A History of Motors and Motoring

“A History of Motors and Motoring, Vol. Two (1901-1902-1903)” Edited by Michael Frostick. 226 pp. 10 3/4 in. x 8 1/4 in. (Haynes Publishing Group, Sparkford,Yeovil, Somerset. £2.50.)

This is a follow-up volume to that reviewed in these columns previously and is evidence that editor Frostick has not put away his scissors and paste-pot. The entire book consists of reproductions of pages from Autocar, Car, the Automotor Journal and Motor Cycling, of the years appropriate to Frostick’s present onslaught. Whereas the first volume had some significance, in as much as it contained pages from the first issue of The Autocar and from its red-printed Emancipation number, items unobtainable except in original form, now at great cost, the second volume is simply a hotch-potch of information, better studied in library Volumes of the original works instead of in this abbreviated form. Of course, the editor has extracted some gems, like part-reports of great Continental races and Cars’ impressions of the dramatic Paris-Madrid race, etc. But this is really just “browsing material” and photocopying original illustrations cannot give the best results, although generally the pictures are quite good.

The book commences with an editorial from The Autocar of 26-1-01, not about cars at all, but relating to the death of Queen Victoria, and thereafter the contents depart from the chronological, in some instances by more than a year, while the differing type and illustration sizes of the various journals used gives a messy look to the work as a whole. But if you have time for a browse and 250p. to spare, you may well enjoy yourself.—W.B.