I'm starting to do some research into Tom McCahill and all I can find after some brief web searching is that he wrote car reviews and that he's dead. Well, that helps me a lot. Anybody have any information on the man? Articles about him, personal encounters, biographies, etc.? If you have old issues of Mechanix Illustrated laying around that you'd like to donate to this project, that'd help too. thanks, dan
He wrote a mess of books. Here's a link to a collectible bookseller site, where you can get a little info on them and can buy them: <br> http://www.bookfinder.com/search/?a...ew_used=*¤cy=USD&mode=basic&st=sr&ac=qr
Get a local librarian to check Worldcat or some such database to find out what library near you has a run of '40's--'60's Mechanix mags so you can sift through his work--lots on cars, dogs, guns. Get his name searched in same database to see if any of his books are in your area libraries. Ones you can't get to can be ordered on interlibrary loan and sent to your local library. Dig through old "Reader's Guide" at your library covering his period of activity (these are pre-computer indexes). Only a bit of his stuff will be indexed, but you will find quite a lot anyway.
Pop Mechanix also published some annual-type soft-cover magazine/books, similar to the Petersen "Trend" books. Several of them were compilations of McCahill articles, like "Tom McCahill on Sports Cars." He was a great writer/reviewer. Usually included his black Lab in the story/photos. Reviews always included a shot of him whipping a big brody in the dirt with the car . . . Steve.
Yeah--he both edited and contributed to a number of the early How-to and best hot rods type little books of the first half of the fifties, and also wrote in some slanted toward antique and sports car people. I'm just now reading one in which he covers the engine build for his new shoebax Ford, with acceleration times and lots of interesting observations on the ease of smoking Cads and Olds. I think (will check tonight) that these books were published by Fawcett--the competing Petersen books were Trend back then. Get the Interlibrary loan people to do a worldcat search with "hot rod" in the ***le line and "Fawcett" as publisher--you're sure to get some Tom stuff. I remember his 25th anniversary road test done for Mercury (1939-64) in which he pointed out the awkward fact that the '39 still handled better than the new one...
Do a google search -- tons of stuff out there. And he wrote primarily for Mechanix Illustrated, not Popular Mechanix. Steve.
I remember reading his stuff in Popular Mechanix when I was a kid. One of the ways he rated a car was on how well he fit into the trunk.
Yeah! Make sure you use a lot of pix of Tom in the trunk of the cars he reviews. He used to be my fave writer when I was in Elementary school. My dad liked his stuf too.
That's hilarious. One of the other wierd things I'm finding out is that Fawcett Publishing also put out rags like True Confessions and all the early Captain Marvel comic books. A truly diverse publishing company if there ever was one. d
I, too, was a constant reader and fan of Tom's articles and books. My favorite Fawcett book was No. 131 . . . Much of the info came from his road tests in MI, including images of Tom's "let's see what this baby will do" driving tests . . . . . . including what I believe to be an "Oh ****!" situation that was turned into a photo op. Joe the Labrador was Tom's road-test sidekick. For the Crosley Hotshot wring-out, however, Joe posed with Tom while the rollerskate was driven sensibly on pavement after Tom discovered that its doors often flew open when the car was flung about. Tom McCahill taught me many things about cars, not the least of which is to enjoy them! Mike
Much of the info came from his road tests in MI, including images of Tom's "let's see what this baby will do" driving tests . . . Neat pic! My buddy has a Singer just like this one - his has a small block Chevy in it though.
Tom McCahill put the steel underpinning into my own writing. When reviewing the 57 Chrysler 300 "Hold the end of your cigar outside the driver's window when traveling at top speed. The friction from the rushing air will light it." Tom loved life amd he loved cars. He had a great job and he was always fun to read. He's the reason I'm saving any old Popular Mechanicix at all.
Okay, next question: Anybody who's saved the MI issues want to scan/copy the McCahill reviews and send them to me? I'll pay for postage. thx, dan
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