Blue Headrest

Now that the headrest is off the plane I decided to wash it, just water and a soft brush.  With the dust and loose paint washed off it's clear the headrest was blue before it was painted black.

The blue seems to be a good match to the blue on the old sheet metal.

This got me looking at old photos more closely.  Here's the front half of the plane taken the same day as the aft half.  Clearly the sheet metal is still blue.  It looks like Mr. Betz is wearing Black pants.

This is the last know picture of the plane, taken in warm weather between May 31, 1937 and July 1939, when it was owned by Joe Brown, left.  The sheet metal still looks Blue and the fabric on the side of the fuselage is still in silver dope, not black.  It's possible the guy on the right is the prior owner Carl Bradshaw, and this was taken when Joe picked up the plane in Pinehurst, NC.  Carl Owned or worked at Pinehurst Garage Company, the local Chevrolet, Packard, Cadillac and La Salle dealer.  There must be a picture of him out there.

Anyway no Black on the fuselage.