The great collections of historical scholars that come to auction are becoming as rare as some of the guides, handbooks and advertising from industrial Lincolnshire heavyweights such as Ruston-Bucyrus, Fosters, Rose Brothers that were sold in the recent Lincoln Collective sale on May 20th and 21st.
This particular single owner collection formed over the lifetime of the acclaimed historian and local author John T. Turner was not only an almost alphabetic library of the most famous texts produced by the above mentioned industrial powerhouses, but they were in a condition so rarely seen.
This had it all: a class, provenance and rarity in droves and an off the production line condition of what could’ve been seen in some cases as throwaway guides that it was no wonder a huge interest was seen on the viewing and sale days alike.
Let us start with the Ruston and Hornsby guides, pamphlets and related ephemera. This great firm started in 1918 after the merger of Ruston, Proctor & Co, the steam engine producing, excavator designing, aircraft making brainchild of Joseph Ruston from its opening in 1857 joining forces with the equally successful Hornsby & Sons, a Grantham factory originally founded by Richard Hornsby in 1815. The company was a key part of allied success in the Second World War, but also pioneered gas turbines, turned their hands to producing diesel locomotives and produced many of the great industrial machines of the 20th century.
To advertise their legacy and wares they produced pamphlets and guides, they also printed working and maintenance booklets of which this collection had a huge number.
The quintessential hardback Ruston’s In War 1939-1945 guide was present and made £150, a number of booklets such as gas turbine leaflets and others for the upkeep of diesel locomotives, other heavy industry and other guides were in large supply, all keenly sought and making one off the finest collections of its type. The rarity could be proved by the Ruston 1923 car model brochure, in a condition you cannot believe!
Then there was William Foster founded in 1846, becoming a foundry of high repute by 1856 and then becoming one of the most famous companies in history by 1915 after the firm’s production of Little Willie, the tracked tank that led to the development of the Mother tank which changed the fortunes dramatically of allied forces in World War One. There production of hundreds of army vehicles and machinery played a key part in allied success.
Again great companies need to show off their wares and heritage and the best known text the hardback The Tank Its Birth and Development was present and made again £150, with the same price achieved for a catalogue of Foster’s traction engines and various other guides achieved pleasing results.
The figures were excellent and it is not only good to see but important to see the interest and pride shown in these industrial industries; without them the world would be a very different place.
There are further pieces from the collection to come in the June sale on the 17th and 18th- including further guides, books and one of the most historically important pieces ever seen in these rooms! Keep looking at the website for further details.
