About Us

Born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1908, Charles was the son of Tobin(mother) and father, Louis a Kosher butcher. Like many men of his time, he enlisted/drafted in the U.S. Army during World War II. A gifted horseback rider, Charles elected to serve in the Veterinary Corp and after a few years of duty, he had progressed into a accomplished equestrian. Encouraged by his work in the Army and his love for riding, Charles started his first business in 1948, The Hitching Post Riding Academy, where he sought to teach the art of horsemanship to novice and practiced riders alike. The business saw initial success, but with a growing family to support, he pursued other avenues. In 1965, Charles sensed opportunity in a different kind of business. The waning of recent wars resulted in a cheap abundance of federally issued materials like cloth and canvas.

Recognizing the value of this timely occurrence, Charles sold his horses and stable—effectively gambling on a wholly novel enterprise. Equipped with U.S. Military surplus canvas, he pursued contracts with trucking companies to outfit fleets in need of canvas covers. Additionally, he was approached by customers requesting re-purposed canvas for other uses like tarps and hunting tents. Witness to the success of this venture, canvas proved to be a gateway to the purchase of additional surplus like flight suits, fiberglass helmet shells, and flight helmets— all readily available through the U.S. Government Surplus program.

By 1969, Charles managed his own Army/Navy & boutique shop in downtown Hartford, selling war-era military-issue leather flight jackets, denim jeans, and other assorted apparel. In his spare time, Charles began rebuilding and refurbishing Vietnam War aviator helmets in the backroom of the retail store. Handy, tinkering, and self-teaching, he sold his restored military helmet models to pilots for crop-spraying all along the east coast & mid west. Now teetering on the threshold of a new business venture, he pursued wholeheartedly.