Toolemera Blog

Today's Old Book: Drawing And Design For Craftsmen, R. S. Bowers

"At a time which we have reason to believe is the eve of great industrial as well, it is hoped, artistic progress, this book sets out to supply suggestions and advice to all engaged or interested in the various crafts and artistic industries." Bernard Jones, Editor, preface.

Drawing And Design For Craftsmen: R.S. Bowers; Cassell's Handcraft Library, 1916

At the least, I know there was someone besides me who wrote run-on sentences. This book is an early title in the Cassell's Handcraft Library series, edited by Bernard Jones. The first four volumes were:

1. Drawing And Design For Craftsmen
2. Model Engineering
3. Furniture Making
4. The Complete Woodworker

The Circle Of The Mechanical Arts

In between Moxon and Nicholson was Martin. Ok, there was Spons too but that was much later. And Holtzapffel of course. Well, there were quite a few. Quite a few authors who built upon Moxon's Mechanick Exercises (which book took from other authors of earlier dates of course. I suspect there was some stone age author who took from an earlier primate author). Thus goes the spread of knowledge.

Let us return to Mr. Martin. Thomas Martin authored two books, available in the usual quality from Google Books and scam publishers everywhere:

The Circle Of The Mechanical Arts

The Carpenter's And Joiner's Instructor In Geometrical Lines, The Strength Of Materials And Mechanical Principles Of Framed Work

 
Circle is 616 pages, 39 full page plates and comes in under the wire at 8x10.5 inches. This is one big book. Covering no less than 66 distinct chapters, Circle encompasses all you would ever need to know on The Mechanical Arts short of purchasing a multi-volume encyclopedia. As I understand it, The Carpenter's And Joiner's Instructor expanded upon three of Circle's topics, even offering a revolutionary proof of which I am not  yet conversant. Given my woeful skills in math, I suspect I will never be conversant in this proof. If you'd prefer a PDF of the title page and the table of contents, here 'tis: Download MartinCircle1813

Tool Chest Blog Revival

At last, I've kicked my butt enough to get The Tool Chest Blog back in operation. Months of vitamins does the trick. I tell ya, gettin' old tain't no fun sumtimes. Who ever heard of Folic Acid or D3 or B12 as stuff that'll make ya feel punky?

On to Zachary Dillinger's 1924 Popular Woodworking plans for a wall mount tool cabinet. This will be the first of as many sets of plans as either I can dig up or contributors can come up with. Modern, vintage, really old, ancient, it's all good.

Check out the new plans.

Till next (and there will be a next), Gary

W.F.M. Goss knew what he was writing about

Digitizing and publishing old books means I have to buy old books and read them. Or, at least review them to see if they're worth reading. It's a rough life, but I toughen up and do it.

In addition to reading the book, I've looked more often to Google Books to search out reviews of the time period. It's fascinating to discover what the readers of the day thought of a particular book or author. Some books that today we seem to relegate to the "it's an OK book but not of any real importance" where sold in multiple editions, sometimes over a few decades.

Given the dear price of books, that says something. For example, Benchwork In Wood, by W.F.M. Goss was first published in 1887 and in print through the early part of the 20th Century. I've even seen copies well into the 1940's, but those I've seen are so updated I hesitate to say it's the same book.

An early paper presented by Goss in 1886, containing plates from the forth-coming book

Tulane Univ Eng Freshman Course

Woodcraft magazine, comment 1906

and an interestingPDF  from The Proceedings Of The High School Conference, 1916  Download Goss Conf 1916opt.

Middle Age Spread

It could be my waistline but that has stayed fairly stable, give or take an inch or two. At least by eyeing myself. I tried to use a Stanley Sweetheart yardstick but it was a bit stiff and clumsy to use.

It could be my butt but that butt has stayed where it is for many years and I am thankful for it's remaining so. It's very helpful.

It could be two blogs and three websites.

Toolemera blog

Old Tool Chests blog

Toolemera Press website

Shop Toolemera subsite

HandToolMakers website