For 100 years and counting, dedicated teams have shaped every model kit, every glider, and every shipment, delighting millions of aviation enthusiasts, young and old.
Walk through the Guillow’s factory, and you’re not just seeing how model airplanes are made; you’re seeing how they’ve always been made. Not by automation alone, but by people. Hands shaping balsa. Eyes checking every detail. Generations of employees who didn’t just do the work but took pride in it.
For a century, Guillow’s has been defined not only by what it produces but also by the people who make it possible.
Every Piece, Every Step
There’s something unique about a Guillow’s kit. It isn’t just assembled, it’s crafted.
“This is a product that wouldn’t exist without employees carefully handling every piece of each kit,” says President Eric Packer. “From raw balsa wood to finished packaging, each component passes through careful hands. There are no shortcuts. If something isn’t right, it shows. That’s part of the responsibility, and the pride..”
“The weight of the wood, the way a part fits, the way a wing lines up; those details matter,” adds Thomas Barker. “If you miss them, the customer knows immediately.”
A Tradition of Quality
For many employees, the work isn’t learned from a manual. It’s learned from each other.
When Carmella Addonizio started in 1975, she learned by watching and working alongside more experienced employees.
“I learned by shadowing the older workers at the time in each of the different areas,” she recalls. “I loved learning the different aspects and being well-versed in each area,” she says.
That kind of hands-on training creates something deeper than process; it builds understanding. Over time, Carmella came to know every part of the operation. That knowledge doesn’t disappear. It gets passed along, one generation to the next.
A Culture of Craftsmanship
Inside the factory, the culture has never been about fanfare. It’s about doing the job right.
“It’s very friendly and helpful. People are willing to do whatever job needs doing,” says Ann Gerrior, who joined Guillow’s in 1984.
That mindset has defined the company for decades. It’s a place where people step in, speak up, and take ownership of their work.
“The operation doesn’t work well unless we all work together,” Carmella explains. “We always make sure the cogs are running.”
It’s teamwork, plain and simple. And it’s essential.
Knowing It Will Fly
There’s a moment every Guillow’s employee understands.
It’s when a finished kit leaves the factory, not just as a product, but as an experience waiting to happen. “When you see Guillow’s products in a store… I feel very proud,” says Carmella. “I always tell people I could have made those products.”
That connection, from factory floor to first flight, is what makes the work meaningful.
Employees know that what they’re making isn’t just a model. It’s a first build. A shared moment. A small victory when something finally lifts off the ground.
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More Than a Job
For many, Guillow’s isn’t just where they work. It’s where they’ve been part of something special that’s brought enjoyment to generations.
“I’ve had the chance to work with so many people from different backgrounds and expand my horizons,” Carmella says. “And I get to be a part of that legacy.”
That sense of belonging runs deep.
“People stick around because they feel connected to the work. They’re part of something that’s been around a long time and still matters,” says Barker. “They walk into the factory and say it feels like they are coming back home. Even those who leave don’t fully leave. When retired employees return for a visit, the feeling is immediate.”
What We Create Together Matters
As Guillow’s approaches its 100th anniversary, one thing is clear: its reputation wasn’t built overnight. It was built day by day by people who cared about the details, took pride in their work, and refused to let anything leave their hands unless it was right.
“That quality, that reputation; it’s built by people who take pride in what they are doing,” Barker says. “Even when it was the hard way.”
That standard continues today.
“Everyone is part of quality assurance,” Packer adds. “From the people cutting the wood to the people sealing the final product.”
Carrying It Forward
As the company enters its second century, the tools may evolve. The processes may improve. But the heart of Guillow’s remains the same.
“The employees are the company’s identity,” Packer says. “Always have been. And always will be.”
For nearly 100 years, Guillow’s has helped people build something with their hands—and watch it fly. Behind every one of those moments is someone who cut the wood, packed the box, checked the fit, and made sure it was right.
The planes may take flight. But it’s the people who make it possible.
“The operation doesn’t work unless we all work together.”
