W. MacMillan & Co. Illustrated Catalogue {circa. 1912} - DIGITAL EDITION
AVAILABLE AS A DIGITAL DOWNLOAD ONLY
This book has been out of print for some time, and is now reintroduced as a digital book for viewing on a computer, iPad or the like. Not downloadable on to a 'Kindle' or similar reader.
Legendary miniature locomotive builder David Curwen was given this Catalogue as a very young boy during World War 1, and suggested we reprinted it. And we immediately saw why; within its pages, originally printed circa 1912, is a veritable Aladdin's Cave of delights, ranging from a huge selection of tinplate toys of the period, notably railways and stationary steam engines, to electrical items, engineering equipment and engineering supplies, drawings and casting sets for a variety of projects, including large scale model railway locomotives, steam, and marine engines of various sizes, as well as Gas and IC engines.
Then there are complete full-size gentlemens' river launches, motorised bicycles, and De-Dion Bouton automobile engines, amongst much more. All this from a firm of which no trace remains, or can be found today.***
This is one of the most extraordinary Catalogues we have ever see, and why we took David’s advice and reprinted it. 1000s of illustrations, mainly engravings. 114 pages. Paperback. Camden.
*** This statement was correct until the 8th March 2017, when author and friend Robin Barnes told us that "William MacMillan, must be the firm which traded at Mar Street, Alloa, from about 1899 producing oil engines. In 1905 it introduced its 1.75hp two-stroke engine which ran either on petrol or benzine and was subsequently produced under the Max name, between at least 1913-1917. What happened to the business, I have no idea."
Robin gave us an internet link from which it appears surviving examples (non running) of these engines are in Australia, and from which the photograph of this maker's plate was taken. One lives and learns!
