Alice and I have several old technical books on all sorts of subjects and we can't help noticing how much more the average person was assumed to be capable of years ago, than they are now. We like the way it was assumed that you were going to do an electrical or gas installation yourself and as far as woodwork was concerned, the standard of work anticipated without power tools was very high.
Cheers, Nerys
Alice and I have several old technical books on all sorts of subjects and we can't help noticing how much more the average person was assumed to be capable of years ago, than they are now. We like the way it was assumed that you were going to do an electrical or gas installation yourself and as far as woodwork was concerned, the standard of work anticipated without power tools was very high.
Cheers, Nerys
When the winds before the rain, soon you may make sail again, but when the rain's before the wind, tops'l sheets and halyards mind
There is a book called The Boys Book of Model Boats by Gutenberg from much the same era. If you Google it - it is possible to download the book for free - also very interesting reading.
Don't let the title put you off Nerys - its also from the age of Stereotypes and "Clever Lads"......
Love reading these old books - found one called "Rustic Funiture" - you use small trees or branches to make furniture without bothering to debark or anything silly like that.........
There is a book called The Boys Book of Model Boats by Gutenberg from much the same era. If you Google it - it is possible to download the book for free - also very interesting reading.
Don't let the title put you off Nerys - its also from the age of Stereotypes and "Clever Lads"......
Love reading these old books - found one called "Rustic Funiture" - you use small trees or branches to make furniture without bothering to debark or anything silly like that.........
I must say I'm a sucker for old model boat books too Nerys. The steam engine part of your post reminded me of something Basil Harley once wrote. He described what he called the 'easily done by a clever lad' style of writing in past books, whereby complex operations were glossed over in a sentence or two, ie 'first make your boiler'!
In case you don't know, Basil Harley used to write in Model Boats and designed and described a series of simple steam launches. I have a copy of his book, Toyshop Steam. Unfortunately he is no longer with us.
All the best,
Ian
I must say I'm a sucker for old model boat books too Nerys. The steam engine part of your post reminded me of something Basil Harley once wrote. He described what he called the 'easily done by a clever lad' style of writing in past books, whereby complex operations were glossed over in a sentence or two, ie 'first make your boiler'!
In case you don't know, Basil Harley used to write in Model Boats and designed and described a series of simple steam launches. I have a copy of his book, Toyshop Steam. Unfortunately he is no longer with us.
Alice saw a book on Amazon and as I didn't have it, ordered it. It was called 'Model Boat Building' After a month, it arrived from the US of A and turned out to be a reprint of a book originally published in 1905. Very interesting. Details of building a cutter. Straight stem, counter stern, cod's head and mackerel tail. Gaff rigged, gaff topsail standing rigging set up with deadeyes. Typical of the period. How to build alternatives, bread and butter, planking on frames and, something different, built with plates of soldered tin sheet.
Obviously there was no RC, so instructions on how to rig a boat so that she would sail well downwind and reaching and again for beating to windward. Rudder is set by fitting tiller into a rack. Another thing they say to do is to strengthen the stem with a piece of sheet brass wrapped around the stem and stretching an inch or so each side. Just in case you hit anything!.
Also 'how to build a transatlantic liner', again tin plate construction, clipper bow and counter stern. Not only that, but how to build a steam engine and boiler for her.
Another chapter on how to build a vertical engine for a steam launch. In this they suggest that every piece is made in wood , then passed over to an engineering firm to have all the pieces cast and returned to you for putting together.
All together an excellent £10 worth, really good read, little practical use. but, thank you Alice.
Nerys
Alice saw a book on Amazon and as I didn't have it, ordered it. It was called 'Model Boat Building' After a month, it arrived from the US of A and turned out to be a reprint of a book originally published in 1905. Very interesting. Details of building a cutter. Straight stem, counter stern, cod's head and mackerel tail. Gaff rigged, gaff topsail standing rigging set up with deadeyes. Typical of the period. How to build alternatives, bread and butter, planking on frames and, something different, built with plates of soldered tin sheet.
Obviously there was no RC, so instructions on how to rig a boat so that she would sail well downwind and reaching and again for beating to windward. Rudder is set by fitting tiller into a rack. Another thing they say to do is to strengthen the stem with a piece of sheet brass wrapped around the stem and stretching an inch or so each side. Just in case you hit anything!.
Also 'how to build a transatlantic liner', again tin plate construction, clipper bow and counter stern. Not only that, but how to build a steam engine and boiler for her.
Another chapter on how to build a vertical engine for a steam launch. In this they suggest that every piece is made in wood , then passed over to an engineering firm to have all the pieces cast and returned to you for putting together.
All together an excellent £10 worth, really good read, little practical use. but, thank you Alice.
Nerys
When the winds before the rain, soon you may make sail again, but when the rain's before the wind, tops'l sheets and halyards mind
