The attached “cutting”shows the “AVIATION” section of the classified advertisement columns in a Minnesota newspaper published in mid-February 1964.
Most of the small ads are straightforward enough but the first one is not. “I Want To Hold Your Hand” was their breakthrough single in the States and much in demand.. Around this time, The Beatles’ name was used to sell all manner of products and services in the United States but this one eludes me.
For those who can’t open the attachment, the small ad in question reads as follows:
Valentine for You “I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND” By the Beatles FREE WITH EVERY NEW MARK 12 LIMIT ONE RECORD PER CUSTOMER American Aviation Co.
Can anyone explain it to me?
By: Arabella-Cox - 26th October 2019 at 19:20
Ooops, I looked it up on Google, saw MK12, clicked the Wikipedia link which I now see is actually the MK10. The MK12 links that came up are for dealers and so in the Milton Keynes MK12 postcode! Moral – don’t do hasty research on yer smartphone and if you do then read the links properly! ?
Suspect my brain was probably mixing the Mk10 and the XJ12…
By: J Boyle - 26th October 2019 at 16:57
Sopwith, you’re tight. There was no Mk. 12 Jaguar.
Anywhere,.
Certainly not in the U.S. However I did have the Corgi toy of the Mk.X.
Never liked the car much, awfully fat back end.
By: Sopwith - 26th October 2019 at 14:08
Never heard of a Mk12 Jaguar, was that just a renamed model for the American market like they called the E type an XKE ?
By: bazv - 26th October 2019 at 08:57
Originally Posted by: ianwoodward9 – 25th October 2019 at 23:40
Thank you, one and all, for your replies. Why the prospect of a free Beatles single would prompt one to buy a Narco Mark 12 radio is a little lost on me but it is the most likely explanation.
Feb 1964 was the start of ‘Beatlemania’ and the ‘British Invasion’ in the states,I guess the Stuber Brothers thought that any prospective ‘Mk 12’ buyer had poor musical tastes ; )
By: J Boyle - 26th October 2019 at 02:01
The Mark 12 radio was pretty ubiquitous in the ’60s.
FLYING magazine often referred to them by “Mark 12” , it was given that their audience would know what they were talking about.
LIkewise, the aviation company (apparently a “Fixed Base Operator”…A sales, service and repair shop for general aviation aircraft) which placed the ad under the newspaper “aviation” section made the same assumption.
By: Malcolm McKay - 26th October 2019 at 00:38
Thanks Mothminor – I spent a fruitless few minutes yesterday trying find an answer.
By: Arabella-Cox - 25th October 2019 at 23:51
Seems a plausible explanation to me too. Though I’d far rather have a free Jag with my Narco radio than a Beatles record…
Never drove a Mk12, but I did a Mk10 and it was good fun!
By: ianwoodward9 - 25th October 2019 at 23:40
Thank you, one and all, for your replies. Why the prospect of a free Beatles single would prompt one to buy a Narco Mark 12 radio is a little lost on me but it is the most likely explanation. The background information on the company was also most welcome.
In case you’re wondering, I have a friend who is a Beatles expert (he’s currently on tour giving presentation on the “Abbey Road” album) and, while I was rooting around newspaper archive websites on other matters, I came across this item and ‘snipped’ it for him.
I then wondered what is all about and, despite the trials and tribulations of the new layout and format, you have not let me down. Thanks again.
By: bazv - 25th October 2019 at 16:02
I think you may well have solved it MM : )
Well done !
A free Beatles record did seem not to be mutch of an incentive to buy a Jag LOL
And quite funny that the location is still an avionics dealer : )
By: Mothminor - 25th October 2019 at 15:56
Could be that American Aviation Co. were dealers for National Aeronautical Corp (narco) radios. Narco were marketing a Mark 12 in Feb 1964 –
By: bazv - 25th October 2019 at 11:10
Just to add a little to the American Aviation Co History…
When the Navy no longer needed the strip, Grill sold it, with some additional land, to Ken Osterberg and W. Beadie of American Aviation, Inc. By the fall of 1945, the 60-acre field was newly graded and seeded, and had two new wooden hangers and an administration building. John Stuber, the airfield manager, gave the airport its name – Flying Cloud.
Gawd – this forum layout/’design’/software is hard work – even for the simplest of tasks such as ‘copy/paste’ ?
By: bazv - 25th October 2019 at 10:39
Attached below is an image of the Hangar/bldgs at 10000 Flying Prairie Dr.
The location is right on a busy road so I guess it could easily have been a combined Aircraft/Car sales business.
Unfortunately – on our new ‘improved’ forum we cannot at present post any pics direct to the page LOL
By: bazv - 25th October 2019 at 10:10
The Original American Aviation Co grew up in the 1940’s and the company went through various stages – eventually ending up as American Aviation Corporation in 1968.
In the early days of AA Co – John Stuber was I think a manager there and John and his brother Don Stuber eventually ran AA for many years.
At some stage in his life – John Stuber was a car salesman so perhaps there was a connection there.
AA Co
10000 Flying Cloud Drive
Eden Prairie
Minnesota
Full Minnesota address attached below…
By: l.garey - 25th October 2019 at 09:05
Perhaps our own “Mark 12” could help …
Laurence
By: Arabella-Cox - 25th October 2019 at 08:35
I immediately thought of the Jaguar Mk 12 which I think was in production then but not particularly new. But if it was that why aviation?
By: ianwoodward9 - 24th October 2019 at 21:48
Sorry about the layout – no idea how to amend it with this new format.
The essence of the small add is every customer can get a free copy of the much sought-after “I Want To Hold Your hand” single by The Beatles, simply by buying the “NEW MARK 12” from the American Aviation Company.
I have no idea what the “NEW MARK 12” is or might be and wondered if anyone reading this would be able to venture a suggestion.
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October 24, 2019 at 9:40 pm