FREDERICK S. DUESENBERG - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 08/09/1930 - HFSID 286030

FREDERICK SAMUEL DUESENBERG
Frederick Samuel Duesenberg signed this typed letter on Duesenberg, Inc. stationery in 1930, four years after the Auburn Auto Co. purchased Duesenberg's automobile company. In it, he states that he's interested in a supercharger designed by the recipient.
TLS: "F.S. Duesenberg", 1¼p, 8½x11, separate sheet. Indianapolis, Indiana, 1930 August 9. On letterhead of Dusenberg, Inc. to Mr. Dave Lorain, Los Angeles, Calif. Begins: "Dear Dave, and Sally". In full: "Mickey had a letter from Sally written from some place up in Northwestern Canada. A week or so before that time I believe I sent you a letter and a blueprint of the supercharger showing the general details that I had promised you to use in connection with your little motor. At that time you mentioned that you would like to send me one of these little motors. Of course I am very much interested in any motor that will turn over 40,000 r.p.m., which is about the speed that we used on this impeller. It took about 60 h.p. to run it. I thought by not having heard from you that possibly this blueprint may have gone astray or gotten in so far ahead of you that it did not come to your attention. I will be glad to hear from you. I am sure you had a pleasant trip up in Canada as it should have been nice and cool. It has been hotter than Hades around here. I hope that the next time you come east you will come thru Indianapolis and spend a little more time. While in New York I called up Mr. McAteer and we certainly had a lovely visit. We went over to the Yacht Club and he also went over to the Branch and spent the afternoon getting acquainted. Since that time our New York dealer has been in touch with him on various occasions. I hope that you found your business and the various lawsuits all coming your way when you got back to Los Angeles and that this finds you and Sally in the best of health. We are leaving for a vacation up into Michigan and may do a little fishing. When we see you out in California next winter we will have you take us up to your fishing ponds up in the mountains. With very kindest regards and best wishes, I am Very truly yours". Written four years after E. L. Cord, the President of the Auburn Auto Co. purchased the Duesenberg's automobile company. From 1929 until his death in 1932, Fred Duesenberg was working on what Cord called "the biggest, fastest and most powerful stock automobiles the world has ever seen" and producing the J and SJ models, which became luxurious status symbols to the rich and famous. German-born Frederick Samuel Duesenberg (1877-1932) and his brother, August (1879-1955), founded the Duesenberg Company after first building cars for Mason Motors in Des Moines, Iowa. Frederick, the engineering specialist of the two, patented the Duesenberg motor in 1913.In 1921, the Duesenberg automobile won the French Grand Prix at Le Mans - the first win in European racing for an American automobile manufacturer. The Duesenberg, driven by Jimmy Murphy, had a three-speed gearbox and four-wheel brakes. Prior to 1921, all cars were equipped with brakes only on the back wheels; due to the success and increased safety factor, four-wheel brakes were later adopted for passenger cars. Duesenbergs won the Indianapolis 500 in 1924, 1925 and 1927. Lightly creased with folds, not at signature. Slightly soiled, paper clip rust stain at upper left blank margin. Fine condition.