One of my designers walked into the office yesterday with a framed selection of prints and photo's he'd picked up at a swap meet as a gift for me. The prints have an embossed stamp on them dated 1944 and the three photo's certainly seem to be from that period. The name of the artist is Gus Maanum. Does anybody have any info on the guy? Or recognize any of the cars in the photos? I haven't taken the frame apart to see if there are any notes on the back of the photos.... Will do that later. Gonna reframe it and hang it in the Hotwheels office......hope this works, it's my first post from the I phone app. ....
That bottom Maanum drawing should be dated 47 I believe. Does the top drawing have a date or does it have the copyright symbol after the name? Can't see how it would have the 44 date. Maybe the date is on the stamp representing the company that did the prints as in founding date.
The first print is of the Danny Sakai Modified The second print is of Crawford/Stroner '32 The T roadster in the photo is Randy Shinn's The black Streamliner is Stu Hilborn's The Bellytank is Burke/Francisco Sweet 16. All are from 1947.
Search Gus Maanum, there's a lot about him on here. Great period Hot Rod art conveying a sence of speed. Some of Wees' "in motion" art has definately been influenced by Mr Maanum. You could start with this TJJ entry: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=1166
LowCab, you are correct, looking at them again its an"incorporated" date on the stamp referring to the printer...
The Jalopy Journal
