Chine Publishing News Update – December 2023

WE WISH OUR CUSTOMERS AND WEBSITE VISITORS A HEALTHY, HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.

DL – The Classic Years:
Isle of Wight motor vehicles 1939 – 1964

‘DL – The Classic Years  may be purchased through our Chine Publishing website and from several bookshops, museums and gift shops.  It has a hardback, coffee table book format with 144 pages, 25cm x 28cm and almost 200 black and white and colour images and is printed on glossy art paper.  The photographs have been reproduced to a high standard and many are full page. The book is organised in chronological order and contains three main chapters and several appendices, including an illustrated record of several Isle of Wight garages from that period.  Many makes and models of motor vehicle are featured, accompanied by informative captions.  These include many familiar cars, motorcycles, buses and commercial vehicles (e.g. Morris Minors, Ford Zephyrs, Vauxhall Victors, Austin A35s, Triumph Heralds, Hillman Minxes and Bedford OBs), but there are also some more unusual vehicles such as a Jowett Javelin, an Austin A90 Atlantic and an Isetta bubblecar as well as an incredibly rare Paramount roadster.

This unashamedly nostalgic book will appeal equally to classic motor vehicle enthusiasts and people interested in Isle of Wight local history.

DL: Isle of Wight Motor Vehicles 1896 – 1939

Demand for our popular Isle of Wight pre-war motoring history book continues to be high across the UK. Copies of “DL” are available from many shops and museums (listed below) and via our website at the special stock clearance price of £9.95.

The book has received some excellent reviews and many positive comments from readers. Vintage transport enthusiasts and people interested in local history are particularly happy with the large number of rare vehicle photographs which have been reproduced to a high quality. Copies of “DL” ordered through the Chine Publishing website will be supplied free of charge to UK addresses, using strong protective packaging.

Independent Bus Services on the Isle of Wight

Independent Bus Services on the Isle of Wight is now out of print. A few new copies of this book are still available from some of the sales outlets listed below.

Current Sales Outlets

  • Ryde Bookshop – 135 High Street, Ryde, IW
  • Isle of Wight Steam Railway Gift Shop – The Railway Station, Havenstreet, IW
  • Dimbola Photographic Museum – Freshwater Bay, IW
  • The National Motor Museum Gift Shop – Beaulieu, New Forest, Hampshire
  • Waterstones – 118 High Street, Newport, IW
  • The Book Room – Jireh Place, Yarmouth, IW
  • Mother Goose Bookshop, St. Helens, IW
  • Glyn Morgan’s Gift Shop – 26/28 Regent Street, Shanklin, IW
  • Ventnor Heritage Museum, Ventnor, IW
  • East Cowes Heritage Centre – 8 Clarence Road, East Cowes, IW
  • The Old Smithy Gift Shop – High Street, Godshill, IW
  • Chivertons of Cowes – 5 Shooters Hill, Cowes, IW
  • P&J News – 113 High Street, Sandown, IW’

We welcome enquiries from booksellers who are interested in stocking Chine Publishing titles in the future and are able to provide significant discounts for orders of ten copies or more.  Please contact us if you require further details.

Mail Order

Order today via the Chine Publishing website

Book Reviews/ Reader Feedback

Chine Publishing is pleased to receive any feedback or additional information relating to our three publications.

Early comments received regarding “DL – The Classic Years” include:

“I must congratulate you on another first class production.” (TN)

“I had a feeling this book was going to be good but it has far exceeded my expectations. I feel that the book illustrates more than the vehicles themselves. The locations of a lot of the photos are also fantastic and show good local history.” (NM)

“This book really is superb, both in content and in presentation. I do hope that it meets with the success it deserves.” (JW)

“This is an interesting book for lovers of transport generally, covering a variety of vehicles – some well-known and some very obscure. It is an ideal partner to the DL book.” (The Omnibus Society magazine book review, Feb/Mar 2018).

“Grateful appreciation of your latest coffee table tome. It is splendid, bringing back so many memories.” (AM)

Some of the comments we have received regarding “DL: Isle of Wight Motor Vehicles 1896 – 1939” are:

“Wow!” Your book is a fabulous achievement. Once read I look forward to dipping in and out frequently for a long time.” (GD)

“The author is to be congratulated on collecting together so many early images of Isle of Wight-registered vehicles, most of which are of remarkably high quality” (The Automobile review, December 2014)

“This moderately priced work is copiously and magnificently illustrated on 144 pages with superb evocative photographs, frequently a whole page spread.  It is surely essential reading for not only bus enthusiasts but also any student of early motoring and above all anyone enamoured of Isle of Wight social history.”  (REJ)

“Wonderful top quality book”.  (HL)

“Very impressive.”  (ML)