Rooney77’s Blue Star Top for sale
UPDATE: This post from 2014 has been updated with additional brochure examples. See all the Blue Star hardtops documented thus far:
(From 2014) This Blue Star aluminum top was built by the Blue Manufacturing Company, founded in Kansas by Max Blue circa 1946. ‘Blue Star’ was the brand name used on several products he produced. There’s some conflicting information, but it appears In 1946 Blue Manufacturing was building aluminum airline parts. About that time, as a hobby, Max began building aluminum boats. He also tried manufacturing and selling jeep hard tops.
Demand was so great for the boats that in 1948 he leased space and built boats full-time. Meanwhile, he either sold or abandoned the jeep top business altogether. Given only a few Blue Star tops have surfaced over the last few years, I imagine he didn’t sell too many of them.
However, Max was able to sell boats. By 1953 the company was building 1,000 boats a year. In July of 1953 he moved the company from Goddard, Kansas, to Miami, Oklahoma. There are various articles into 1960 that talk about the Blue Manufacturing Company. However, the company appears to have ceased boat production in 1964.
A picture of Max Blue in the center of the photo. http://newspaperarchive.com/us/missouri/joplin/joplin-globe/1960/04-17/page-6
This brochure featuring a CJ-2A is the earliest example I have of this top. It was part of an early industrial equipment book.
Here’s another example, this time with a CJ-3A:
Here’s an ad that was featured on eBay.
Here’s an example of the logo badge:
Here is an example of the half tops:
Actual top:
Here are some photos of actual full hardtops:
During the summer of 2013 a seller on eBay had two jeeps with Blue Star tops for sale:
Jeep 1)
Jeep 2)
That’s interesting reading Dave, amazing there are so many left.
Sorry to hear about what your dad is going through. My parents both turn 84 this month and they make me worry every day.
Blue star was made in Miami, Oklahoma (not Florida)
Hello there, do you ever see any of the Blue Star Logos for the blue star boats, they were like the jeep tops but had the star in the middle of the name. I have a 1957 blue star boat restored with a restored 5.5 hp Evinrude outboard motor, I had decals made but would really like to have two original. I get as many looks at this boat and motor as one would get with a 57 Chev. Having the Logos would make all this complete. James
Grant: Thanks for catching that!
James: I haven’t seen the blue star logo anywhere, but I don’t have any search tags for that set up on eBay. That would seem to me most likely place you’ll find one. I’ll keep a lookout for them.
James, is this the version of logo you seek? This is only a photo, but it appears to be slightly different than the top logo: http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=13140396
Yes, this is exactly the Logo Mr. Max Blue used on his boats. Thanks James
If anyone has BlueStar boats or Jeep tops for sale please contact me @ stevenATsilvertreeDOTcom
Thanks
I am looking for two original decals or the art work so I can have them reproduced in Vinyl for the Star that used on the 1952 Blue Streak 10 1/2 foot A-B Utility racing boat. It was a large Blue Star with a round circle in the middle of the star with what appears to be mans head looking backwards, the name Blue Streak sitting above the two top arms of the Star & another word which I can make out between the bottom two legs of the star. The decal seems to be about 5″‘s in diameter??.
Thanks
Also the decal can be seen in the ad for boat K-51, John Jordans Blue Streak Racer.
I meant K-51 B. Does ANYBODY MONITOR THIS BOARD?? My email location is:buff10@charter.net
Yes, I monitor this board. But, I have to sleep, occasionally.
I have yet to see any blue star related decals, but if I run across one I’ll let you know.
– Dave
Thanks Dave
Blue Star Boat Decals Available on Ebay now.
RONALD
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Blue-Star-Vintage-Boat-Decal-Die-Cut-Blue-12-2-PAK-FREE-SHIP-Free-Fish-Decal-/381560637824?vxp=mtr
Apparently I have discovered that the Blue Star racing boats were built around 1950-52 & were available on an “A order only from the factory”during these years & due to low sales they were discontinued before Blue Star moved to Miami Oklahoma in July of 1953?. Any help on this or literature about these early A-B & C-D racing runabouts were produced & also a A-B Aluminum Hydroplane. Date started & date ended & approximately how many were ever built?
Thanks
Ronald
Thanks Ronald. If I run across any more Blue Star info, I’ll let you know.
– Dave
PLEASE DO!!!!!!!!! & THANKS
I now have found out that the Aluminum racing runabouts were built at the Goddard location, 1950-51-52. When Blue Star Boats moved to Miami, Oklahoma in June of 1953 they introduced the aluminum Hydro to the line up in 1954, so the first aluminum Blue Star A-B Hydro was built in 1954. The boat carries the metal Blue Star logo rather than the Indian Star as on the runabouts from Goddard.
David: I now have some pictures of the 1954 Blue Star Aluminum Hydroplane built at Miami, Oklahoma but do not know how to post pictures here. If interested send me your email location & I will send the pictures of the boat for you or someone else to post on this site?
Thanks
Ronald
Hi there , Still looking for two( Blue * Star )boat Logos like the one sent to me to verified in a previous emails. Thanks, James
Looking for anyone who has Roger Ringle email location. I lost it & he is writing a chapter about Blue Star aluminum boast built at Goddard Kansas 1950-53. It starts rogerringle@bunkhouse???????????
He is on facebook but I am not.
Thanks
This is a great ebayer
shabestari I got my blue * star decals from him quite sometime ago and ordered more than needed, put one up on front on my 1957 blue*star boat about 3″ down and centered the star, wrapped around perfect looks great. Would still make my day if someone had the two, one for ea. side on the rear for sale and notified me. James— Since getting the 1957 blue star boat and 1957 5.5 hp evinrude , I have also got a 1955—1948 and 41 all evinrude outboards and restored all Four and look good with original paint colors .
I just purchased a 48 willys with an aluminum hard top with about a 1 inch by two inch tag stating,
Built by Blue Manufacturing CO
129 Colorado
Wichita KAN.
Pat Pend
must be an early one
Hi Daniel,
If you get a chance, I’d love to see some pics of it. You can email them to d@ewillys.com
Thanks,
– DAve
I just got a blue top.