Request for a recommendation.

[William Hyde]

I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.

The kind of kid who used to take clocks apart and put them back together
still working (when that was possible), build a telescope or put
together a radio, that sort of thing.

I remember seeing such a book and wishing I'd had it when I was twelve
myself, but I don't recall the name or author.

As for myself, that clock never worked again, so I'm not much of a
mentor here.

William Hyde

[Ted Nolan <tednolan>]

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.
The kind of kid who used to take clocks apart and put them back together
still working (when that was possible), build a telescope or put
together a radio, that sort of thing.
I remember seeing such a book and wishing I'd had it when I was twelve
myself, but I don't recall the name or author.
As for myself, that clock never worked again, so I'm not much of a
mentor here.
William Hyde

Don't know if you can get the parts anymore, but for non-fiction, I used
to love Alfred Powell Morgan's _The Boy Electrician_ and his "Radio" books.

Fiction? Maybe _Up Periscope_ by White. Lots of submarine details as I
recall.

[Cryptoengineer]

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.
The kind of kid who used to take clocks apart and put them back together
still working (when that was possible), build a telescope or put
together a radio, that sort of thing.
I remember seeing such a book and wishing I'd had it when I was twelve
myself, but I don't recall the name or author.
As for myself, that clock never worked again, so I'm not much of a
mentor here.
William Hyde

Not exactly there, but adjacent

"The Dangerous Book for Boys" by Conn Iggulden

pt

[Scott Lurndal]

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.

Not exactly what you're looking for, but somewhat topical:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Investigators

[Scott Dorsey]

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.

A fiction book or nonfiction?

When I was... younger than 12, might have been about seven... I got my
father to buy me the Chilton's engine rebuilding annual. I still have
it. I spent months poring over it.
--scott

[Ted Nolan <tednolan>]

Post by Scott Dorsey

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.

A fiction book or nonfiction?
When I was... younger than 12, might have been about seven... I got my
father to buy me the Chilton's engine rebuilding annual. I still have
it. I spent months poring over it.
--scott

L. Sprague deCamp actually wrote a non-fiction book about engines.

Huh, it's actually called _Engines_:

https://www.amazon.com/Engines-L-Sprague-Camp/dp/B0006BZMX8

[Scott Lurndal]

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Scott Dorsey

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.

A fiction book or nonfiction?
When I was... younger than 12, might have been about seven... I got my
father to buy me the Chilton's engine rebuilding annual. I still have
it. I spent months poring over it.
--scott

L. Sprague deCamp actually wrote a non-fiction book about engines.
https://www.amazon.com/Engines-L-Sprague-Camp/dp/B0006BZMX8

If you can find a copy of the Audel's books (e.g. antique stores,
ABE, etc), they're fascinating reading. Particularly the
engineers and mechanics guide set which discusses steam engines.

[Scott Dorsey]

Post by Scott Lurndal
If you can find a copy of the Audel's books (e.g. antique stores,
ABE, etc), they're fascinating reading. Particularly the
engineers and mechanics guide set which discusses steam engines.

Audel's is still publishing those things, come to think of it. I have the
latest edition of their book on rebuiling electric motors, and it would be
okay for a twelve year old.

Machinery's Handbook would be a bit too much but... it's something they
could keep for the rest of their life and keep using.

John Muir's _How To Keep Your Volkswagen Alive_ has some of the best
general advice about cars and about maintenance that I ever read, and it
is a fun book, but it also might not feel relevant at all to a kid today
who has probably never seen an air-cooled VW.
--scott

[Scott Dorsey]

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Scott Dorsey

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.

A fiction book or nonfiction?
When I was... younger than 12, might have been about seven... I got my
father to buy me the Chilton's engine rebuilding annual. I still have
it. I spent months poring over it.

L. Sprague deCamp actually wrote a non-fiction book about engines.
https://www.amazon.com/Engines-L-Sprague-Camp/dp/B0006BZMX8

So, I found this, and it's cool, but twelve seems awfully old for it.
This would be a great book for a younger kid (even though it doesn't
mention radials).
--scott

[Lynn McGuire]

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Scott Dorsey

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.

