THE EARLY YEARS
AA Route Services 1925 - 1939
From Mr Steel to Mr Doughty, dated 14th October 1964.
A HISTORY OF OVERSEAS ROUTES
In December 1925 I joined the staff of Foreign Routes, the full complement then being G S Drew (i/c), Harrington, Pring, and Miss Rhone (typist).
All had been specially recruited for the purpose of starting the section, which had been under way for only a few months.
We were fully occupied writing up sections for France upon 'logs' sent in by Mr Youvenich, based on Dinan in Brittany, and Mr S Hedley. Routes were made up from the printed 'logged' sections plus typed sections, sometimes written up from guide books but often quoted as a mere list of place names from a set of C T C guides.
In 1929 G S Drew died and Harrington left and L W Donald took over as i/c, with Pring as 2 i/c. S J Brock joined the staff and for about the next six years no further additions were made to the compiling/editorial side, but a few more typists and pickers-out were engaged.
By this time both 'loggers' had left the AA and from this point route sections were compiled from maps and from a few guides (eg. the KAK route book for Sweden and the first ever Michelin Guide for Spain). Members were encouraged to comment and check (as they are now) and gradually sections were accumulated. Special queries were referred to clubs, but rarely did they supply a 'log' as we understood it. I gather that they never contemplated the necessity, or otherwise, of furnishing precise directions to their members, and were sceptical of the necessity, a feeling that appears to persist to this day. Members' reports, however, have always proved very helpful and for the far distance routes beyond Istanbul they have been the only reliable source of information.
About 1937 the staff were increased in numbers, A P Quaife joining.
Members had up to this time complained continually of the lack of town plans to show the connections between route sheets. Quaife had some skill with a pen so he was given the task of 'knocking up' throughway plans which were printed by a 'home' process on route section size paper, and inserted in the relevant place in the route. They countered criticism, particularly as it was emphasised that they were only throughway plans.
All section printing from about 1930 onwards was by 'gammeter', operated in membership department.
By 1939 the staff had expanded to about 6 typists (three shorthand), about eight compilers and several boys for picking out. AA Route Services 1945 - 1964
Post War
I returned in April 1945. In 1946 -7 Overseas routes enquiries began to come in and I was asked to produce something comprehensive to serve for a while. Hence the first 'Continental Route Book', later to run to a 2nd edition, containing brief details of the main routes in France with key map. This served its purpose and up to quite recently we were asked if 'treasured' copies could be replaced.
All stocks of route sheets had been sent for salvage and there was only the 'master set' brought back from Reading. S A Richards joined me and from this master set the route sheets were gradually re-stocked by an outside duplicating process. There were two major innovations. 'Through-route' sections incorporating three, four or even more ordinary sections were printed to ease picking out, and to comply with the criticism that only names of the most prominent places were necessary for finding one's way on roads abroad. And, two, as the town plans were redrawn (for the first time by Drawing Office) and reprinted they were assembled into booklets for separate inclusion with routes, this to ease 'picking out'. This reduced the average size of a route to about 22 pages (today's figure) from the 50 or more pre war.
Sections continued to be prepared from the latest maps and guides, Periodicals, both home and Foreign were scanned for the first hint of new road developments. In general the style was simplified, directions being kept to a minimum and where we were told (mainly by members) the names of sign-posts were added. In other words it has been considered preferable to say nothing rather than risk leading anyone astray. If any special query arose the clubs were asked to comment. The degree of assistance obtained varied considerably and with few exceptions we found that we were still left to sort things out.
The latest series of town plans were based upon maps obtained by direct approach to the local information offices (except for Norway, Sweden and Denmark where the clubs were most helpful). This involved much work in circularising and owing to the general staff position, was spaced over several years.
Our files on 'beyond Europe' have been built up from many sources including 'Consulates', but in the main members have contributed most.
The controlling factor since the war has been the lack of staff and time. The season now lasts from January to mid September when all attention has to be concentrated on maintaining output to members. In 1964 for the first time we were able to keep one route trained man (G E Ostkamp) on editorial throughout the year and his time was fully occupied with section reprinting, and kindred matters (eg keeping the master map of Western Europe up to date). Each September we have been faced with the problem of reprinting before Jan 1st.
20 town plan booklets, 5000 route sheets, and several route books and there just has not been the time for a leisurely approach to each of the many problems, particularly as the very limited number of senior staff have still had to deal with the many day to day routine matters.
Consequently what has often thought to be desirable has just had to be left.