Hobbs Grade and Surface Guide Lincoln Highway Cheyenne Denver to Chicago

“Its purpose is to help you intelligently plan and enjoy your trip over the main trunk Highways of the U.S.” [text on verso]

In 1921, Howard Hobbs created his first innovative Hobbs Grade and Surface Guide. Issued on an annual basis until the early 1930s, the booklets were sponsored primarily by the Mohawk Rubber Company of Akron, Ohio, and covered one of America’s primary highways. At least 25 different routes were covered in tremendous detail.

Each page of the guide presents a detailed diagram of the route’s elevation and surface composition, a small strip map, a list of motorist’s amenities (lodging, garages, restaurants, etc.), and ‘intimate notes’ that provide a fascinating contemporary snapshot into automobile tourism of the early 20th century.

This example was published in 1922 and shows the Lincoln Highway running from Chicago to Cheyenne and Denver. In addition to the aforementioned information present on each page, the guide also includes a questionnaire for the user to submit new information, advertisements for Mohawk rubber products, and a map of the route on the back panel.

For more information on the Mohawk-Hobbs Grade and Surface Guides, check out my blog post here.