J01. Siemens Leadership Tour of America

Very interesting summary of Siemens & Halske AG (current day Siemens Corporation) executive and head-engineer tour of the United States.

The text details their visit and tours of Pratt & Whitney, Western Electric, and Ford Motor Company (where they were personally greeted by Henry Ford).

Together with extensive social commentary on the United States (cleanliness comparisons to Canada and Europe; condition of infrastructure and housing stock, etcetera). The tour took place during Prohibition, and the German visitors frequently comment on either the lack of alcohol (on the U.S. flagged ship) or their amazement at how “pre-prohibition” alcohol happened to still be available for their consumption.

Interesting insight into the origins of the largest manufacturing company in Europe that today has over 311,000 employees. Siemens is one of the world’s most important manufacturers of major infrastructure systems in the world. Possibly a singular copy. At the time of cataloguing, no holdings in OCLC or KVK nor any other copies listed for sale.