A fiction book or nonfiction?
When I was... younger than 12, might have been about seven... I got my
father to buy me the Chilton's engine rebuilding annual. I still have
it. I spent months poring over it.
--scott

L. Sprague deCamp actually wrote a non-fiction book about engines.
https://www.amazon.com/Engines-L-Sprague-Camp/dp/B0006BZMX8

That is a wild picture. I can tell you from experience, working on a
outboard engine in the middle of a lake or river is not fun when you
drop whatever you were working on in the drink. In my case, it was the
propeller after we ran over a log and broke the prop key. One should
always have a spare prop and several keys on board.

Lynn

[Ted Nolan <tednolan>]

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Scott Dorsey

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.

A fiction book or nonfiction?
When I was... younger than 12, might have been about seven... I got my
father to buy me the Chilton's engine rebuilding annual. I still have
it. I spent months poring over it.
--scott

L. Sprague deCamp actually wrote a non-fiction book about engines.
https://www.amazon.com/Engines-L-Sprague-Camp/dp/B0006BZMX8

That is a wild picture. I can tell you from experience, working on a
outboard engine in the middle of a lake or river is not fun when you
drop whatever you were working on in the drink. In my case, it was the
propeller after we ran over a log and broke the prop key. One should
always have a spare prop and several keys on board.
Lynn

If you take care of your outboard, it can run a while!

[Paul S Person]

On Fri, 4 Oct 2024 21:11:35 -0500, Lynn McGuire

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Scott Dorsey

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.

A fiction book or nonfiction?
When I was... younger than 12, might have been about seven... I got my
father to buy me the Chilton's engine rebuilding annual. I still have
it. I spent months poring over it.
--scott

L. Sprague deCamp actually wrote a non-fiction book about engines.
https://www.amazon.com/Engines-L-Sprague-Camp/dp/B0006BZMX8

That is a wild picture. I can tell you from experience, working on a
outboard engine in the middle of a lake or river is not fun when you
drop whatever you were working on in the drink. In my case, it was the
propeller after we ran over a log and broke the prop key. One should
always have a spare prop and several keys on board.

Or whatever tool you were using to work on it with.

[William Hyde]

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Scott Dorsey

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.

A fiction book or nonfiction?
When I was... younger than 12, might have been about seven... I got my
father to buy me the Chilton's engine rebuilding annual.  I still have
it.  I spent months poring over it.
--scott

L. Sprague deCamp actually wrote a non-fiction book about engines.
    https://www.amazon.com/Engines-L-Sprague-Camp/dp/B0006BZMX8

That is a wild picture.  I can tell you from experience, working on a
outboard engine in the middle of a lake or river is not fun when you
drop whatever you were working on in the drink.  In my case, it was the
propeller after we ran over a log and broke the prop key.  One should
always have a spare prop and several keys on board.

I had a similar experience but without the log (why it broke I do not know).

It's amazing how long it takes to move a 10 foot boat a mile with only
one paddle. If there had been any kind of current the other way I'd
still be out there.

I could have swum back faster.

I never went out again without checking the spares, even if I absolutely
knew they were there.


William Hyde

[Lynn McGuire]

Post by William Hyde

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Scott Dorsey

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.

A fiction book or nonfiction?
When I was... younger than 12, might have been about seven... I got my
father to buy me the Chilton's engine rebuilding annual.  I still have
it.  I spent months poring over it.
--scott

L. Sprague deCamp actually wrote a non-fiction book about engines.
    https://www.amazon.com/Engines-L-Sprague-Camp/dp/B0006BZMX8

That is a wild picture.  I can tell you from experience, working on a
outboard engine in the middle of a lake or river is not fun when you
drop whatever you were working on in the drink.  In my case, it was
the propeller after we ran over a log and broke the prop key.  One
should always have a spare prop and several keys on board.

I had a similar experience but without the log (why it broke I do not know).
It's amazing how long it takes to  move a 10 foot boat a mile with only
one paddle.  If there had been any kind of current the other way I'd
still be out there.
I could have swum back faster.
I never went out again without checking the spares, even if I absolutely
knew they were there.
William Hyde

We did a fifty mile fishing trip down the Missouri river in Montana with
three 11 foot boats with double oars in the middle back in May over five
days. No motors.

