ca. 1895 Charter Gas Engine Catalog Brochure Gasolin (02/16/2011)...

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ca. 1895 Charter Gas Engine Catalog Brochure Gasoline

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ca. 1895 Charter Gas Engine Catalog Brochure Gasoline

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Sold Date: 02/16/2011
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Advertising

Here is a guaranteed vintage circa 1895 catalog from the Charter Gas Engine Company of Sterling, Illinois. No date of publication is given, and the two reference points I'm using are information from the Henry Ford Museum/Benson Ford Research Center library, and a statement that appears in the catalog.

The Benson Ford Research Center library, in their holdings, describe a similar vintage catalog as being circa 1890. Their catalog has only 24 pages, this catalog here on eBay has 32 numbered pages (not counting the cover). Via the WorldCat website of major library holdings, I have been unable to find this exact same catalog elsewhere in the Internet.

John Charter, the namesake for this catalog, came up with the first liquid fuel tractor in Sterling, Illinois in 1880. In this catalog are four pages dedicated to "The Sterling Portable," a very early gasoline engine tractor that, according to the catalog text, "has been built and on the market for seventeen years." I've included a photo of the first two of those four pages here. If 1880 is the "starting point" at which this catalog text is counting, then that would date this catalog to about 1895-1897. Any of you experts out there who can offer more insight on this are welcome to do so.

This catalog offers a wonderful assortment of informative text and great illustrations. Sixteen of the pages are all text, and include a few charts with data. The rest of the pages either have full-page illustrations or 2/3 page illustrations, which are very nicely done and include superb engravings by the Chicago Engraving Company. The pages are all clean, with the exception of a penciled letter "D" near the gutter on the opening page. The cover, as you can see from the photo, has a bit of pencil writing on the bottom edge, a bit of surface scuffing in that same area, and what appears to be a pinkish chalk "scribble" on the left side of the illustration in the center. Other than that, the catalog is clean. The binding is still solid, and the catalog does show some light to modest signs of having been handled but is still in quite nice condition considering its age.

Here's an opportunity to add an early and truly historic gas engine catalog to your collection--one that represents the individual and company that was instrumental in bringing liquid fuel tractors to the market, and one that has wonderful aesthetic appeal.

BUYER to pay the cost of shipping, which is $3.50. Delivery confirmation will be included at my cost. If you desire insurance, please let me know. Payment by Paypal, please. Thank you.

Please note the question one person asked about the use of the term "traction" in the catalog, and my answer to that question. On page 28 of the catalog is a special Sterling Gasoline Portable that is built as a "Semi-Traction."