Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Atlas Imperial Diesel Engine Company Records

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0996
Creators:
Atlas Imperial Diesel Engine Company.
Dates:
1917-1968
bulk 1925-1954
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
3.2 Cubic feet
8 boxes
Repository:
The Atlas Imperial Diesel Engine Company started in 1903 by John F. Lorimer. The company produced diesel engines for a variety of machines, including marine vessels, locomotives, and farm equipment. The collection includes background and historical information on the company, instruction manuals, marketing literature, corporate records, and drawings and photographs.

Scope and Contents note

Scope and Contents note
These records include information on Atlas's products, and include trade literature, blueprints, advertising, bulletins, specifications, catalogs, operators manuals, proposals, correspondence, photographs, and historical articles on the company and on engines.

Arrangement

Arrangement
This collection is arranged into five series.
Series 1: History of Atlas Imperial Diesel Engine, 1917-1966
Series 2: User Instructions and Manuals, circa 1920-19522
Series 3: Marketing Literature, circa 1918-1954
Series 4: Corporate Records, circa 1921-1968
Series 5: Drawings and Photographs, circa 1920-1959

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
The Atlas Imperial Diesel Engine Company was an Oakland, California, manufacturer of marine propulsion machinery. The company was founded in 1903 by John Lorimer in San Francisco, California. In 1916 it merged with Imperial Gas Engine Company. The company produced various diesel engines for a variety of uses, including marine vessels, tractors, and locomotives. In 1950, Atlas Imperial was acquired by National Supply Company, however, Atlas Diesels were manufactured up to 1957 at which point the National Supply Company sold their diesel engine division to White Motor Company and was renamed as White Diesel Engine Division.

Administration

Author
Sara Wheeler
Immediate Source of Acquisiton
Collection donated by Ralph S. Lorimer.
Processing Information
Processed by Sara Wheeler, intern, August 2017; supervised by Alison Oswald, archivist.
Ownership and Custodial History
Transferred from Division of Work and Industry, 2006.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270. Gloves must be worn when handling unprotected photographs and negatives.
Preferred Citation
Atlas Imperial Diesel Engine Company Records, circa 1917-1968, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning intellectual property rights. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions. Copyright held by the Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Leaflets Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Diesel engines Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Engines Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Blueprints Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Correspondence -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mechanical engineering Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Pamphlets Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Heavy machinery Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Marine engines Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Propulsion systems Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Specifications Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Proposals Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Advertisements Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Steam-engines Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Instructional materials Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Trade catalogs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Work and Industry Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Mechanical and Civil Engineering Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Imperial Gas Engine Company. Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-3270
Fax Number: Fax: 202-786-2453
archivescenter@si.edu