Cars (up to 1945): Books - History and Models

American Cars in Europe, 1900-1940 - A Pictorial Survey

Germany is most often credited with the birth of the internal combustion engine. France gave rise to the first credible motor industry. The United States added a little Yankee ingenuity and came up with its own version of both. While the American automobile industry got off to a bumpy start, by 1908, U.S. automobile production had surpassed that of European manufacturers.
When the outbreak of World War I all but halted European production of passenger cars, American auto makers took advantage of the opportunity to establish a toehold in Europe. During the war and for two decades after, American automobiles, which were considered reliable and cheap, were a common sight on the streets of many European cities and towns.

This book contains a unique and unprecedented collection of period photographs, recording American automobiles - and their owners - in various locations throughout Europe between the years of 1900 and 1940.
Captions include the make and model of each car; information on the setting of the photograph; and remarks on interesting details, unusual accessories or distinguishing features of each car. Argo, Jewitt, Durant and Reo automobiles are represented here along with household names such as Buick, Chevrolet and Ford.

Product details

The Electric Car in America, 1890-1922 - A Social History

At the end of 1900 the auto industry was set to become a huge force in America over the following ten years or so as the car moved from being a plaything of the rich to being a mass market item, increasingly available to most segments of society. The electric vehicle seemed poised in 1900 to be a leader, or even the dominant force. It had large advantages over vehicles driven by the other two main motive powers, steam and gasoline.

Electric cars were clean, odorless, noiseless and they were mechanically simple, compared to their rivals. They rarely broke down and they were easy to operate. An electric car could be started instantly from the driver's seat; no other machine could claim that advantage.

But then it all went wrong. The hope and confidence of 1900 collapsed and just two decades later the electric car was dead; two makers continued to produce until late in the 1920s but it was all over for the electrics by the start of the 1920s. Inherent advantages paled in the face of disadvantages that were never resolved.

The machines were costly and never came down in price while gasoline cars saw dramatic price reductions over time. Most of all the storage battery was an endless source of problems. Even the genius of Thomas Edison, who worked for over a decade to try and produce a better battery, was unable to prevail.

All the electric car industry was able to mount in the guise of dealing with myriad problems was to present an increasingly frantic public relations campaign of lies and deceptive advertising; but never any solutions to the industry's problems.

Product details

Deutsche Autos 1920-1945

This new edition presents "German Cars" in a concise form, with modern design and many new colour photos. It is based on the renowned standard work by automotive historian Werner Oswald.
His precise style and extensive expertise remain unchanged, as he explains the development of the German automotive industry from the early 1920s to the end of the Second World War.

The book shows which companies sold, produced or assembled vehicles in Germany during this period. Oswald includes not only major manufacturers but also many small and almost forgotten brands.

The presentation combines clear technical information with careful historical and economic context, creating a compact reference volume that offers both an overview of key models and insights into lesser-known parts of automotive history.

Pages of the book "Deutsche Autos 1920-1945"

Product details

Motor-Kritik-Testbuch: Reprint der Originale von 1938 und 1939 - 108 Auto- und Motorradtests

In the pre-war period, Motor-Kritik was THE specialist magazine for technically interested car and motorcycle drivers. Until he had to vacate his post during the Nazi era, the editor-in-chief was Josef Ganz, the legendary designer, advocate of light and safe cars and designer of the "Volkswagen" called the May Beetle.
However, Motor-Kritik also continued to provide its readers with extraordinarily thorough car and motorcycle tests.

Pages of the book "Motor-Kritik-Testbuch: Reprint der Originale von 1938 und 1939 - 108 Auto- und Motorradtests"

In this volume you will find a reprint of the two large test books that appeared shortly before the Second World War. This has resulted in a unique reference work in which you will find all the technical data, consumption and comparison values, prices and driving reports for the common four- and two-wheelers of the late 1930s.

There are a total of 108 test cards, as well as information about the magazine, about editor-in-chief Ganz and about the car and motorcycle scene of those days.
A treasure trove not only for fans and connoisseurs - the Motor-Kritik test book is both a contemporary document and a unique collection of data.

Product details

Automobile in den 30er Jahren - Aufnahmen aus dem berühmten Bildarchiv Dr. Paul Wolff & Tritschler

Hardly any other technical development has changed our lives in the last 100 years and had such a lasting impact on them as the automobile, which - after its first major use during the First World War - developed into the modern means of transport in the 1920s and 1930s.
However, at that time it was still a luxury item of high social importance that only a few wealthy people could afford.

This period of rapidly developing individual transport before the Second World War was captured in countless, unique Leica photographs by the photo studio Dr. Paul Wolff & Tritschler in Frankfurt (M), which are unparalleled and document all areas of road traffic in the twenties and thirties: for example, the development stages of the automobile; manufacturing, automobile exhibitions, car advertising, the first car vacations, automobile tournaments, beauty contests, automobile racing and exhibitions.
Werner Schollenberger supplements his brief texts with a biography of Dr. Paul Wolff and the subject of photography.

Product details

Deutsche Autos 1885-1920

Before the First World War, there were at times more than 170 manufacturers bringing automobiles onto the German market. Hardly anyone knows their names anymore, but Halwart Schrader takes his readers on a journey back in time to the Schnauferl era.

Pages of the book "Deutsche Autos 1885-1920"

It is dedicated not only to the beginnings of familiar brands such as Daimler, Benz and Opel, but also to the almost forgotten ones such as Brennabor, Dürkopp, Adler & Co. There are also explanations of technical terms from the ancient car era, data tables and almost 800 photos and illustrations: the opulent documentation of a long-gone era and a wonderful addition to the series.

Product details