Siemens Leadership Tour of America

[Berlin]: [Siemens & Halske AG], 1922. 290 by 210mm (11½ by 8¼ inches). Red faux leather boards; 102 lvs. Title page printed; remaining pages type written. Cover stamped gold ​“Amerikafahrt 1922” with original photograph of steam ship S.S. America.

65 original photographs glued into the text (1 possibly missing). Many 2 ½ by 3 ½ inches, but as large as 5 by 9 inches. Together with three S.S. America menus, one of which is signed by all trip participants. In German. Very good with some rubbing and bumping to covers.

Very interesting summary of Siemens & Halske AG (current day Siemens Corporation) executive and head-engineer tour of the United States.

The text details their visit and tours of Pratt & Whitney, Western Electric, and Ford Motor Company (where they were personally greeted by Henry Ford).

Together with extensive social commentary on the United States (cleanliness comparisons to Canada and Europe; condition of infrastructure and housing stock, etcetera). The tour took place during Prohibition, and the German visitors frequently comment on either the lack of alcohol (on the U.S. flagged ship) or their amazement at how ​“pre-prohibition” alcohol happened to still be available for their consumption.

Interesting insight into the origins of the largest manufacturing company in Europe that today has over 311,000 employees. Siemens is one of the world’s most important manufacturers of major infrastructure systems in the world. Possibly a singular copy. At the time of cataloguing, no holdings in OCLC or KVK nor any other copies listed for sale.