Charles
What is your opinion of the Detroit Public Library? Is it great, mediocre, declining rapidly, well maintained? I've been to Detroit many times but never to the library. I have some research to do and was wondering if it was worth the trip up there or not. It's about a 12 hour drive. That sounds worse than it is in my opinion. Anything less than 18 is a piece of cake. I'm not finding what I need locally or through the interlibrary loan system within the state. I'm researching early industial foundry and machining processes and Detroit seems a good place for such information. I didn't find what I was hoping to in NYC's SIBL (it seemed mostly industrial relations rather than processes) so I figured Detroits Main Branch on Woodward (I didn't see a science and technology branch listed online) and the Benson Ford Research Center would be the next logical places. Foundry and machining process are what built Detroit is/was all about to a degree.
John Thornton
^^^^
5/20/05 John,
I was thinking of the main branch you mention. I could check there, if you want.
I'm guessing, but maybe Wayne State University has a specialty part of some department. Maybe the engineering school has a history specialist. Anyway, Wayne State is in Detroit, if you were to travel here. University of Mich engineering school might have that info. Maybe Ford , GM, Chrysler engineering departments have it. I don't know what their accessibility is. You may have found this already in The Benson Ford Research Center.
There is the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). It may have some records of this type.
I've got a copy of _Automation and Social Progress_ by Comrade S. Lilley. There's another book by Lilley, which is more on the history of machines. Can't recall the name right now, and it is not referenced in this book.
I could look into this a little more, if you want.
Charles