There was a guide in the middle of each boat rowing. Even going down
river it was a struggle for him even with the two mile/hr current.
Going up river was a serious effort for him if he was trying to save a
fishing rig stuck in the rocks or a tree on the bank.

Lynn

[Kevrob]

Post by William Hyde

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Scott Dorsey

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.

A fiction book or nonfiction?
When I was... younger than 12, might have been about seven... I got my
father to buy me the Chilton's engine rebuilding annual.  I still have
it.  I spent months poring over it.
--scott

L. Sprague deCamp actually wrote a non-fiction book about engines.
    https://www.amazon.com/Engines-L-Sprague-Camp/dp/B0006BZMX8

That is a wild picture.  I can tell you from experience, working on a
outboard engine in the middle of a lake or river is not fun when you
drop whatever you were working on in the drink.  In my case, it was
the propeller after we ran over a log and broke the prop key.  One
should always have a spare prop and several keys on board.

I had a similar experience but without the log (why it broke I do not know).
It's amazing how long it takes to  move a 10 foot boat a mile with only
one paddle.  If there had been any kind of current the other way I'd
still be out there.
I could have swum back faster.
I never went out again without checking the spares, even if I absolutely
knew they were there.
William Hyde

I used to put my Great-Uncle's 3.5 hp Evinrude (a 1956, IMS) on the
back of my family's 10-ft aluminum dinghy, and zoom around the harbor
in it. I had to share it with my cousin, who would put it on the back
of his family's dink. I had a positive talent for shearing the cotter
pin off on the rocky floor of the harbor, located on Long Island, NY's
North Shore. When my cousin had the motor I would row, but also when
my poor piloting disabled the engine. Cuz and I were in the same year
in school, but he was mechanically handy, where I was not. Not only
would I have to replace the part, but I'd have to get one of the
cousins to install it. I wore out my relatives' patience once or twice.

It was a long walk up and down hills to get to the next village East,
ever since Long Island Lighting fenced off their property. One could
no longer walk to the shopping district along the statutory beach road,
below the high tide mark. In fact, my Great Uncle was a leader of the
movement to incorporate our village in the 1930s, in order to stop
LILCO from cutting the road off. But the area wanted a power plant, and
jobs, especially during the Depression. so the village got its charter,
but if people wanted a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread they would
have to go the long way round, by land. If you had access to any kind
of boat, that wouldn't stop you.

In my early teens I had no qualms about using the dinghy - w/motor or
our oars - to putter or row into the inner harbor and visit a local
library and/or newsstand to feed my comics and SF habits. Later, when
we sold our year-round house on the South Shore of the Island, tore down
the summer bungalow and built another year-round house on the North
Shore, I had my bicycle for such errands, and for commuting to a summer
job. That gave me access to a second library and more shops. There was
even an independent bookstore near SUNY-Stony Brook where I reserved a
copy of the first printing of the Silmarillion. I believe that was the
first hardcover that I bought for myself.

[William Hyde]

Post by Kevrob

Post by William Hyde

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Scott Dorsey

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.

A fiction book or nonfiction?
When I was... younger than 12, might have been about seven... I got my
father to buy me the Chilton's engine rebuilding annual.  I still have
it.  I spent months poring over it.
--scott

L. Sprague deCamp actually wrote a non-fiction book about engines.
    https://www.amazon.com/Engines-L-Sprague-Camp/dp/B0006BZMX8

That is a wild picture.  I can tell you from experience, working on a
outboard engine in the middle of a lake or river is not fun when you
drop whatever you were working on in the drink.  In my case, it was
the propeller after we ran over a log and broke the prop key.  One
should always have a spare prop and several keys on board.

I had a similar experience but without the log (why it broke I do not know).
It's amazing how long it takes to  move a 10 foot boat a mile with
only one paddle.  If there had been any kind of current the other way
I'd still be out there.
I could have swum back faster.
I never went out again without checking the spares, even if I
absolutely knew they were there.
William Hyde

I used to put my Great-Uncle's 3.5 hp Evinrude (a 1956, IMS) on the
back of my family's 10-ft aluminum dinghy,

We also had a 3.5 Evinrude, and the year is about right.

