Book Reviews, May 1949, May 1949

“Ford Through European Eye-Glasses — 1907 – 1947,” by Edgar N. Duffield. (The Mercury Press, Ltd., 7s. 6d.)

We had heard for a long time that the inimitable “Duffy” was about to write a book and, staunch readers in the past of his equally inimitable, amusing and candid road-tests and articles in the now-defunct magazine Auto, and of his snappy outpourings in the J.C.C. Gazette, this book was eagerly awaited. This is it. It is typically “Duffy,” most entertainingly written and difficult to put down. It tells of the Ford organisation as saw it — he was Editor of the Ford Times from 1931-1947 — and, as such, provides much that is new while reminding us of many Ford-facts we had forgotten. If disappointment must be expressed, it is that Duffield deals with Ford only instead of with the many makes of cars he has driven and his general motor-journalistic reminiscences that he writes of Henry Ford, the Ford organisation and Ford journalism instead of about personal associations with the divers Ford models. Knowing ” Duffy ” that surprises us, but we will hope for another book from his pen.

Meanwhile, this one, produced in rather an austerity style with many small photographic illustrations we have seen elsewhere, provides 210 pages of entertaining reading. — W. B.

“Auto Racing Winners — 1895-1947,” by the Betts Bros.

As its title suggests, this is an American publication, in their much-favoured photostat copying of typed sheets. In 102 large pages it lists the winners of America’s important car races from 1895 to 1947. These lists are sub-divided into the pioneer era (1895-1905), the road-racing era (1905-1915), the speedway era (1915-1930) and the flat-racing era (1930-1947). There is also an alphabetical summary of the winners of given races in chronological sequence. The book also. contains some illustrations, of which a number, such as that of Ford “999” and the Winton “Bullet II” have figured elsewhere, but those of an early streamlined Buick, Oldfield’s Peerless. Green “Dragon,” etc., are new. The use of quotes for makes instead of for type-names we find irritating. This paintaking reference work costs two dollars in the States and we gather that the publishers, with typical American enterprise, have appointed their first English customer their agent in this country. He is Ronald Buxton, of 78, Connop. Road, Enfield Wash, Middlesex.