One of the most read books in the Gas library is the Eagle Annual of Cutaways. I can look at this stuff for hours. Before 3D modelling software, there was just a guy with a ruler and a Rotring pen. While the image below is not from Eagle magazine, I do think it’s a beaut.
Totally agree with you, beauty was what these artists created. Even the drawings in the Haynes manuals, but without colour, were amazing to look at and try and understand whilst your gear box in pieces on the floor in front of you 🙂