Buick / Marquette Aviation?

[Brooklands]

A friend/relative of mine who lives in Rugby, UK asked if I could give him any help with this photo he found in his family photo archives. I was able to figure that this tail fin was showing Buick and Marquette logos, which would make it around 1930. Can anyone give any input in the type of plane, and whether there was any tie in to aviation for these two GM marques that would explain this.

Thanks so much for your help.

 

[NutmegCT]

Hi Dave - 1930 was the first year in which Buick began selling the Buick Marquette. That's the only information I could find on the two names together, altho' I also looked for a possible aviation connection. That's a United Air Lines hangar in the background; United Air Lines was formed in 1931, after Boeing bought Pratt and Whitney to form UATC, then added several more small air carriers, and adopted the name United Air Lines.

Buick, as most other USA car manufacturers, moved into aircraft production soon after we entered WW2.

If what you see is actually part of an a/c, it *could* be a "company plane" owned by GM (Buick), with the vertical stabilizer being used for advertising. Just a guess tho'.

Thanks.
Tom M.

 

[Brooklands]

That's a United Air Lines hangar in the background; United Air Lines was formed in 1931, after Boeing bought Pratt and Whitney to form UATC, then added several more small air carriers, and adopted the name United Air Lines.

Tom,

I think that hangar says "Limited" as in Ltd. since the photo is probably from the UK. I at first had read it as United as well.

 

[NutmegCT]

Thanks Dave. Makes sense. Was hoping it was United, as that might help narrow down answers to your friend's questions.