Five Hundred and Seven Mechanical Movements

First printed in 1868 as America was entering the age of industrialization, this book sets forth in simple, descriptive language with clear concise drawings, 507 different types of mechanical movements, in areas as diverse as C.R. Otis' safety stop for the elevator, Pickering's governor for a steam engine, Arnold's escapement for watches, compound parallel rules, piston rod guides, the grasshopper beam engine, and a self recording level for surveyors. The list goes on and on in fascinating variety. A basic source for anyone interested in the history of technology and mechanics, or in idea for design and construction. The selection of movements embraced in this collection were gathered from many and various sources, with many previously published in across five volumes of American Artisan. The English works of Johnson, Willcock, Wylson, and Denison have been drawn upon to a considerable extent, and many other works - American and foreign - have been laid under contribution; but more than one-fourth of the movements - many of purely American origin - have never previously appeared in any published collection.