Ahead of the curve
With its futuristic Buck Rogers shape, the Larson Falls Flyer looked like it came from another galaxy, and the radical Minnesota-built lakes speedster did indeed span two worlds. Although looking like an injection-moulded novelty bath toy – or possibly a half-sucked Werther’s Original – the outlandishly curved original Falls Flyer of 1939 was in part, traditionally constructed on steamed white-oak frames, but skinned in cedar strip planking sheathed in stretched canvas.
The lozenge-shaped lightweight – named in tribute to the original Falls Flyer, Little Falls native Charles Lindbergh – was certainly a flyer on the water, though never really took o in terms of mass sales. Nevertheless Larson Boats continued to produce it through to 1960, and by 1956, when this 14-footer was built, had transitioned to the material of the future: glassfibre. With its hand lay-up, this restored 1956 Falls Flyer is a delightful period piece, owned by one family until 2012. Still with its original Wurlitzer jukebox-style Johnson 30hp outboard and period-correct trailer, it made $16,500 in a Chicago auction.