Wouldn’t it be interesting to know how many of you readers
in the United States and Canada would help start a ‘Reeves
Historical Society of America’? I think a good number would,
and having started a few organizations in my day with much less
cause, and particularly devotion, I make this proposal right
now.
Subject to suggestions, the Aims & Objects of the Reeves
Society would be two-fold: (1) to collect, correlate, and catalogue
(or index) all available printed or word-of-mouth information on
the history and/or biographies of the men who founded, developed
and contributed to the success of Reeved & Company,
Incorporated in 1888 with head offices at Columbus, Ind., and the
full information, including exclusive patents and design blueprints
on the various steam tractors they manufactured and sold in the
U.S. and Canada, until the company ceased operations; and
(2)through a nominal (or small) membership fee to provide funds for
printing a glossary, index or catalogue of where such items could
be found, and a photo static copy reproduced for hobbyists, owners
of original engines, etc.
What about mechanical engineering departments or faculties of
universities? The Library of Congress? So on, ad infinitum!
Unfortunately, those who built the big and little Reeves, simple
and double and cross-compound, were obviously stronger on the
engineering side than they were on advertising and preservation of
records and blueprints. Their engines stand as a memorial today to
their ability. But the full story or at least a great deal of it,
plus the mechanical details, could be made available if a concerted
effort is made to gather it in – Why don’t we do it before
it’s too late ? Anyone interested please write to: C. Syd
Matthews, Suite 714, 137 Wellington St., W., Toronto 1, Ont.,
Canada
The ALBUM is happy to recommend this idea and hope all Reeves
men will rally around Syd’s proposal.
E.L.R.