© Wonders of World Aviation 2015-
Other Series
Wonders of World Aviation proved to be the last of these partworks published before the Second World War. This page summarises the earlier series published by The Amalgamated Press under the Editorship of Clarence Winchester.
Railway Wonders of the World (1935-6)
The first of the Clarence Winchester part works, issued with full-colour covers and a vast range of other illustrations was Railway Wonders of the World.
It was issued in 50 weekly instalments from 1st February 1935 through to 10th January 1936. It covered a wide range of subjects, and was intended to be “the most comprehensive survey of railway accomplishment yet presented to the public". The first issue included a full-colour fold-out cutaway diagram of a “King” class locomotive.
The Consulting Editor was the famous railway author Cecil J. Allen. The series covered a number of engineering-related topics.
Special binding arrangements were available for Railway Wonders of the World, the binding cases being red.
Shipping Wonders of the World
(1936-7)
Railway Wonders of the World was followed by Shipping Wonders of the World, which first appeared on Friday 31st January 1936.
Advertised as “the romance of the seven seas in story and picture. … It is the saga of the sea ... The story of the Seven Seas is one of enthralling interest to laymen, students and experts alike. It is, perhaps, the biggest story that can ever be written.”
Shipping Wonders of the World followed a similar format to its predecessor. It was completed in 55 parts, the final issue appearing on 23rd February 1937. The first issue included a special engraving of the RMS Queen Mary, whilst a two-page colour plate appeared with the second issue.
The Consulting Editors were A C Hardy and Frank C Bowen, both of whom regularly contributed articles to the series.
Similar binding arrangements to Railway Wonders of World Engineering were available for Shipping Wonders of the World, the binding cases being deep blue rather than red.
Wonders of World Engineering
(1937-8)
The final issue of Shipping Wonders of the World promoted the next title, Wonders of World Engineering. The first issue appeared on Friday 2nd March 1937, exactly a week after issue 55 of Shipping Wonders of the World.
It was advertised as “a comprehensive survey and explanation of the wonderful achievements of the engineer in his conquests over Nature. There is much that is genuinely romantic in the world of Engineering, in which inventive men, supported by the courage of pioneers, grapple with problems that seem insuperable. The great bridge, the railway, the aeroplane, the steelworks, the wonderful dam, the great wireless station - all are milestones on the highway of human achievement.”
Wonders of World Engineering followed a similar format to its predecessors. It was completed in 53 parts, the final issue appearing on 1st March 1938. The first part included a special fold-out cutaway drawing of an “Empire” flying boat, whilst part two included a special fold-out drawing of the Mersey Tunnel.
The Consulting Editor was Thomas Walley. The series covered a number of marine-related topics.
Similar binding arrangements to Shipping Wonders of the World were available for Wonders of World Engineering, the binding cases being green rather than blue.
