Back in the late 1960's and early 1970's, Estes held regular plant tours. I don't remember details, but I think you could just stop by and someone would show you around. The tour ended at a 'factory store' - where you could purchase the current motors and kits on-site. Back then I lived in Pueblo and Estes (Dane Boles) used to have me build rockets (mainly Saturn V's) for exhibition launches - paying me with merchandise credit which I spent at that factory store.
Now days such tours are a distant memory, combined with the minimal investment that the previous owners made in Estes it's not surprising that some parts of the office building looked a bit shabby.

tdracer,

Here is a picture of the Estes ladies filling my order, March 1966.

Also pictured, my buddies standing at the Estes rocket.

Attached Thumbnails

   

__________________
Lee Reep
NAR 55948

Projects: Semroc Saturn 1B, Ken Foss Designs Mini Satellite Interceptor
In the Paint Shop: Nothing! Too cold!
Launch-Ready: Farside-X, Maxi Honest John, Super Scamp

Cool old pics - I especially like the one with you guys by the rocket.

Anyone ever built a downscale of that rocket? This is the first time I've actually seen it.

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Xarconian Cruiser Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark

Looks to be MX774-like with a cone that is too pointy.

__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, TURMOIL, FIASCOS, and HAVOC !

I don't think I ever saw that particular rocket . First time I went to the Estes facility would have been about 1969 or 1970 - at which time they had recently completed the main office building with a different, smaller rocket out front (the same rocket that is there today).
I'm guessing that the bigger rocket in that picture went away when they built the new office building.

That rocket was part of the old plant that was at the north of the property (they built the new buinding at the south of the property. It sounds like they tore the old building down very soon after moving, though it may have existed through the 70's. I saw no sign of them (other than a ground smudge) when I saw the first aerial photos from 1983 on the old Microsoft Terraserver (before Google even existed, much less Google Maps). I'm surprised they didn't move that rocket.

__________________
Roy
nar12605

Anyone got a clear pic of just the rocket?

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Xarconian Cruiser Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark

I have visions of Vern asking one of the mechanical guys to build it, or maybe a local welder. That cone just looks too much like a simple rolled piece of sheet metal.

__________________
Lee Reep
NAR 55948

Projects: Semroc Saturn 1B, Ken Foss Designs Mini Satellite Interceptor
In the Paint Shop: Nothing! Too cold!
Launch-Ready: Farside-X, Maxi Honest John, Super Scamp

I wonder if it had an additional function?

__________________
Roy
nar12605