listed there. As I mentioned, these are COMPLETELY ASSEMBLED, ready-to-use parachutes (see the top front package photo). That was my point: I've never seen a parachute like this from Centuri. I know pre-assembled chutes are much more common now days, but these have to be from the early 70s. I have looked through all the Centuri catalogs I have ('67 through their last one in '83) and I don't see these listed anywhere.

As can be seen in the back package photo, it is indicated they were made in Hong Kong. Maybe this is something they 'test marketed' for a short time or were offered in 'retail only' settings. Not sure.

But, I was just wondering if anyone might have known when/how these were specifically offered and where. Minor thing, all-in-all, but was just curious.

Earl