Peter Powell (kite maker): Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|British kite maker (1932–2016)}} |
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{{Refimprove|date=October 2008}} |
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{{other people|Peter Powell}} |
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[[File:Peter Powell 1978 (cropped).jpg|thumb|250px|Peter Powell at the 1st AKA Convention in [[Ocean City, Maryland]] in 1978.]] |
[[File:Peter Powell 1978 (cropped).jpg|thumb|250px|Peter Powell at the 1st AKA Convention in [[Ocean City, Maryland]] in 1978.]] |
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| ⚫ | '''Peter Trevor Powell''' (29 June 1932 – 3 January 2016)<ref name=Times>''The Times'' Obituary - Peter Powell, 8 February 2016. p48</ref> was a British kite maker who developed a steerable kite in 1972, using dual lines. The kite that made him famous is known as the "Peter Powell Stunter". It became an international bestselling kite in 1976.<ref name=bbc>{{cite news |title=Peter Powell's stunt kite: The rise and fall and rise again |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-39258851 |access-date=31 March 2021 |publisher=BBC |date=22 March 2017}}</ref> Very early on, Powell's kites had spars made of ramin (''[[Gonystylus]]'') which were later replaced with aluminium tubing and, later still, by glass fibre spars. Originally they all came with black plastic sails, though later blue, red and yellow sails became available. The kites came with a long, hollow polyethylene tail that was inflated by the wind. The tail added stability as well as looking good when performing stunts. |
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| ⚫ | '''Peter Trevor Powell''' (29 June 1932 – 3 January 2016)<ref name=Times>''The Times'' Obituary - Peter Powell, 8 February 2016. p48</ref> was a kite maker who developed a steerable kite in 1972, using dual lines. Very early on, Powell's kites had spars made of ramin (''[[Gonystylus]]'') which were later replaced with aluminium tubing and, later still, by glass fibre spars. Originally they all came with black plastic sails, though later blue, red and yellow sails became available. The kites came with a long, hollow polyethylene tail that was inflated by the wind. The tail added stability as well as looking good when performing stunts. |
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==Early life== |
==Early life== |
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He was born in [[Gloucester]].<ref name=soglos>[http://www.soglos.com/sport-outdoor/36918/Peter-Powell-Kites-opening-at-Beechwood-Arcade at SO Glos online magazine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215230203/http://www.soglos.com/sport-outdoor/36918/Peter-Powell-Kites-opening-at-Beechwood-Arcade |date=2016-02-15 }} Retrieved 5 January 2016</ref> His parents toured with an [[Ideal Home Exhibition]] show and he served in the [[Royal Air Force]] where he trained as a mechanic and maintained [[Gloster Meteor]] aircraft. He then ran a business with his brother painting road markings.<ref name=Times/> |
He was born in [[Gloucester]], England.<ref name=soglos>[http://www.soglos.com/sport-outdoor/36918/Peter-Powell-Kites-opening-at-Beechwood-Arcade at SO Glos online magazine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215230203/http://www.soglos.com/sport-outdoor/36918/Peter-Powell-Kites-opening-at-Beechwood-Arcade |date=2016-02-15 }} Retrieved 5 January 2016</ref> His parents toured with an [[Ideal Home Exhibition]] show and he served in the [[Royal Air Force]] where he trained as a mechanic and maintained [[Gloster Meteor]] aircraft. He then ran a business with his brother painting road markings.<ref name=Times/> |
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==Kite production== |
==Kite production== |
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| ⚫ | 300 kites a week |
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| ⚫ | After Powell developed the "Peter Powell Stunter", he was producing and selling about 300 kites a week. This changed when the kite was featured on an episode of the [[BBC]] News and current affairs television programme ''[[Nationwide (TV programme)|Nationwide]]''. Demand for the kites soared to 25,000 a week. Two factories were opened, followed by a further three with production reaching 75,000 a week.<ref name=BBC>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-35225337 Peter Powell at BBC News Gloucester] Retrieved 5 January 2016</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Powell won the silver diploma for his kite at the Exhibition of New Inventions and Techniques in Geneva in 1975. In 1976, the Peter Powell kite was elected toy of the year by the [[British Association of Toy Retailers]]. Millions of kites were sold |
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| ⚫ | Powell won the silver diploma for his kite at the Exhibition of New Inventions and Techniques in Geneva in 1975. In 1976, the Peter Powell kite was elected toy of the year by the [[British Association of Toy Retailers]]. Millions of kites were sold as flying steerable kites became a craze. The popularity of all types of multiple-line [[kite flying]] today can be attributed directly to Powell's development of a modern dual-line kite. |
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Powell often took his kites around the country and sold them from the back of his car. In 1974 (approx) he was selling them on [[Paignton]] sea front for £10 each. He advertised by simply flying the kites |
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Several decades later, as other companies created similar products, his sales declined and the company tottered on the brink. One day, according to an account from his sons, "Dad had been round all the factories, collected all their jigs for making the kite and he had a big bonfire and burnt everything to do with the kite. 'He said to me and Paul, whatever you do, do not start that business back up again.'" |
