IN Norwin Spring 2017 | Page 20

Patrons of the Norwin Public Library can be surprised everyday by the items and materials housed in the Special Collections and Local History Room. Just like when Mr. Ron Schoelkopf called in from Los Angeles in October of this year. He was searching for a rare book prized among the classic car enthusiast community.

Mr. Schoelkopf was looking for a copy of The Magnificent Packard Twelve of Nineteen Thirty-Four, an in-depth study of a specific year and marque( make) of Packard Motor Car Company. Edward J. Blend, the author, was a life-long car buff, who grew up alongside the busy, historic Lincoln Highway. Mr. Blend intended the book to be both a history of the Packard Motor Car Company and as an inventory of all the cars that came off the line during 1934 and of the Twelve marque. It tracked the history of the cars, with a list of owners and transfers, as far as the author was able to track them through 1977, the year of publication.
Mr. Blend’ s book was limited in availability, as it was self-published in Irwin. This has not, however, stopped the demand for the book. Additionally, the book is used as an important resource for the classic car community. In an auction at Sotheby’ s in May of 2015, the book was referenced in the listing for a 1934 Packard Twelve Sport Coupe by LeBaron that sold for $ 2.2 million.
Mr. Schoelkopf was looking for information from Blend’ s book, as he was presented with the opportunity to purchase a vehicle, a 1934 Rollston Roadster, that was included in the book. He found the Norwin Public Library due to the fact that not many copies are held in public institutions, with most being privately held. A
quick internet search turns up only three results, other than the Norwin Public Library. These include Waynesburg University( where Mr. Blend attended college), the Library of Congress, and C. H. Motorcars Library, a Naples, Florida library focused on classic car literature.
Mr. Blend died in 2009 and his book has become that much more rare to the classic car community he was a part of for more than 50 years. His book is available from the Special Collections and Local History Room upon request.
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