Important things 5.

Finally for now, "Sizes" by John Lord. 375 pages, published 1995, mine since 1997. This book has more text than the previous books I have mentioned in this series of posts. That is good, in this case. There are therefore fewer illustrations, but more background info and usage notes on the various units, sizes, and items under discussion. It is organized alphabetically, from Abalone (allowable size limits for capture) to zetta- (decimal multiplier). This book is a nice casual read due to the greater amount of text. I have actually used this book to prove to a friend that the unit "foot-pound" was not something that I'd made up, after I tried to use it in a jokey conversation. It appears this book too, is out of print.

Important things 4.

All right, now "Pocket Ref (2nd Ed.)" by Thomas J Glover. 542 pages, Published 1997, mine since 1997. This is a small book, but has much more factual information than most other books many times its size. A simple way to describe this book is an almanac, only without any of the weather/planting/presidents/'famous personages' stuff in. Instead you get (by a random flip of pages): maximum floor joist spans, formulas for electricity, world wide area codes by location, firewood/fuel comparisons, steel wire/sheet steel gauges, weights and properties of materials (from ABS [plastic] to zinc,cast). Clearly, this book is very valuable. I have thumbed through mine many times, and in doing this entry, I found out there is a newer 3rd edition, that is available from the publisher here. Not only are time-sensitive items updated, there are over 200 new pages of information! I will be getting the new version shortly. This book is a must-have book to me.

Important things 3.

Now, the "Pictorial Handbook of Technical Devices" by Paul Grafstein and Otto B. Schwarz. 604 pages, published 1978, mine since approx. 1994. I will quote from the back cover "To the practical person, a properly drawn sketch, cutaway diagram, or photograph is worth many pages of description." I feel that to be very, very true. The book is set up like so: left-hand page- list of devices with name and description, right-hand page- photo/illo of devices with letter/number. I love this book. Like the previous books I mentioned in this series of posts, it too is out of print. The book is divided into ten main sections (with subsections in each): Machine Technology, Magnetics and Electronics, Light and Optics, Fluid Technology, Industrial Processes, Power Generation, Structural Engineering, Comfort Heating and Cooling, Transducers, and Metrology. My only major complaint is the scarcity of hinges/joints. There is one page of "Hinges" and one of "Angular Couplings and Universal Joints". Otherwise, this book is a wonderful asset to anyone interested in mechanical devices of many sizes and types. If anyone is aware of a dedicated book or website about hinges/joints, especially recessed or hidden ones, please email me: deadtech1(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

Important things 2.

Next is "What's What: A visual glossary of everyday objects-from paper clips to passenger ships". Edited by Reginald Bragonier, Jr. 565 pages, published 1982, mine since approx. 1987. This book is a nice one, with a mixture of diagrams, line drawings and photos (all black and white). They illustrate many natural and human-produced items, and are all labelled. Some in more detail than others, which is a bit of a failing to me. It too is a bit dated, as some of the illos for human-produced items are of things now obsolete (see the 'computer' on the cover for an example). Having received this later than the (superior) Comparisons also effects my feelings for this book (negatively). It is still a worthwhile book, and has some great content.

Important things.

I will now discuss several of the books most important to me. I will list them in chronological order, from earliest to most recent. Based upon when I first came to possess them. First, and most important, is "Comparisons", by The Diagram Group, 240 pages. . Published 1980, I've had my copy since approx. 1982. As an aside, the condition of the book in the scan is bad. But I have since done a fairly through (if amateur) repair/rebinding of my book, including reinforcing the spine, especially at the corners. Also, dog-eared/curled page corners have been flattened and pressed. It is still not as nice as I'd like, but is much better. I recently found out there is an older version of the book in hardcover. I will have to get one someday.

Anyhow, This book is simply amazing. It consists of many pages of wonderful graphic representations of relative speeds, distances, sizes, capacities, etc. The illustrations are great line drawings as well as graphs and charts. At chapter breaks, it includes reproductions of historic diagrams/engravings or photographs. My copy of the book (with my childhood name written in the inside cover) was literally in many pieces until my recent repair. This is simply my favorite book of my childhood. I dearly wish there was an updated edition, as many of the human-achieved "records" (speed, depth, altitude, distance) are no longer accurate. Nevertheless, I will keep and treasure this book forever.

Cold Stars !?

YES. COLD STARS.