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| ⚫ | However, in 2014, Powell and his sons Mark and Paul reopened a Kite store at the [[Cheltenham]] Shopping Centre focusing on a MKIII version of the kite.<ref name=gloucestereecho>[http://www.gloucestershireecho.co.uk/Kite-king-Peter-Powell-opens-new-store-Cheltenham/story-21227472-detail/story.html Kite King Peter Powell opens new store Cheltenham] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140615052437/http://www.gloucestershireecho.co.uk/Kite-king-Peter-Powell-opens-new-store-Cheltenham/story-21227472-detail/story.html |date=2014-06-15 }}. Retrieved 5 January 2016</ref><ref name=soglos /> |
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== Personal == |
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On 3 January 2016, he died at the age of 83 after a stroke at his home in [[Cheltenham]], Gloucestershire.<ref>{{cite web|url= |
On 3 January 2016, he died at the age of 83 after a stroke at his home in [[Cheltenham]], Gloucestershire.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-35225337|title=Peter Powell stunt kite pioneer of the 1970s dies|work=BBC}}</ref> He has two sons, Mark and Paul who carry on his kite legacy. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/ilove/years/1976/toys1.shtml Article and interview with Peter Powell (video) on bbc.co.uk] |
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/ilove/years/1976/toys1.shtml Article and interview with Peter Powell (video) on bbc.co.uk] |
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* [https:// |
* [https://patents.google.com/patent/US3954235 US Patent US3954235 filed by Peter Power on Aug 21, 1974] |
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* [https:// |
* [https://patents.google.com/patent/US4076189 US Patent US4076189 Filed by Peter Powell on July 16, 1976] |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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[[Category:1932 births]] |
[[Category:1932 births]] |
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[[Category:People from Cheltenham]] |
[[Category:People from Cheltenham]] |
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[[Category:Military personnel from Gloucester]] |
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[[Category:20th-century Royal Air Force personnel]] |
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[[Category:Royal Air Force airmen]] |
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Latest revision as of 17:13, 8 June 2024
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Peter Trevor Powell (29 June 1932 – 3 January 2016)[1] was a British kite maker who developed a steerable kite in 1972, using dual lines. The kite that made him famous is known as the "Peter Powell Stunter". It became an international bestselling kite in 1976.[2] Very early on, Powell's kites had spars made of ramin (Gonystylus) which were later replaced with aluminium tubing and, later still, by glass fibre spars. Originally they all came with black plastic sails, though later blue, red and yellow sails became available. The kites came with a long, hollow polyethylene tail that was inflated by the wind. The tail added stability as well as looking good when performing stunts.
Early life
[edit]He was born in Gloucester, England.[3] His parents toured with an Ideal Home Exhibition show and he served in the Royal Air Force where he trained as a mechanic and maintained Gloster Meteor aircraft. He then ran a business with his brother painting road markings.[1]
Kite production
[edit]After Powell developed the "Peter Powell Stunter", he was producing and selling about 300 kites a week. This changed when the kite was featured on an episode of the BBC News and current affairs television programme Nationwide. Demand for the kites soared to 25,000 a week. Two factories were opened, followed by a further three with production reaching 75,000 a week.[4]
Powell won the silver diploma for his kite at the Exhibition of New Inventions and Techniques in Geneva in 1975. In 1976, the Peter Powell kite was elected toy of the year by the British Association of Toy Retailers. Millions of kites were sold as flying steerable kites became a craze. The popularity of all types of multiple-line kite flying today can be attributed directly to Powell's development of a modern dual-line kite.
Powell often took his kites around the country and sold them from the back of his car. In 1974 (approx) he was selling them on Paignton sea front for £10 each. He advertised by simply flying the kites
Several decades later, as other companies created similar products, his sales declined and the company tottered on the brink. One day, according to an account from his sons, "Dad had been round all the factories, collected all their jigs for making the kite and he had a big bonfire and burnt everything to do with the kite. 'He said to me and Paul, whatever you do, do not start that business back up again.'"
However, in 2014, Powell and his sons Mark and Paul reopened a Kite store at the Cheltenham Shopping Centre focusing on a MKIII version of the kite.[5][3]
Personal
[edit]On 3 January 2016, he died at the age of 83 after a stroke at his home in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.[6] He has two sons, Mark and Paul who carry on his kite legacy.
References
[edit]- ^ a b The Times Obituary - Peter Powell, 8 February 2016. p48
- ^ "Peter Powell's stunt kite: The rise and fall and rise again". BBC. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ a b at SO Glos online magazine Archived 2016-02-15 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 5 January 2016
- ^ Peter Powell at BBC News Gloucester Retrieved 5 January 2016
- ^ Kite King Peter Powell opens new store Cheltenham Archived 2014-06-15 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 January 2016
- ^ "Peter Powell stunt kite pioneer of the 1970s dies". BBC.
External links
[edit]- Article and interview with Peter Powell (video) on bbc.co.uk
- US Patent US3954235 filed by Peter Power on Aug 21, 1974
- US Patent US4076189 Filed by Peter Powell on July 16, 1976