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-   -   How Mabel got its name (http://www.oldrocketforum.com/showthread.php?t=63)

Ltvscout 03-25-2005 06:52 PM

How Mabel got its name
 
According to Vern, the first engine making machine he made was a very temperamental and ornery machine to run. The Estes' had an employee back then that made a comment one day about the machine acting just like his wife Mabel. Hence the engine making machines became known as Mabel from then on.

A Fish Named Wallyum 03-25-2005 09:18 PM

What he said! I prefer to think of it as "How Mabel Got her Label". :D

UMRS 03-28-2005 08:52 AM

Interesting Fact-oid , I was always curious how Mabel got her name.

Thrustline 1 03-28-2005 10:55 PM

Where is the machine now? Are the motors still made in the U.S.?

A Fish Named Wallyum 03-28-2005 11:12 PM

I believe that Vern & Gleda said that the original Mabel was sold for scrap while they were on vacation. Don't know where the engines are made now, but I wish they'd TONE DOWN THE EJECTION CHARGES!!!! :mad:

Initiator001 03-28-2005 11:41 PM

Estes still makes motors at their Penrose plant.

Bob

Ltvscout 03-29-2005 08:20 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Thrustline 1
Where is the machine now? Are the motors still made in the U.S.?

Bill has it correct about the original Mabel. Vern was planning on buying back the original to put in his museum. They went on vacation to Europe I believe it was, and during that time the new owner (he didn't say what time period this was so I don't know which new owner, Damon or Barry Tunick) went and sold the machine for scrap. They were extremely disappointed when they got home and found out this happened.

There are new versions of Mabel at Estes. The engines are still made there in Penrose as Bob stated. Check out the following link if you want to see one of, if not the oldest Estes employee, Ed Brown. He's the one that makes the motors.

https://www.estesrockets.com/cgi-bi...cgi?product,358

Royatl 04-23-2005 11:26 AM

If you look at a satellite photo of Penrose and of the Estes plant, you can see the distinctive pattern of small buildings (each containing a motor machine) about 1000 ft. to the north of the main Estes building, a T-shaped building with the stem of the T facing the main highway that goes between Pueblo and Canon City. I think one of the documents on this site is an old map of Penrose for visitors that shows the layout of the buildings.

Ltvscout 04-23-2005 11:37 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Royatl
If you look at a satellite photo of Penrose and of the Estes plant, you can see the distinctive pattern of small buildings (each containing a motor machine) about 1000 ft. to the north of the main Estes building, a T-shaped building with the stem of the T facing the main highway that goes between Pueblo and Canon City. I think one of the documents on this site is an old map of Penrose for visitors that shows the layout of the buildings.

Could you maybe put a link to the image you've found in this thread? That would be cool to see.

Royatl 04-23-2005 12:10 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ltvscout
Could you maybe put a link to the image you've found in this thread? That would be cool to see.


http://shrinkster.com/4vy


Now that I look at it again, the motor machines are much closer to the main building.

The photo was taken a few months after the March '99 fire. I can't tell if the dark areas are remnants of scorched earth or are live vegetation. Don't know how well vegetation recovers over the summer in Colorado.


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