Discovery Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/21/2012
Duryea, Charles E. (1862-1938). American inventor and manufacturer; reputed
“Father of the Automobile;” sold his first car in 1896; inventor of the spray carburetor (1892) and the first to use pneumatic tires on cars (1893). Fine signature cut from a check.
Ford Henry (1863-1947) Automobile pioneer, founder and president of Ford Motor Company. Created the Model T masterpiece. Card which Ford has boldly signed in full. A fabulous signature.
Ford, Edsel. (1893-1943) Only child of henry Ford. President of Ford Motor Company (1919-1943). Along with Joseph Galamb he designed and built the Model T which replaced the Model A. Ford formed and named the Mercury Division of the company. A full signature, along with a one word sentiment dated December 1936 in his hand. Quite uncommon on signed cards.
Olds, Ransome. (1864-1950) built the first 3 wheeled horseless carriage (1886); produced a pratical 4 wheeled auto (1893). Established Old Motor Vehicle CO. (1899). The Oldsmobile was the first commercially successful American car. R.E. Olds is considered by many to be the founder of the American Automobile Industry. Fabulous large signature on a slip.
Chrysler, Walter P. (1875-1940). American automobile manufacturer. Took over Maxwell Motor Corp. in 1924 and renamed it Chrysler Corporation in 1925. Introduced DeSoto and Plymouth automobile’s. acquired dodge and built the world’s tallest building (1929). Very attractive preprinted card sending thanks for a letter requesting an autograph. Very boldly signed. Simply beautiful.
Nash, Charles W. (1884-1948). Automobile manufacturer. President of Buick Motor Car Co. and General Motor CO. President of The Nash Motors Co. President of The Nash Motors Co. (1912-1932). The “Nash” was a fairly popular car. Full signature on a slip adding “Kenosha Wisconsin” in his hand.
Rickenbacker, Eddie (1890-1973). America’s Top Ace of WWI.
Medal of Honor recipient. Famed race car driver and automobile builder. Founded the Rickenbacker Automobile Company in 1922. From 1922 through 1927 he produced 35,000 quality cars. Signature dated 1969.
DeLorean, John (!925- ) General Motors Executive who became a controversial figure. He became on of the most photographed figures outside of Hollywood. Against all odds he built his own factory in Northern Ireland.
Ferrari, Enzo (1898-1988). Italian automobile manufacturer who founded his own firm which bears his name. Made the world’s fastest racers and sports cars. By 1951 his cars won nearly 100 Grand Prix races. First Day postcard commemorating the World Jamboree, printed U.S. Air Mail 6 cent stamp. Postmarked, August 4, 1967. Signed in purple ink by Ferrari.
Karmann, Wilhelm (1914-1998). Designed and built the Harmann-Ghia in cooperation with VW and Porsche. The Karmann-Ghia was his brainchild and became one of the most loved sports cars introduced in the mid-50’s. It was an instant world sensation. He was involved in the design of the Scirocco Coupe and the VW’s Golf Cabriolet. Photograph signed, excellent contract. Very scarce in any form. Together with a German newspaper photo of the Ghia and Karmann along with a three column story.
Porsche, Dr. Ferry German race car driver since he was twelve years old. Designed “The Peoples Car” better known as the Volkswagen; created a Formula 1 car called “Cisitalia, first racing car with a mid-ship engine. Developed the Porsche 356 Roadster, first car sold in 1948. De. Porsche was the “Father” of the company we know today. Photograph, appx. 5’ x 6.5’. B&W, head and shoulders pose. Signed. Very fine condition.
Honda, Soichiro (1904-1994). Japanese automobile manufacturer. Created the popular car which bears his name. A fabulous color photograph, appx. 5’x7’, of Honda standing by two of his Japanese racing cars. Double Signature, boldly signed in full, in English and Japanese on the lower white margin. Very Scarce Signed photo.
INVENTED THE FLYING AUTOMOBILE
Dixon, Jesse Invented the “Flying Ginny” (1941) which was every motorist’s dream, an auto that can fly over traffic jams. It had two large lifting rotors, and no wings. It had a 40 horsepower air-cooled engine that achieved a land speed of 60 miles per hour. It could stand nearly motionless in the air and park on city streets. It required and automobile license. RARE, A.L.S. on a 3”x5” card signed “Jesse D.” He writes: “At your request I am sending your son Richard a photo of my Flying Car and her is hoping he will soon be well and flying a plane or car. This one is one of my boyhood dreams as Richard may be dreaming. Yours truly…..” Together with the photo, cut from a magazine, of Jesse flying his car. Several pages of biographical notes included.
SCARCE AUTOMOBILE PIONEER SIGNATURE FOUNDER OF CADILLAC AND LINCOLN MOTOR CO.
