TerryB Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 (edited) I found this Buick Instruction book for four cylinder cars at an estate sale a few years ago. The sellers didn't know much about it and it's ties to the family. I believe it's original but I would like the Buick folks here to comment on that. The book's cover has a raised linen like feel, contains 27 pages, and references the models D, S, H and K which are 1907 from what I can find. The last page indicates it was printed by Acorn Press in Jackson Michigan. The paper and brown age marks seem to indicate it's about the right age to be original. Check out the photos and let me know what you think. Terry Edited May 10, 2017 by TerryB (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted May 10, 2017 Author Share Posted May 10, 2017 Forgot to add size is 5 1/4" by 8 1/4. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Shaw Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 My early manuals and instruction books were made by Buick Motor Company Division of General Motors, Flint Michigan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Wiegand Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 I have Buick Reference and Sales material going back to 1906. Buick used several different printing houses for their publishing efforts. Evans Winter Hebb of Detroit was a major supplier of printed material for Buick. The Cargill Press of Grand Rapids was another big contributor to Buick's printing needs. I do have some Reference Manuals (owner's manuals) from the late teens that were reprinted by Buick in the early 1920's. This was not an uncommon thing for Buick Motor Company to do at that point in time. Terry, the book that you have in the photos looks to be pretty old, however, it doesn't look over 100 years old. I'm guessing that this was a reprint from sometime in the 1930's. The paper doesn't look right for something that Buick would have had done. You're pretty good with a camera here - take some photos of the inside lower first few pages and the bottom of the very last printed page. If this is an original printed piece it will have the printers name and possibly a print date. It could have a printing code that would indicate how many were printed. The absence of any or all of this information will be a safe bet that what you have is something that has been reprinted at a much later date. I have been chasing and collecting Buick literature for going on 45 years and I have learned a little bit along the way. Let's see those additional photos I described to you. Terry Wiegand South Hutchinson, Kansas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted May 11, 2017 Author Share Posted May 11, 2017 At first glance, the book appeared old, I just wasn't 100% sure of exact age. Additional photos attached. Wasn't Buick in Jackson MI for a while? I thought I had read that somewhere. Anyway, here's more photos and thanks for the additional info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Wiegand Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 Terry, you are right about Buick being in Jackson, Michigan for a very brief period in the beginning. I have seen a lot of early Buick material in my time. I will have to say that I have never heard of Acorn Press and being associated with Buick Motor Company also. Do you have something here that is extremely rare and almost unheard of? It is certainly possible. There is one fellow out there in Buick research that might possibly be able to tell you something about what you have, and that would be Kevin Kirbitz. Try him at - kevin.kirbitz@gm.com As I stated earlier, something about the paper in this piece just doesn't look like anything Buick would have used at that time. Kevin is an excellent source for EARLY Buick Motor Company information. Get in touch with him and see what he can tell you. You certainly have my curiosity aroused here. Terry Wiegand South Hutchinson, Kansas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted May 11, 2017 Author Share Posted May 11, 2017 A search on google found the Acorn Press to be in business in Jackson in 1912 according to a business directory for the city. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted May 11, 2017 Author Share Posted May 11, 2017 Thank you Terry for all your help! I will try the contact you gave me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Car Geek Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 The Buick Heritage Alliance has a copy of that Instruction Book in their collection here at the AACA Library. Are your pages as white as they appear in the photos or do they have more of yellowish color? Is the cover paper somewhat textured? How about the spine staples - are they showing any sign of rust? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Engle Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 To me, It looks to be sewn not stapled. Paper does look very white for a 111 year old book. Bob Engle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daves1940Buick56S Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 There is a staple near the bottom. I can't see the top staple but it may be the angle. Look at the very first picture. Cheers, Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted May 11, 2017 Author Share Posted May 11, 2017 Hello AACA library and others following this thread. 1. Yes the outer cover is textured, similar to what linen cloth is like. It has raised bumps and is not smooth. 2. Yes the staples are rusty and the metal is dark. 3. The pages are not bright white, that effect is from the LED strip light over my workbench. The paper is darker in color and has a brownish finish. 4. The book itself is not stiff, its cover and pages flex quite easily. I do tend to think it's the real thing and in great condition for its age. I've seen the reprints for the 20's era Buick and it's nothing like them. Your comments are greatly appreciated. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Wiegand Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 Terry, I really hope that you can get with Kevin Kirbitz about this piece of early Buick material. The fact that you have may have something that is pushing 112 years old is going to eliminate almost everyone who will know anything about it. Like I said earlier, you have peaked my curiosity and I think that all of us Buick enthusiasts would like to know about what you have here. Terry Wiegand South Hutchinson, Kansas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted May 12, 2017 Author Share Posted May 12, 2017 Email sent to Kevin, waiting to hear what he says. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted May 13, 2017 Share Posted May 13, 2017 It is interesting to read of finds of rare stuff. One small point to Terry W. I hope your interest has not yet peaked, but maybe it was initially piqued. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted May 23, 2017 Author Share Posted May 23, 2017 (edited) No response from my email to Kevin so the mystery continues. Terry Edited May 23, 2017 by TerryB (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted August 29, 2017 Author Share Posted August 29, 2017 Kevin got back to me yesterday. He believes it's an original book from what he sees. The printing in Jackson MI would be consistent with what was happening with Buick at the time. Wow! I'm not ready to sell the book just yet as that did come up in his response. Thanks to Terry W for the contact with Kevin! Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Engle Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 You might consider contacting one of the reproduction companies to see if they have an interest in selling reproductions of your original. It wouldn't hurt the value of your piece of history and could generate some income as well as make the contents available to other Buick history buffs. Bob Engel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted August 30, 2017 Author Share Posted August 30, 2017 Having it reprinted is a possibility for sure. I'm still enjoying the fact that I found this at what amounts to a yard sale a few years ago. This is as close to owning a Buick from that era that I will ever get! Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Wiegand Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 Terry, I am really glad that you and Kevin got together on this brochure. I really felt like that if anyone would know about this it would be Kevin. Terry Wiegand South Hutchinson, Kansas 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now