Paul K. Guillow, Inc.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Model aircraft kits, toys |
| Predecessor | NuCraft Toys |
| Founded | 1926 in Wakefield, Massachusetts, United States |
| Founder | Paul K. Guillow |
| Headquarters | Wakefield , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Gertrude Guillow (expanded and modernized operations post-1952) |
| Products | Balsa wood model aircraft kits, foam promotional flying toys |
Paul K. Guillow, Inc., commonly referred to as Guillow's, is a U.S.-based producer specializing in balsa wood model aircraft kits. Established in 1926 by Paul K. Guillow in Wakefield, Massachusetts, the company was initially named NuCraft Toys.
Founder
Paul Guillow (1893–1951), a naval aviator during World War I and alumnus of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, developed a fascination with aviation toys following his military service. This enthusiasm led him to create the company.
Company history
Among the earliest offerings were The Lindy Flying Game (1927) and Crash: The New Airplane Game (1928). After Charles Lindbergh’s historic 1927 transatlantic flight, Guillow's introduced a series of balsa wood model kits depicting World War I biplane fighters. These kits, priced at just 10 cents each, included both plans and materials, providing excellent value. By 1933, growing demand allowed the business to relocate from a family barn to its present Wakefield location.
During the Second World War, shortages of balsa wood compelled Guillow's to substitute cardboard and pine for model construction while also manufacturing target drones used for gunnery practice. After the war, the focus shifted toward mass production of hand-launched gliders and rubber band-powered airplanes distributed widely through retail channels.
In 1948, Paul Guillow filed a patent for a model airplane glider designed for straightforward assembly and instructional purposes; this patent was awarded posthumously in 1952 to his wife Gertrude. She then expanded and modernized operations until retiring in 1980. By 1953, Guillow’s had begun high-speed packaging of mass-produced balsa gliders, leading to robust sales figures.
During the 1990s, Guillow's grew by acquiring competitors Tiger, Inc. (based in Los Angeles) and Comet (Chicago). Tiger specialized in foam promotional flying toys—a product category that remains part of Guillow's lineup today. Technological enhancements introduced include laser-cutting techniques for balsa components, enhancing precision and simplifying assembly. By 2011, the company’s annual revenue was estimated between $5 million and $6 million.
Use in research
Balsa toy gliders are frequently utilized in physics classrooms to illustrate aerodynamic concepts such as Bernoulli's principle. In 1999, the American Journal of Physics featured a detailed quantitative study of the Guillow Super-Ace glider, weighing 3.51 grams and retailing at $1.99, demonstrating its significance as an educational tool.
Product line
Guillow's product range includes affordable slide-together balsa gliders and rubber band-powered airplanes alongside more sophisticated stick-and-tissue scale model kits. Approximately 40% of sales come from simpler gliders and planes sold through hobby shops and retail outlets; another 30% stems from complex scale models; while the remaining 30% originates from promotional flying toys customized with corporate branding for bulk promotional merchandise distribution. Signature models include highly detailed replicas such as the 1903 Wright Flyer with a wingspan of 20 inches and the B-24 D Liberator—the largest kit featuring a wingspan of 48½ inches—highlighting the firm’s dedication to product variety and targeted market segments.