"The American Automobile"

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by John B. Rae. 265 pp. 9 1/2 in. 6 1/4, in. (The Univercity of Chicago Press, 70, Gt. Russell Street, London, W.C.1. 44s 6d.)

This is a scholarly presentation of American automobile history, claimed to be the first of its kind. The author is Professor of American Economic History at Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California, and he covers the whole field of U.S. automotive development from the birth of the mechanically-propelled vehicle to the scene as it was in 1964, when 200-million cars had been built in America since the days of the Duryea brothers, with 80-million currently in active use.

This is a sociological, industrial history rather than a book concerned with automobile technical development. It should be invaluable as a reference work to serious students and writers, and concludes with suggested additional reading, including books throwing some light on the Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Oldsmobile, Studebaker and Pope Companies. (The author says no good biographies of Nash or Durant have been published.)—W. B.