Description

The struggle to found a national collection of historic vehicles, headed by Edmund Dangerfield, then proprietor of the ‘Motor’ magazine is on eof the lost byways of early motoring in Great Britain.

First displayed for two months in Oxford Street in 1912, it re-opened in the Crystal Palace in March 1914. However, at the outbreak of war in August, the Crystal Palace commandeered for use as an ordinance store and the collection was summarily ejected. Some exhibits were were returned to their owners/donors, but the rest of this unique collection was dumped near Charing Cross and left to the ravages of weather and vandals.

Almost forgotten as a pioneering attempt to chronicle the early history of motoring, the efforts of the Trustees, Mr Dangerfield and the ‘Motor’ deserve to be better known.

The many unusual vehicles they collected are illustrated and documented in this facsimile of the original catalogue, plus an essay on the history of the collection. Anyone interested in early motoring, will find this a fascinating and valuable record of some of the earliest cars and motorcycles.

Hardback in generally very good condition with good dust jacket.