Also an aluminum boat. It usually had oars, but for some reason they
were gone that day and only a paddle remained. I could have rowed it
back easily enough, but paddling is for canoes, not boats.

My uncle was well off, and every year he had new and stronger engines.
the last I recall were twin 80 mercs. Wisely, I was not allowed near
the controls of that one.


and zoom around the harbor

Post by Kevrob
in it. I had to share it with my cousin, who would put it on the back
of his family's dink.  I had a positive talent for shearing the cotter
pin off on the rocky floor of the harbor, located on Long Island, NY's
North Shore.  When my cousin had the motor I would row, but also when
my poor piloting disabled the engine.  Cuz and I were in the same year
in school, but he was mechanically handy, where I was not.  Not only
would I have to replace the part, but I'd have to get one of the
cousins to install it. I wore out my relatives' patience once or twice.
It was a long walk up and down hills to get to the next village East,
ever since Long Island Lighting fenced off their property. One could
no longer walk to the shopping district along the statutory beach road,
below the high tide mark. In fact, my Great Uncle was a leader of the
movement to incorporate our village in the 1930s, in order to stop
LILCO from cutting the road off. But the area wanted a power plant, and
jobs, especially during the Depression. so the village got its charter,
but if people wanted a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread they would
have to go the long way round, by land.

Not an unusual story, especially for Long Island.


William Hyde

[Michael F. Stemper]

Post by William Hyde

Post by Kevrob

Post by William Hyde

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Scott Dorsey

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.

A fiction book or nonfiction?
When I was... younger than 12, might have been about seven... I got my
father to buy me the Chilton's engine rebuilding annual.  I still have
it.  I spent months poring over it.
--scott

L. Sprague deCamp actually wrote a non-fiction book about engines.
    https://www.amazon.com/Engines-L-Sprague-Camp/dp/B0006BZMX8

That is a wild picture.  I can tell you from experience, working on a outboard engine in the middle of a lake or river is not fun when you drop whatever you were working on in the drink.  In my case, it was the propeller after we ran over a log and broke the prop key.  One should always have a spare prop and several keys on board.

I had a similar experience but without the log (why it broke I do not know).
It's amazing how long it takes to  move a 10 foot boat a mile with only one paddle.  If there had been any kind of current the other way I'd still be out there.
I could have swum back faster.
I never went out again without checking the spares, even if I absolutely knew they were there.
William Hyde

I used to put my Great-Uncle's 3.5 hp Evinrude (a 1956, IMS) on the
back of my family's 10-ft aluminum dinghy,

We also had a 3.5 Evinrude, and the year is about right.
Also an aluminum boat.  It usually had oars, but for some reason they were gone that day and only a paddle remained.  I could have rowed it back easily enough, but paddling is for canoes, not boats.
My uncle was well off, and every year he had new and stronger engines. the last I recall were twin 80 mercs.

Hopefully, they weren't on the same old aluminum rowboat.

[Kevrob]

Post by Michael F. Stemper

Post by William Hyde

Post by Kevrob

Post by William Hyde

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Scott Dorsey

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.

A fiction book or nonfiction?
When I was... younger than 12, might have been about seven... I got my
father to buy me the Chilton's engine rebuilding annual.  I still have
it.  I spent months poring over it.
--scott

L. Sprague deCamp actually wrote a non-fiction book about engines.
    https://www.amazon.com/Engines-L-Sprague-Camp/dp/B0006BZMX8

That is a wild picture.  I can tell you from experience, working on
a outboard engine in the middle of a lake or river is not fun when
you drop whatever you were working on in the drink.  In my case, it
was the propeller after we ran over a log and broke the prop key.
One should always have a spare prop and several keys on board.

