Ed Coates Collection

[thomarse]

Are we all aware of the most amazing, interesting, nostalgic and evocative collection of photos of Ed Coates?

www.edcoatescollection.com/

I could go on for hours about these, but just a couple of points:

A number refer to "the Jim Dyson collection via David Molesworth". I've been around the NZ aviation scene for well over 50 years, and I can't recall either of these names.

When I first discovered this collection, I contacted Ed and we exchanged a number of emails. I made a genuine offer to assist him in clearing up a few details, but he didn't take up the offer. The main discrepancy is in the location where shots were taken, as you'll soon see.

I once did a count of the number of Tigers that are obviously at Bridge Pa and I think it came to about 30. As it would seem that a majority of those shots are taken on the same occasion, I'd love to know what it was - it must have been a huge ag-aviation get-together as there are a/c from virtually all over the country present, and must have been early 1950s. Anyone know?

[Dave Homewood]

Tiger Moth Club fly-in maybe?

[shorty]

Feb 10, 2010 13:50:45 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Tiger Moth Club fly-in maybe?

early 50's would be pre Tiger Club surely?

[ams888]

I have seen this web site, and find it an enjoyable past time looking through the very comprehensive collection of photographs he has.

[fletcherfu24]

Don't forget in the early 1950's there were probably about 20 or 30 Agricultural Tiger Moths based at Bridge Pa.

[Peter Lewis]

"the Jim Dyson collection via David Molesworth".

I also have never heard of either of these folk prior to the Ed Coates connection. I am guessing that Dyson was a professional photographer judging by the quality of his 1950s photos who had a client or two interested in aviation publicity photos.

Coates visited NZ one or two times in the 1950s, and given the number of Tigers in the Hawkes Bay area at that time would probably have been able to accumulate quite a few Tiger Moth photos in that area in a relatively short space of time - think Hamilton airport and Fletchers in the 1960s.

Coates photos are interesting, but his NZ historical comments are in a few cases misleading, inaccurate and sometimes outdated. I too offered assistance, but had no response.

[thomarse]

That's interesting Peter, and a real shame - it may seem pedantic, but I think accuracy IS important especially in the internet age when miriads of new enthusiasts will be cutting their teeth on the info available. The most common misreport is those shots that include the unmistakeable clubhouse or hangar with windsock on roof at Bridge Pa, and a raft of Tiger shots taken at Rongotai but accredited to various locations. I wonder if there was an "official" shot taken the day they were first trotted out wearing a civilian rego? Many are very similar.

Poolguy; agreed that there probably were 20 or more residents, but on a quick look AQG (Aerial Sowing) AQW (Cookson) and ATI (Air Contracts) are visitors. Maybe if one was to analyse the lot there would be 50 Tigers in front of the pines - those same pines that a fair few of them blew right over in that storm of 1957 from memory.

How many old (ancient) AHSNZers are on here - older than agavwiz and me? Our mate the late Joe Deans would know the answer to what brought all those Tigers together.

[fletcherfu24]

Wasn't Temple Martin based at Bridge Pa?,would stand to reason there would be plenty of visitors at 'Mr Tiger Moths' workshop.