The Wonder Book of Aircraft
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The Wonder Book of Aircraft
Assistance requested.
Picked up a copy a few weeks ago £4 only. Last eyeballed a copy way back in the early 50s. This is the 7th edition by Ward, Lock & Co edited by Harry Golding F.R.G.S.
The first para is titled A Day at the London Air Station aka Croydon ;~)
Trying to find the actual year the 7th edition was published.
Wonderfull stuff.
PS: My father worked at Croydon pre & post WW-II
Many thks Merlin
Picked up a copy a few weeks ago £4 only. Last eyeballed a copy way back in the early 50s. This is the 7th edition by Ward, Lock & Co edited by Harry Golding F.R.G.S.
The first para is titled A Day at the London Air Station aka Croydon ;~)
Trying to find the actual year the 7th edition was published.
Wonderfull stuff.
PS: My father worked at Croydon pre & post WW-II
Many thks Merlin
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I have in front of me a copy of "The Wonder Book of the RAF" which was a Christmas present in 1957. No publishing date but it shows a Vampire night fighter taking off on the front cover. All very inspiring for a 12 year old at that time!
In a similar manner to A-Z maps, which also didn't put their publication date on for a long time, these publications trod a tight line between regular reissues, to sell new material to established buyers, and enabling the "older" volumes to remain on a booksellers shelves for some time and not be regarded as some years old, and therefore worthless.
There are often obscure clues. The printers reference at the bottom of the back page may have some figures which can be decoded as a date.
There are often obscure clues. The printers reference at the bottom of the back page may have some figures which can be decoded as a date.
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Last edited by David Layne; 8th Jul 2011 at 09:37.
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I too have the one with the Vampire NF on the cover. Also Wonder Book of Aircraft of the same era, with "A busy scene at London Airport" (Constellation and Stratocruiser) on the cover. I also have my Dad's Wonder Book of Aircraft dated 1919 with a Sopwith Triplane on the cover.
Maybe I shall scan them
Laurence
Maybe I shall scan them
Laurence
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As mentioned above, here is my Wonder Book of Aircraft with the Constellation and Stratocruiser "Entirely New Edition" of ?1954, price 12/6.
And this is Dad's 1919 Second Edition (a bit the worse for wear, but it is over 90 years old!
Laurence
And this is Dad's 1919 Second Edition (a bit the worse for wear, but it is over 90 years old!
Laurence
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I too have the one with the Vampire on the front from circa 1957.
I also have a very battered version that I picked up at that time at a Jumble sale, seems to have a radial light bomber and a pilot on the cover, possibly a Hampden.
Inscription on the inside "From Will Xmas 1941"
PeterA
I also have a very battered version that I picked up at that time at a Jumble sale, seems to have a radial light bomber and a pilot on the cover, possibly a Hampden.
Inscription on the inside "From Will Xmas 1941"
PeterA
Last edited by Mark22; 8th Jul 2011 at 17:30.
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David, thank you. I have the same cover picture, condition is similar to yours.
Thanks everyone else, still no joy though.
Thanks everyone else, still no joy though.
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Eighth Edition
I have a copy of the eighth edition. On the cover is the prototype A.W. Atalanta G-ABPI coming into land at what looks like an alarming angle. At the back is a list of 'Notable records in aerial history'; the last noted is 1934 - "Donati (Italy) gained the aeroplane height record with an ascent to 47,360 feet.", so I would guess this edition was dated 1935.