I had a similar experience but without the log (why it broke I do not know).
It's amazing how long it takes to  move a 10 foot boat a mile with
only one paddle.  If there had been any kind of current the other
way I'd still be out there.
I could have swum back faster.
I never went out again without checking the spares, even if I
absolutely knew they were there.
William Hyde

I used to put my Great-Uncle's 3.5 hp Evinrude (a 1956, IMS) on the
back of my family's 10-ft aluminum dinghy,

We also had a 3.5 Evinrude, and the year is about right.
Also an aluminum boat.  It usually had oars, but for some reason they
were gone that day and only a paddle remained.  I could have rowed it
back easily enough, but paddling is for canoes, not boats.
My uncle was well off, and every year he had new and stronger engines.
the last I recall were twin 80 mercs.

Hopefully, they weren't on the same old aluminum rowboat.

A frequent comment from older salts down where folks put their craft
in the water: "You've got too much motor on that boat."

I thought our 3.5hp engine was just right. I thought anything more than
a 5hp gas engine might be too heavy for the stern. Since the last time I
piloted any kind of boat, electric engines have come in, so I don't know
what tiny craft get rated for, these days. I imagine the shape of the
hull still matters. BITD you'd not want much power on a dinghy that you
could also sail, as it would draw differently than our almost flat-
bottomed one.

Twin 80s would be nice on the back of a cabin cruiser, or a mid-sized
skiff. How big was your uncle's boat?

[William Hyde]

Post by Kevrob

Post by Michael F. Stemper

Post by William Hyde

Post by Kevrob

Post by William Hyde

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Scott Dorsey

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.

A fiction book or nonfiction?
When I was... younger than 12, might have been about seven... I got my
father to buy me the Chilton's engine rebuilding annual.  I still have
it.  I spent months poring over it.
--scott

L. Sprague deCamp actually wrote a non-fiction book about engines.
    https://www.amazon.com/Engines-L-Sprague-Camp/dp/B0006BZMX8

That is a wild picture.  I can tell you from experience, working
on a outboard engine in the middle of a lake or river is not fun
when you drop whatever you were working on in the drink.  In my
case, it was the propeller after we ran over a log and broke the
prop key. One should always have a spare prop and several keys on
board.

I had a similar experience but without the log (why it broke I do not know).
It's amazing how long it takes to  move a 10 foot boat a mile with
only one paddle.  If there had been any kind of current the other
way I'd still be out there.
I could have swum back faster.
I never went out again without checking the spares, even if I
absolutely knew they were there.
William Hyde

I used to put my Great-Uncle's 3.5 hp Evinrude (a 1956, IMS) on the
back of my family's 10-ft aluminum dinghy,

We also had a 3.5 Evinrude, and the year is about right.
Also an aluminum boat.  It usually had oars, but for some reason they
were gone that day and only a paddle remained.  I could have rowed it
back easily enough, but paddling is for canoes, not boats.
My uncle was well off, and every year he had new and stronger
engines. the last I recall were twin 80 mercs.

Hopefully, they weren't on the same old aluminum rowboat.

A frequent comment from older salts down where folks put their craft
in the water:  "You've got too much motor on that boat."
I thought our 3.5hp engine was just right. I thought anything more than
a 5hp gas engine might be too heavy for the stern.

In my childish way I thought that bigger was better. I longed for a
ten, or even a five. But I grew out of that.



Since the last time I

Post by Kevrob
piloted any kind of boat, electric engines have come in, so I don't know
what tiny craft get rated for, these days. I imagine the shape of the
hull still matters. BITD you'd not want much power on a dinghy that you
could also sail, as it would draw differently than our almost flat-
bottomed one.
Twin 80s would be nice on the back of a cabin cruiser, or a mid-sized
skiff.  How big was your uncle's boat?

I was eight last time I saw it, so I can't be too accurate.

He was very into skiing and ski jumping. In summer he lived on a large
house on Lake Muskoka, with a boathouse and at least two large craft,
winter in Florida where he had another establishment. He may have had a
boat like ours, but I never saw him in it. Fishing was not on the
agenda except in the ocean.

If he were twenty years younger, he could have been in a 60s beach movie
as the cool or alternately creepy older guy. Twenty years older and
he'd have been a natural extra for "Weekend at Bernie's". He did love
the water.



William Hyde

[Cryptoengineer]

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Scott Dorsey

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.

