Like you, I find it frustrating that so much pre-1990s information isn't at our fingertips. :-)

Just to add a little more to the story:

[link|http://www.ieee-uffc.org/fc_history/bottom.html|A HISTORY OF THE QUARTZ CRYSTAL INDUSTRY IN THE USA], from 1981. It mentions shortages of natural quartz, and German efforts in artificial quartz. It's a good article, but doesn't mention efforts in other materials in any detail. The author closes with the hope that someone will fill in the details in areas he touches on.

Cheers,
Scott.