Glenn L. Martin: Aviation Pioneer Whose Business Changed to Martin Marietta and Lockheed Martin Through Historic Mergers. (1886-1955) Glenn Luther Martin, was an early aviation pioneer who designed and built his own aircraft. He built a seaplane from Newport Bay in California to Catalina then back breaking the English Channel record. He also brought back from Catalina a sack of mail in which he was awarded a $100 prize (decent money back then). To make more money he began stunt-flying at fairs which landed him in a movie with Mary Pickford, "A Girl of Yesterday" which he was cast as the romantic lead. But Hollywood proved more difficult than the thought and set about building airplanes. He founded the Glenn L. Martin Company in 1912. In 1916 he merged his company with the original Wright Company, forming the Wright-Martin Aircraft Company. He soon left and founded a second Glenn L. Martin Company in 1917. That company merged with the American-Marietta Corporation in 1961, becoming the Martin Marietta Corporation. This company merged with the Lockheed Corporation in 1995, forming Lockheed Martin, a major U.S. aerospace and defense contractor. Offered is a scarce signed letter on his The Glenn L Martin Company dated 1933. Martin has signed boldly in black steel point fountain pen. Beautifully presented in gilt and brown wood frame 28 x 23" which includes two wonderful vintage re-strike photos. Estimated Value $200 - 400
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