A fiction book or nonfiction?
When I was... younger than 12, might have been about seven... I got my
father to buy me the Chilton's engine rebuilding annual.  I still have
it.  I spent months poring over it.
--scott

L. Sprague deCamp actually wrote a non-fiction book about engines.
    https://www.amazon.com/Engines-L-Sprague-Camp/dp/B0006BZMX8

That is a wild picture.  I can tell you from experience, working on a
outboard engine in the middle of a lake or river is not fun when you
drop whatever you were working on in the drink.  In my case, it was the
propeller after we ran over a log and broke the prop key.  One should
always have a spare prop and several keys on board.
Lynn

Try this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Carlin#Transatlantic_crossing

In 1950, Ben Carlin and his wife drove a (heavily modified)
amphibious Jeep across the Atlantic. He had to change the
head gasket in mid-ocean.

pt

[Lynn McGuire]

On 10/5/2024 8:44 PM, Cryptoengineer wrote:
...

Post by Cryptoengineer

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>
    https://www.amazon.com/Engines-L-Sprague-Camp/dp/B0006BZMX8

That is a wild picture.  I can tell you from experience, working on a
outboard engine in the middle of a lake or river is not fun when you
drop whatever you were working on in the drink.  In my case, it was
the propeller after we ran over a log and broke the prop key.  One
should always have a spare prop and several keys on board.
Lynn

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Carlin#Transatlantic_crossing
In 1950, Ben Carlin and his wife drove a (heavily modified)
amphibious Jeep across the Atlantic. He had to change the
head gasket in mid-ocean.
pt

One of the senior engineers at TXU in the 1980s was chief engineer of
the USS Enterprise in the late 1970s. They had a F-14 fail to launch in
the South China Sea and ran over it at 35 knots. The F-14 got tangled
in two of the four props and bent the prop shaft on a third propeller.
They proceeded to Japan at 2 knots on one prop and managed to partially
dry dock her to cut the F-14 loose. They then headed back to San Diego
at 10 knots for a real dry dock to replace the all prop shafts and the
props.

Lynn

[Lynn McGuire]

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.
The kind of kid who used to take clocks apart and put them back together
still working (when that was possible), build a telescope or put
together a radio, that sort of thing.
I remember seeing such a book and wishing I'd had it when I was twelve
myself, but I don't recall the name or author.
As for myself, that clock never worked again, so I'm not much of a
mentor here.
William Hyde

Any Tom Swift book. Sadly, they are out of print but there seems to be
a new series out now:

https://www.amazon.com/Swift-Inventors-Academy-Starter-Pack/dp/1534455744/

"The first four books in this brand-new series about Tom Swift,
everyone’s favorite inventor, are now available in a collectible boxed
set that’s perfect for fans of The Hardy Boys and Alex Rider!"

"When your dad funds the Swift Academy of Science and Technology, you’re
bound to have a bunch of tech at your disposal. With his three best
friends and the world of science at his fingertips, Tom gets into all
sorts of hijinks and escapades as a student at the Swift Academy. And at
this school, it’s normal to see robots and other contraptions weaving
through the halls with students!"

"This boxed set includes:
The Drone Pursuit
The Sonic Breach
Restricted Access
The Virtual Vandal"

Lynn

[Tony Nance]

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.
The kind of kid who used to take clocks apart and put them back together
still working (when that was possible), build a telescope or put
together a radio, that sort of thing.
I remember seeing such a book and wishing I'd had it when I was twelve
myself, but I don't recall the name or author.
As for myself, that clock never worked again, so I'm not much of a
mentor here.
William Hyde

My son is an engineer, and 4 of my nieces/nephews are also engineers,
and when they were young, every one of them loved the book "The Way
Things Work" by David Macaulay. I'm just a math guy, but I enjoyed
flipping through it as well.

In looking for that title, I see he has also written a second book
called "The New Way Things Work". I am unfamiliar with that book.

