Career
His contribution to United States aircraft engineering lead to the United States" setting of multiple world air speed records. West.W. Skirvin was the youngest of ten children (six boys, four girls). They all lived together on tobacco farms in Kentucky and Indiana.
At a young age Skirvin learned to work the fields.
As a child in the 1920s Skirvin curiosity got the best of him including a dynamite explosion and a near deafening joy-ride. He once stripped a buggy to the wheels and raced it down a steep incline.
lieutenant picked up so much speed that he lost control, and as he rolled down the hill a stick, poking up from the ground struck him in his ear. They slept in hobo camps and picked up food where they could find lieutenant
Skirvin cleaned windows, drove cabs, and even pushed a vegetable cart door to door before making his first real estate purchase in the late 1930s.
lieutenant was on East. Michigan Street in Indianapolis, Indiana. The building had a pool room which he operated, and apartments upstairs. In World World War II there were many jobs with good wages in the war plants.
Two engine-lathes and two bench drill-presses in a two-car garage: such was the start of the Company in 1944.
The first project was an aircraft job. Due to its success, more orders came in and the little garage was not large enough.
So a series of "forced" moves led to the building of a completely new 25,000 square foot plant in Fountain Square area Indianapolis. In 1947, aircraft parts engineered by Skirvin & Company were used on the United States Air Force Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star & the Navy Doctorate-558 Douglas Skystreak.
These airplanes set new world air speed records.
Among other inventions, In 1953, Skirvin produced the Cycle-Scoot, designed and manufactured in Indianapolis, Indiana United States of America. Skirvin"s throttle and brake design was unique in the scooter industry. The rider pushed down with the toe to go, pushed down with the heel to stop. The Indianapolis Cycle-Scoot was widely distributed in the United States.
Skirvin & Sons bought and operated other real estate including the Indiana Parking Garages, Indianapolis downtown parking lots & housing.
