Transcontinent 1910: The Automotive Adventures of Two Young Men
Rochester, N.Y. Mark H. Chaplin, 2012. First Edition. Large Hardcover. Near Fine / Near Fine. Item #2307203
ISBN: 9780979584114
First edition. A near fine copy in a near fine jacket.
115 pp. Photographs, maps, and facsimiles of documents throughout. "Transcontinent 1910 is the story of two MIT students who late in their studies embarked on a transcontinental automobile trip from Boston to Portland. The story told entirely in one man's letters, photos and journals is a testament to youthful adventure, self determination, and old fashioned American ingenuity. The men travelling in their 1909 Oldsmobile endured harsh conditions and travelled to places where most residents had yet to see a "machine." The telling of this story by Joe Fuller, one of the MIT students, enlightens the reader to the great revolution of innovation occurring in America at the dawn of the twentieth century. Clearly the travelers were bridging two worlds. The world of past conventions of travel; rail, horse, and boat vs. the new convention of motor vehicle travel. Fuller's forty letters and daily journal are insightful not only about the pitfalls and hazards of early automotive travel, but also about the level of self reliance required both for independent travel and to sustain rural American life at the turn of the century. Their 1909 Oldsmobile was put through abuse probably far exceeding its engineered tolerances. The men's ability to repair the machine on their own without nearby repair facilities is quite remarkable. The tenacity required to get their overloaded car across the country through extreme conditions is mind boggling. Clear your head, sit back, and put yourself in the travelers' shoes. Take a trip across the country, it is one you won't soon forget."--jacket flap
Price: $75.00