Leland, Henry M. (1843-1932) Inventor, businessman who made toool sfor the manufacture of rifles in the Civil War. In 1890 founded the Leland & Faulconer Mfg. Co. Founder of Cadillac Motor Co. (1902) and created his own motorcar, the Model A Cadillac. In 1917 he founded the Lincoln Motor Co. which later passed on to Henry Ford. Typed letter signed, 1 page, on his name imprinted letterhead, Detroit, autograph. Scarce.
Vaughn, Guy W. (1884-1966) Designed and developed the Vaughn Automobile (1898). In 1909 drove the Deauville Racer which won the Gordon Bennett Race. President of Curtis-Wright Corp. (1935-1949). Boldly signed and dated July 8, 1953 by Vaughn and adding a two word sentiment. Uncommon signature.
Kettering, C.F. (1876-1958) American inventor. Invented the automobile self starter, a high compression engine for trains and many other industrial devices. His company Charles F. Kettering Laboratories was made part of General Motors (1916). Choice signature on a #’X5” card. Together with an 8”x10” photo possibly with others from the SloaKettering Insitute.
Jeune, Pelletier. French automobile manufacturer. Lengthy A.L.S., on a very ornate letterhead which take up one third of the page. Chalon-sSaone, 8 December 1904. Untranslated. Very attractive.
Willys, John North (1873-1935). American Industrialist; started in the bicycle business (1890); bought Overland Automobile Co. plant in Indianapolis in 1907. Manufactured Willys-Overland and other automobiles. U.S. Ambassador to Poland (1930-1932). RARE photograph, 8’x10’, B&W, head and shoulders pose, wearing his glasses, full face looking directly into the camera. On the lower white margin he has signed his name in full adding “Warsaw, Poland, May 7/31”
in his hand, Some wrinkiling and creases on lower third of photo not touching the fine and RARE signature.
GALAMB, Joseph (1881-1955) Designed the Model T. Ford; Henry Ford’s Chief of Engineering. He also designed the Model A Ford, the Fordson Tractor, invented the ignition plug and the plentary gearbox. The Model T Ford designed by Galamb was ready by 1908 and 19,000 cars were sold the next year. Durig WWI he designed ambulance vans and light tanks. Document signed, 1 page, Detroit, September 10, 1921, order for Frigidaire, $600 plus $25 installation. Order filled in pencil, delivery instructions, terms, etc. and signed “Jos. Galamb.” A very scarce automotive related signature.
Introduced the 1949 Ford and The Edsel
Ford II, Henry (1917-1987) Son of Edsel Ford, grandson of Henry Ford. Known as “HF2”. President of Ford Motor Company (1945-1960) AND chairman of the board (1960-1979). Responsible for the design team that created the 1949 Ford which reestablished Ford as a formidable automotive company. Orders for 100,000 1949 Ford’s were taken the day it was introduced. His company went public in 1956 and the offering of public stock raised 650 million dollars. During his tenure the experimental Edsel was introduced. Ford hired Lee Iacocca in the early 1950’s but they clashed and lacocca was fired in 1978. Color photograph, 8”x10”, head and shoulders pose, boldly signed.
Lee Iacocca
Businessman, afterworking for Ford Motor Company for 32 years, President for eight, he was fired by Henry Ford in 1978. As Chief Executive of Chrysler Corporation he turned the company from near bankruptcy into a booming success. He was responsible for the Lincoln Continental Mark III, Mercury Cougar, Mercury Marquis. With Ford he is considered the God Father of the Ford Mustang and was responsible for the Ford Pinto and Ford Fiesta. Photograph, B&W, 8’X10’, head and shoulders pose. Very boldly signed
Creator of the Famed Cobra Cars
Shelby, Caroll Professional race car driver. He set 16 International speed records. Creator of the Cobra series cars. Shelby responsible for the Dodge Viper. Choice presentation inscription signed 3”x5” card.
EARLY CELEBRITY AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT
Lodge, Oliver (1841-1940). English Physicist; investigated lightning and electromagnetic waves.TLS, on his imprinted letterhead, Salisbury, 2 pages, Nov. 24, 1927. To Major Stephen Mead at the Senior Officers School, marked “Private and Confidential.” Reads in part:
“I am interested to hear from you in a friendly way about the lamentable clash. I am obliged to you for giving me an opportunity of defraying your incidental and out of pocket expenses, apart from all legal claims and as a purely private arrangement. On those terms I enclose a cheque, and with (I hope mutual) regrets…” In fine condition and interesting early automobile collision content.
REMARKABLE COLLECTION OF 22 AUTOMOBILE PIONEERS
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