Mohawk-Hobbs Grade and Surface Guide – Around Lake Michigan Detroit Connections by Way of Grand Rapids or Kalamazoo – Chicago-Detroit

A charming mid-1920s guide to the best routes around Lake Michigan.

“The purpose of the Mohawk-Hobbs guides is to give you definite routings over the best roads; to bring points of unusual interest to your attention; to save money for you; to make your trip more enjoyable and educational; in short, a constructive effort to serve you in a way that will gain your good-will for Mohawk, and your favorable consideration for Mohawk Quality Tires.” [foreword].

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 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 1926 and shows a recommended itinerary around Lake Michigan, with connecting routes to Detroit and a leisurely jaunt around Lake Winnebago. In addition to the aforementioned information present on each page, the guide also includes a key for use, recommended side trips, a simple street plan of Chicago, a list of published routes, advertisements for Mohawk rubber products, an innovative mileage diagram, and a map of the overall route on the back panel. More information on the Mohawk-Hobbs Guides can be found at my blog post here.