During the early to mid-20th century, a company called Cruver Manufacturing was full of life and has now become a part of Americana. Items, as pictured right, were popular particularly during World War II. Cellulose acetate plastic recognition model in 1:72 scale of the B-25 dated July 1942 and manufactured by Cruver of Chicago (2456-60 Jackson Blvd, Curtis L. Cruver, pres/tres, and Curtis L. Cruver Jr., secretary). Most recognition models were made from injection-molded cellulose acetate plastic.

At one point, the plastic model planes were so popular, they were featured on the Kix cereal box. They were super swell!!

Portions of a General Mills ad from May 1946 are shown below; the Kix cereal airplane premiums were 1:432 scale models made from the wartime Cruver recognition model molds - see Friend or Foe? Museum page or Display Model page for more information. Presented here just for fun.

(picture below)Cruver-made P-39 with sprue still attached. Each model was hand worked to remove molding sprue and flash. From a 1944 Cruver ad.

Pictured immediately above and below are two sets of 1:432 plastic "pocket" recognition models. These models were manufactured by Cruver ... Most collectors assume that the military issue, wartime models (both metal and plastic) had a hole located at the c.g. - each of these models has a hole. The U.S. set is at the top with the British set below. Only a few models in each set actually have the Cruver identity mark, ©, but all have a date and airplane type marked on the underside of the wing or fuselage (the identity mark was only used on a single model of a "tree" as multiple models were molded at once. Comet Metal Products also made 1:432 models in white metal - these were usually painted olive drab and had a hanging or mounting hole (see below). Both of these types were sold to the public following WWII and in some cases were used as premiums for cereal etc. The "civilian" models came in different colors (grey plastic for example although the metal models were sold in olive drab as "Authenticast" models) and did not usually have the "hanging hole" although some are pictured in the Authenticast catalog mounted on a wire from a stand. Molds for the metal models have been used by various companies to make (cheaply molded with stiffened surfaces) pieces for wargamers, and more recently, a line of beautifully cast pewter models on stands (by DFC) which are no longer being made. These 1:432 models are arguably the longest used production airplane model molds ever used - 1943 to around 1993.

Cruver models were molded from various mixes of cellulose acetate. This particular P-80 had black paint over silver when I received it; many of the P-80 were painted silver and I'm not certain that this was limited to the Aristo-Craft line or not. After removing the paint, the basic plastic is not the usual shiny black but rather a somewhat striated buff color, a not unusual condition. It is shown here to demonstrate the variations to be found in the ID models.

This pictures the Cruver Mfg registered trademark symbol.

Cruver (and the Design Center) was dependent upon suppliers to furnish the cellulose acetate powder (granular) used in their injection molding machines. It is doubtful that any real quality control was used on the incoming powder in that it was being primarily used for a product that was basically expendable - the recognition models. Cruver also made many other plastic products during WWII; see the four-page ad below which is in the above catalog.

Classic Aircraft Collection, Ju87, GR-4, 1 part, price 110US$
Remake of the Cruver WWII aircraft recognition model, about 2000

SOURCE OF RECOGNITION MODELS

Obviously Polk's had a glut of the Aristo-Craft models by the 1947-48 period and tried to move them out of inventory by having an "auction" for dealers. A wholesale flyer was sent out with the details of the "By-Mail Auction" for lots of the Aristo-Craft plastic models (Cruver IDs). One page of the flyer is shown below.

The Cruver Mfg also made playing cards.