Video tours of rocket businesses?

RocketryBen

Active Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2017
Messages
43
Reaction score
5
I always like to see what rocket businesses look like from the inside, to see all of their products, and just to what it's like.
I've done research and can't find video tours of these businesses:
Apogee Components
Discount Rocketry
Wildman Hobbies
eRockets
Countyline Hobbies.
______
Does anyone know of any videos of these businesses from the inside?
I know it sounds odd for me to ask, but, I'm just curious.
I hope you all understand!





Ben
 

Zeus-cat

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2009
Messages
4,890
Reaction score
1,218
If you go to the eRockets Facebook page you can see some of the videos Randy shoots of the club's Tuesday build nights. You see the front half of the business in the videos as that is where we meet. If you go to eRockets some day you WILL get the tour. I think you have to pay NOT to get one. :wink: I will mention to Randy tomorrow that some people are interested in a video of the whole place. I'll let you know what he says.
 

Kallahan11

Well-Known Member
TRF Supporter
Joined
Jul 24, 2016
Messages
390
Reaction score
104
Apogees tour, though its 8 years old now. [video=youtube;V5-XY9hs7NI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5-XY9hs7NI[/video]
 

cbrarick

Wildman CT
Joined
Jan 23, 2009
Messages
2,804
Reaction score
556
You can tour Tim's place at MWP, or at any launch he's at. The fun part is that really big trailer filled with all sorts of rocketry stuff from small parts to kits....

Oh, did I mention he has MOTORS....just a few :>
 

Steven

Well-Known Member
TRF Supporter
Joined
Sep 17, 2013
Messages
4,179
Reaction score
1,982
I had once visited Centuri Engineering Company back in the 70's in Phoenix. I had the impression they would be the size of a car dealership or something of a similar scale. Nope, just a humble store with built models and such on display behind a few glass counters. Saw the Saturn V, the Saturn 1b and others.
 

Mushtang

Premium Member
TRF Supporter
Joined
Nov 29, 2011
Messages
3,445
Reaction score
1,108
Location
Buford, Ga
I was lucky enough to get a tour of the main production plant of Odd'l Rockets once. Chris even had his Saturn V on display and I got to hold it in my hands and see why he's a Master Builder and I'm just a builder.

Didn't record a video though. Sorry.
 

[email protected]

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2011
Messages
1,693
Reaction score
19
A lot of cool stuff happens in garages, don’t judge a book by its cover :)


Sent from my iPhone using Rocketry Forum
 

Zeus-cat

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2009
Messages
4,890
Reaction score
1,218
Randy plans on doing a video tour, but not right now.
 

hcmbanjo

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2009
Messages
2,430
Reaction score
319
I had once visited Centuri Engineering Company back in the 70's in Phoenix. I had the impression they would be the size of a car dealership or something of a similar scale. Nope, just a humble store with built models and such on display behind a few glass counters. Saw the Saturn V, the Saturn 1b and others.

Centuri was actually much larger than just that store. They didn't offer tours like Estes did years ago.
Centuri was in an industrial park. Go to page 2 in the next link:
https://oldrocketplans.com/pubs/Centuri/American_Rocketeer/vol3no1/am_rocketeer_vol3no1.pdf
The lower right picture on page 2 shows the entire complex. They started on one side of the building
and rented more space as the company grew.
 

hcmbanjo

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2009
Messages
2,430
Reaction score
319
I was lucky enough to get a tour of the main production plant of Odd'l Rockets once. Chris even had his Saturn V on display and I got to hold it in my hands and see why he's a Master Builder and I'm just a builder.
Didn't record a video though. Sorry.

