Oba St. Clair Biography

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Advertisement for a model airplane launcher, $4.95, strong and safe design.

The Stooge Saga

This biography was submitted by Oba's friend, T Michael Jennings.

This biography details the written correspondence between Oba (pronounced Obie) St. Clair, T Michael Jennings, and Shirley St. Clair (Oba's daughter). 

AMA honored Oba St. Clair by inducting him into the Model Aviation Hall of Fame (awarded posthumously) in 2001. Oba designed the first Control Line (CL) flying aircraft in 1937. 

CL references the using of one to four lines (primarily steel cables) to control the direction and elevation of a model aircraft. The steel lines are 50-70 feet in length and connect the pilot to the aircraft's horizontal elevator and engine throttle. 

Oba meticulously documented his modeling activity by referencing designer notes and several newspaper stories along the invention path. Later, Jim Walker also decided that he invented CL flying. At that time, L.M. Cox Manufacturing Co. was paying royalties to Walker as the inventor. This situation ended in a lawsuit between Cox, Walker, and St. Clair. 

Oba had documents and presented the information at the United States District Court, Southern District of California, trial, which proved that Oba invented the CL design and flying. The court ruled that Oba was the inventor. Thus, the court awarded the patent to Oba. Go to Oba's AMA History Project biography for a detailed description of the trial and additional information concerning Oba. 

Oba invented several additional model aircraft items. One of these was the "stooge," which is the subject of the below correspondences. For those who are not familiar with the stooge, it holds the aircraft while the pilot starts the engine, sets the needle valve, proceeds to the control handle (50-70 feet from the aircraft), and then releases the aircraft from the stooge for takeoff. 

Magazine cover featuring RC Aerobatic World Championships, with a smiling person in a lei.
Advertisement for a model airplane launcher with pricing and ordering details.
The January 1980 issue of Model Aviation, in which St. Clair Model Components was advertised on page 124. The advertisement measures a small 2.25 x 2.50 inches.
Handwritten letter about appearing in a magazine advertisement, inquiring about a stove.
A letter from T Michael to Oba St. Clair dated June 19, 1979 requesting additional information on how the stooge worked. T Michael requested Oba to send the stooge and he would send a check or return the stooge to Oba.

Note: This letter refers to Oba's advertisement in the July 1979 issue of Model Aviation. This advertisement is the same as shown in the preceding photo.
Handwritten letter with instructions for launching a payload, ending with "Love."
Handwritten letter about a device and remote release cord.
Oba sent the stooge to T Michael. This is the letter that T Michael received from Oba, which details how to use the stooge.
Assembly instructions with illustrations for a model aircraft launcher.
Instructional sheet for installing a launcher with safety warnings.
Oba's detailed typed instructions that came with each stooge.
Letter with handwritten note about a $59 refund check for returning headphones.
T Michael's return letter dated July 28, 1979. This letter included a check for the stooge and postal fee.
Handwritten letter with a logo and text, dated October 22, 1979.
Oba's letter to T Michael dated October 29, 1979, in which he returned the postage to T Michael in United States Postal Service stamps.

Oba St. Clair passed on August 14, 1986, per the AMA History Project article. T Michael published an article titled "Extra Hands" in the July 1982 issue of Model Aviation. This article described how St. Clair's system worked to launch CL aircraft. 

T Michael sent Shirley St. Clair, the daughter of Oba, a letter before August 20, 2013, which is now lost. 

Handwritten letter on a green background with a printed address label.
Handwritten note with a purple ink message.
Shirley St. Clair replied to T Michael's lost letter on August 20, 2013. She expressed interest in selling her father's stooge.
Handwritten letter with calculations and TQM header.
Handwritten note with a check attached, dated August 27, 2013.
T Michael mailed a two-page letter to Shirley on August 27, 2013, responding to her request and including a check of $25 for two stooges.
Typed letter discussing a marketing idea and liability for inaccurate advertising.
Shirley's letter dated September 18, 2013. She had several questions concerning T Michael's previous letter. She did not supply the two stooges that T Michael requested. Additionally, Shirley thanked T Michael for the "Extra Hands" article published in the July 1982 issue of Model Aviation.
Postcard with handwritten message and stamp featuring an apple.
Shirley's postal card, dated October 25, 2013, alerting T Michael that she is very busy and could not reply just then.
Handwritten letter with typed letterhead and date, discussing family updates and a jig mold for aircraft landing gear.
Toy plane on grass with a red stand and chain.
Model airplane with yellow wings on asphalt.
T Michael's letter, dated January 18, 2014, and two photos that he sent to Shirley, indicating that the article on using the St. Clair stooge was at a standstill and still needed the two stooges.
Note with handwritten address and floral illustration.
A note sent to T Michael indicating that Shirley had a stroke.
Handwritten note to Shirley wishing for recovery and mentioning prayers.
A postal card sent to Shirley from T Michael on June 13, 2014, in which he wished her well and hoped for a speedy recovery.
Handwritten pink letter discussing empowering stories and the article status.
T Michael's final letter to Shirley, sent on October 15, 2015. He wished her the best of health and restated the need for the two stooges which were paid for.
Elderly man with a mustache and glasses wearing a brown hat and blue denim shirt.
T Michael Jennings.