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Twelve vols. Oblong folio. 19 x 12.5 x approx. 2-3 in. per vol., 30 linear inches. [251; 278; 228; 84; 233; 312; 264; 140; 158; 160; 208; 212 leaves (11 of 12 vols. unnumbered).], all silver gelatin Photostatic photo print positives, on inconsistent quality papers, either due to processing or washing process after being shot with the Rectigraph camera reproducing through a prism an image, some w/ borders, all featuring nine 4 x 6 in. data cards on recto of each leaf, all identified w/in the original images, some from photographs, containing well over 20,000 illustrations, diagrams, photographs, and technical details (roughness to some of the fore-edges, photo textblock not cut or trimmed to size, so rough cut at fore-edges, occasional lifting from old wicking at fore-edges, faint tidemark to lower fore-edges of a couple volumes). Uniformly bound in three-quarter maroon-coloured calf over black pebbled cloth on beveled boards, Broun-Green Co. Safety Minute Book, McMillan Patented post-binders, with three metal posts and ring locking mechanism, all leaves perforated at gutter margin for loading into the binders, decorated endpapers, thumb tabs at fore-edges demarcating the front of the binder, gilt lettered title stamped on front covers of all (some scuffing, edgewear, couple hinges starting, or weakened, occasional scuffing to back covers, or to spines, former owner's labels attached to spines of a couple vols.), still a VG set originally acquired by a collector when most of Harrah's automobiles, and other material were auctioned off in three separate sales in the mid-1980's, after efforts to preserve the collection failed following the acquisition of Harrah's casino and hotel empire by Holiday Inns, with their ownership stamps on flyleaves. Since Harrah mechanics had to maintain a fleet of over 1425 automobiles, many of them exceedingly rare early Brass Era, and foreign models, these volumes provided invaluable mechanical details. This immense and unique reference set reproduces over 22,000 well-illustrated index research cards on 2525 leaves, prepared by General Motors for their engineering and technical staff tracking and recording the myriad of manufacturers and suppliers for automobiles, trucks, aircraft, and marine craft from the Brass Era through the Great Depression. These prepared by the GM in-house technical periodical, "Motor Vehicle Digest," provide essential visual and technical historical data for the development, patent history, engineering, inventions, of most of the major and minor, national and international, automobile manufacturers, and parts suppliers for over three decades prior to World War II. Basically serving as the automotive industry's equivalent of the National Union Catalogue, or Acta Sanctorum, these gigantic volumes trace the origins, mechanical development, devices, and equipment on 1000's of different manufacturers, most having been lost now to the passage of time, and the many shake-ups during the 20th Century. Not only do they serve as original reference from contemporary technical journals in German, French, Italian, Norwegian, Dutch, and Danish, all neatly translated into English, but also offer a means to visually trace the development of the automobile. The four "Engine Parts" volumes include extensive sections on magnetos, gasoline pumps, accessory drive chains, camshaft gears, water pumps, pistons, crank shafts, water pumps, fuel systems, fuel gauges, carburetors, throttle controls, air filters, fuel injection, and even the 1937 introduction of the Down Draft Carburetor. Of notable interest is the extensive section on radiator badges or mascots, and Motometer ornaments for the radiators, including winged Gods & Goddesses, animals, and grille ornaments. The myriad of manufacturers represented is dizzying, ranging from Mercedes to Packard, Bugatti to Lejeuene, Wolsely to Zenith, with Napier, Thornycroft, Solex, Rateau, Mercedes, Rickenbacker, Stromberg & Locomobile thrown in. Electrical s.
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