Re: Pre War Service Index Groupings

Posted by BH On 2011/5/23 10:20:29

Mal -

Thanks for thinking of us.

The inside page of that book reveals this to be Packard's Reference Book of Mechnical Information, I've found mentioned in some of the Service Letters of the period.

It seems that, rather than publishing a mere topical index, Packard decided to cut-n-paste articles from the Service Letter series into a categorical layout - setn oput in loose-leaf format to be inserted in a three-ring binder. I suspect that program was initiated at a time when a full-boided shop manual had yet to be developed.

I don't know whether Packard reprinted the Reference Book in a soft-cover format, but I wonder if what you have is a mor modern reprint - like so many shop manuals and parts book. If you take a look at the PACKARD LITERATURE REPRINTS page from Kanter's website, you'll find a section with:

FACTORY SERVICE LETTERS

Compilations of Important Packard Service Letters

1930-1935 $37

1936-1942 $53

As such, I'm not sure that Kev would want to scan and post someone else's work, which is still available for sale - even though it is merely a derivative reprint.