RC Allen Instruments History

R.C. ALLEN GOES TO WAR
At the onset of World War II, The need for a large quantity of aircraft propelled R.C. Allen Inc., a business machine manufacturer, into the aviation world. R.C. Allen had the facilities to manufacture the delicate instruments needed for the war effort. Thousands of R.C. Allen Turn and Bank instruments were installed on war-bound aircraft to help win the war for the Allied Forces.

Since then, the product line has been greatly expanded to meet the demands of advancing technology. There are new R.C. Allen instru- ments flying in vintage B-17’s even today!

We take pride in the fact that our instruments are not only still flying in the U.S. inventory, but also with our Allies around the world.

COMPANY HISTORY

Kelly Manufacturing Company (KMC) is the manu- facturer of the R.C. Allen line of instruments. KMC is the largest manufacturer of general aviation aircraft instruments in the world and has two manufacturing plants. One is situated in Wichita, Kansas, and the second in Grenola, Kansas. Both plants also operate FAA licensed repair stations.

R.C. Allen Inc. was founded by Ralph C. Allen (1884-1967) in 1932 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Later, it became known as R.C. Allen Business Machines Inc. and was one of the leading manufacturers of business machines. Thousands of old R.C. Allen cash registers, adding machines and typewriters can still be found across the country today.

After World War II launched the company into the aircraft instrument world, R.C. Allen continued as a major government contractor, and manufactured instruments for the Korean War and on. Thousands of Rate Gyro Transmitters were made for military jets during this period. During peacetime, the company developed sub-miniature gyros for Saturn rockets, and at one time, twenty of the special gyros were in orbit at the same time.

By 1972, R.C. Allen was the largest manufacturer of aircraft instruments for general aviation in the world. When R.C. Allen Business Machines Inc. was sold off, the instrument division was moved in 1977 to the Air Capital of the World, Wichita, Kansas. Under new ownership, it became the R.C. Allen Division of Aircraft Instrument and Development (AID). In 1996, Kelly Manufacturing Company became the manufacturers of the R.C. Allen line of flight instruments.

Today, the company still retains its position as the industry’s leading manufacturer. The R.C. Allen instrument line include air and electric Attitude and Directional Gyros, Turn and Banks, Turn and Slips, Turn Coordinators, Tachometers, Engine Gages, a large line of voltage warning systems, battery probe assemblies and inverters, along with numerous specialty items. They can be found on military and private fixed-wing and rotorcraft all around the world.