Main production plant?
You saw the kitchen table where many of the kits are bagged up!
 

fyrwrxz

latest photo
TRF Supporter
Joined
Jun 6, 2011
Messages
7,529
Reaction score
1,075
When Kevin Funk was alive I got a tour of Discount Rocketry as it was in the (dedicated) garage of his parents house. Racks of industrial shelving held all manner of rocketry products. What set Kevin apart was his wicked sense of humour and his dedication to the hobby. He published our newsletters and the "Unstable Rocketeer" along with "Miss NAR Boosters" as one of the first (only??) 'rocket calendars done in the theme of hotrod or mechanics calendar's with pretty girls and products for each month of the year. When Kevin died (he had cystic fibrosis), Jim and Ruby bought the name and some product from his Dad. They have in turn made it into a real Mom and Pop operation albeit with several high tech machines in various corners of their home. Being friends with them didn't hurt when it came to a 'tour' of the house. Since they also live there, I highly doubt there will ever be a 'video tour' of the business, but I wouldn't bet on it-it's just highly unlikely.
 

Initiator001

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2009
Messages
3,266
Reaction score
807
I had once visited Centuri Engineering Company back in the 70's in Phoenix. I had the impression they would be the size of a car dealership or something of a similar scale. Nope, just a humble store with built models and such on display behind a few glass counters. Saw the Saturn V, the Saturn 1b and others.

I visited Centuri in 1974 and took some pictures while I was there.

Here's the old thread about it:

https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?77819-A-Visit-To-Centuri-Engineering&highlight=enertek
 

RocketryBen

Active Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2017
Messages
43
Reaction score
5
If you go to the eRockets Facebook page you can see some of the videos Randy shoots of the club's Tuesday build nights. You see the front half of the business in the videos as that is where we meet. If you go to eRockets some day you WILL get the tour. I think you have to pay NOT to get one. :wink: I will mention to Randy tomorrow that some people are interested in a video of the whole place. I'll let you know what he says.
It's hard for me to go get a tour. I live in Louisville, although I do business all other the country.
Apogees tour, though its 8 years old now. [video=youtube;V5-XY9hs7NI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5-XY9hs7NI[/video]
Sweet, thanks!! :)
You can tour Tim's place at MWP, or at any launch he's at. The fun part is that really big trailer filled with all sorts of rocketry stuff from small parts to kits....

Oh, did I mention he has MOTORS....just a few :>
hehe, I'm sure he does. :cool:
Randy plans on doing a video tour, but not right now.
Oh, man, do I look forward to that! I've always wanted to see that place from the inside!!



Ben
 

oddmanrockets

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2009
Messages
390
Reaction score
1
used to also hang out at Kevin's house on multiple weekends but Vaughn Brothers was also 10 mins from my house in Vista ( brothers were in Paso Robles but all kitting was done at Dads garage
When Kevin Funk was alive I got a tour of Discount Rocketry as it was in the (dedicated) garage of his parents house. Racks of industrial shelving held all manner of rocketry products. What set Kevin apart was his wicked sense of humour and his dedication to the hobby. He published our newsletters and the "Unstable Rocketeer" along with "Miss NAR Boosters" as one of the first (only??) 'rocket calendars done in the theme of hotrod or mechanics calendar's with pretty girls and products for each month of the year. When Kevin died (he had cystic fibrosis), Jim and Ruby bought the name and some product from his Dad. They have in turn made it into a real Mom and Pop operation albeit with several high tech machines in various corners of their home. Being friends with them didn't hurt when it came to a 'tour' of the house. Since they also live there, I highly doubt there will ever be a 'video tour' of the business, but I wouldn't bet on it-it's just highly unlikely.
 

pyrobob

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2013
Messages
2,434
Reaction score
42
used to also hang out at Kevin's house on multiple weekends but Vaughn Brothers was also 10 mins from my house in Vista ( brothers were in Paso Robles but all kitting was done at Dads garage

Haven't thought about the Vaughn brothers in a long while. Anybody know what they're up to these days? I still have their Little Wild Thing which I flew a few times on all eight (?) motors.
 

oddmanrockets

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2009
Messages
390
Reaction score
1
VB was sold to Discount Rocketry and They redid some of the kits but not any of the Extremes just some Blobbo's and a glider Dad Vaughn ( Gene ) moved to Hemit Haven't heard anything about the Boys
Haven't thought about the Vaughn brothers in a long while. Anybody know what they're up to these days? I still have their Little Wild Thing which I flew a few times on all eight (?) motors.
 

Steven

Well-Known Member
TRF Supporter
Joined
Sep 17, 2013
Messages
4,179
Reaction score
1,982
Top