WWII Slot Assisted War Effort

[arrgee]

Many slot collectors will probably know that the Mills Novelty Company produced components during WWII for the armaments industry, manufacturing bomb carriers, mushroom valves, slip rings and directional aerials. Following Federal funding, Mills changed its name in 1943 to Mills Industries which now more effectively represented their wider manufacturing output. However, I recently discovered that another well-known slot company also assisted in the war effort.

In 1944 the US introduced the first effective ‘drone’ called the TDR-1 Assault Drone. It had an early/basic television camera in the nose and was operated remotely from a control aircraft quite a few miles away. The drone was twin engined and carried a 2000-pound bomb or an aerial torpedo and was covered with a moulded wooden skin. This wooden skin was manufactured by Wurlitzer (of juke box fame). I have no idea how Wurlitzer became involved with this project, but 195 drones were produced, and a number of missions were undertaken with the drones in the South Pacific war against Japan.

What a leap from coin-op music to helping assist the production of an unmanned combat plane!

Amazing what history can offer up when you start to dig down.

[john t peterson]

Wonder if it played music on the way to target?

J Peterson
Jukin' in America

[arrgee]

It probably played 'The Star Spangled Banner' John, as it thundered through the air (music was composed by a British chap with words by an American)

[ddstoys]

How cool is that

Hearing the plane made from wood reminded me of the video of the Wurlitzer factory showing how they made everything in house.