Mohawk-Hobbs Grade and Surface Guide – New York – Montreal Tour

The Tour of Tours’

“Herein is outlined one of the most ejoyable and satisfying motor tours in all America. Nowhere else in the United States, near dense population, may be found such a combination of wild, gran scenery, magnificient, beauty spots and delightful, easy travel” [back page].

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, 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 1929 and shows recommended routes for summer touring between New York City and Portland. Recommendation detours include the Catskill Mountains, Thousand Islands, Lake Champlain, and the Adirondack Mountains. In addition to the aforementioned information present on each page, the guide also includes a key for use, advertisements for Mohawk rubber products, an innovative mileage diagram, and a detailed map of the tour route on the back panel.

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