I loved the end-papers as a child: the "before" at the front, with a multiple disaster about to occur, the "after" showing the consequences. Now I enjoy the Heracles airliners and the flying-boats. But it does show just how much progress was made in the five years before 1940: almost all the monoplanes are civilian aircraft: the exceptions are the Fairey long-range monoplane and the Fairey Hendon prototype. The first chapter, incidentally is called "By day and night at London's air-port"
I loved the end-papers as a child: the "before" at the front, with a multiple disaster about to occur, the "after" showing the consequences. Now I enjoy the Heracles airliners and the flying-boats. But it does show just how much progress was made in the five years before 1940: almost all the monoplanes are civilian aircraft: the exceptions are the Fairey long-range monoplane and the Fairey Hendon prototype. The first chapter, incidentally is called "By day and night at London's air-port"
It was these books along with the Observer's Book of Aircraft and Rockfist Rogan RAF, not to mention the Biggles books, that led to my love of flying and subsequent pilot career. And now I wonder how the younger generation are attracted to a flying career when these lovely old books no longer exist.
Maybe the sight of yards of gold bars and big wings and the latest AP on the God like personage of young brand new flying instructors at flying schools..
Maybe the sight of yards of gold bars and big wings and the latest AP on the God like personage of young brand new flying instructors at flying schools..
There are often obscure clues.
I recognised the name Laurence Bagley, more as Laurie Bagley, from model car magazines and Aeromodeller in the sixties.
A quick Google led me to Amazon...
1954 it would seem.
A quick Google led me to Amazon...
1954 it would seem.
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I think I've found it
Inside back end papers:
Lefthand page bottom right a small 7 32. Assume this refers to the 7th print run in 1932 (I hope until further clarification).
Righthand page bottom left a small black with gold print label "The Times Bookclub, Wigmore St. W1" Tried to to check with the Times Bookclub, but no joy.
Thanks everyone, I still find the 1st chapter wonderfully evocative of the period, "A Day at the London Air Station".
Lefthand page bottom right a small 7 32. Assume this refers to the 7th print run in 1932 (I hope until further clarification).
Righthand page bottom left a small black with gold print label "The Times Bookclub, Wigmore St. W1" Tried to to check with the Times Bookclub, but no joy.
Thanks everyone, I still find the 1st chapter wonderfully evocative of the period, "A Day at the London Air Station".
1954 it would seem.
I loved the end-papers as a child: the "before" at the front, with a multiple disaster about to occur, the "after" showing the consequences.
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Here is an example of the before and after end-papers from the 1919 edition. Just follow each little adventure "before and after". For example the Boche pursuing the RFC monoplane, top left, and what happens after it is intercepted by the second RFC approaching from top right. Note the bewhiskered German pilot. Remember, this was 1919. But just work through each one! These are the back cover end-papers. The front end-papers are just as amusing!
Laurence
Laurence
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And while we are on the subject of aviation books of the early 1950s, this is one I have always enjoyed:
I cannot find details on the Internet, but it was published by Grant Hughes Ltd, price 3/11 (for those who can still read that money). There are some, to me, memorable photos in there!
Laurence
I cannot find details on the Internet, but it was published by Grant Hughes Ltd, price 3/11 (for those who can still read that money). There are some, to me, memorable photos in there!
Laurence
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The Wonder Books - Fascinating
Several years ago I managed to obtain a copy of "The Wonder Book of Soldiers".
I am not sure which edition it is. However it is certainly before the First World War possibly Edition 2 or 3 but after 1912. The only photograph of an aircraft in the book is the following one:-
As can be seen the aircraft is an Avro E and the location is the Central Flying School at Upavon. One can just make out the number of the aircraft on the fin & rudder and I believe it must be one of the first batch of three allotted to Upavon in June/July 1912, Serial numbers 404, 405 & 406.
I am not sure which edition it is. However it is certainly before the First World War possibly Edition 2 or 3 but after 1912. The only photograph of an aircraft in the book is the following one:-
As can be seen the aircraft is an Avro E and the location is the Central Flying School at Upavon. One can just make out the number of the aircraft on the fin & rudder and I believe it must be one of the first batch of three allotted to Upavon in June/July 1912, Serial numbers 404, 405 & 406.
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I've got the one, the cover of which is shown above, with the Connie in the foreground and the Strat in the background. I'd assumed it was from 1954 or 1953, as it praises the Comet 1 to the skies...........