Tony

[Ted Nolan <tednolan>]

Post by Tony Nance

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.
The kind of kid who used to take clocks apart and put them back together
still working (when that was possible), build a telescope or put
together a radio, that sort of thing.
I remember seeing such a book and wishing I'd had it when I was twelve
myself, but I don't recall the name or author.
As for myself, that clock never worked again, so I'm not much of a
mentor here.
William Hyde

My son is an engineer, and 4 of my nieces/nephews are also engineers,
and when they were young, every one of them loved the book "The Way
Things Work" by David Macaulay. I'm just a math guy, but I enjoyed
flipping through it as well.
In looking for that title, I see he has also written a second book
called "The New Way Things Work". I am unfamiliar with that book.
Tony

Coming soon "That Should Have Worked!"

[Tony Nance]

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Tony Nance

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.
The kind of kid who used to take clocks apart and put them back together
still working (when that was possible), build a telescope or put
together a radio, that sort of thing.
I remember seeing such a book and wishing I'd had it when I was twelve
myself, but I don't recall the name or author.
As for myself, that clock never worked again, so I'm not much of a
mentor here.
William Hyde

My son is an engineer, and 4 of my nieces/nephews are also engineers,
and when they were young, every one of them loved the book "The Way
Things Work" by David Macaulay. I'm just a math guy, but I enjoyed
flipping through it as well.
In looking for that title, I see he has also written a second book
called "The New Way Things Work". I am unfamiliar with that book.
Tony

Coming soon "That Should Have Worked!"

And then "That Used to Work!"

[Scott Dorsey]

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Tony Nance

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.
The kind of kid who used to take clocks apart and put them back together
still working (when that was possible), build a telescope or put
together a radio, that sort of thing.
I remember seeing such a book and wishing I'd had it when I was twelve
myself, but I don't recall the name or author.
As for myself, that clock never worked again, so I'm not much of a
mentor here.
William Hyde

My son is an engineer, and 4 of my nieces/nephews are also engineers,
and when they were young, every one of them loved the book "The Way
Things Work" by David Macaulay. I'm just a math guy, but I enjoyed
flipping through it as well.
In looking for that title, I see he has also written a second book
called "The New Way Things Work". I am unfamiliar with that book.
Tony

Coming soon "That Should Have Worked!"

I am waiting for "The Way Things Would Have Worked If GM Hadn't Screwed
Them Up."
--scott

[Kevrob]

Post by Scott Dorsey

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Tony Nance

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.
The kind of kid who used to take clocks apart and put them back together
still working (when that was possible), build a telescope or put
together a radio, that sort of thing.
I remember seeing such a book and wishing I'd had it when I was twelve
myself, but I don't recall the name or author.
As for myself, that clock never worked again, so I'm not much of a
mentor here.
William Hyde

My son is an engineer, and 4 of my nieces/nephews are also engineers,
and when they were young, every one of them loved the book "The Way
Things Work" by David Macaulay. I'm just a math guy, but I enjoyed
flipping through it as well.
In looking for that title, I see he has also written a second book
called "The New Way Things Work". I am unfamiliar with that book.
Tony

Coming soon "That Should Have Worked!"

I am waiting for "The Way Things Would Have Worked If GM Hadn't Screwed
Them Up."
--scott

Is there "Things That Work Intermittently"?

Those give me the most trouble.

[Ted Nolan <tednolan>]

Post by Kevrob

Post by Scott Dorsey

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Tony Nance

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.
The kind of kid who used to take clocks apart and put them back together
still working (when that was possible), build a telescope or put
together a radio, that sort of thing.
I remember seeing such a book and wishing I'd had it when I was twelve
myself, but I don't recall the name or author.
As for myself, that clock never worked again, so I'm not much of a
mentor here.
William Hyde

My son is an engineer, and 4 of my nieces/nephews are also engineers,
and when they were young, every one of them loved the book "The Way
Things Work" by David Macaulay. I'm just a math guy, but I enjoyed
flipping through it as well.
In looking for that title, I see he has also written a second book
called "The New Way Things Work". I am unfamiliar with that book.
Tony

Coming soon "That Should Have Worked!"

I am waiting for "The Way Things Would Have Worked If GM Hadn't Screwed
Them Up."
--scott

Is there "Things That Work Intermittently"?
Those give me the most trouble.
--
Kevin R

Loading Image...

[Paul S Person]

Post by Tony Nance

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.
The kind of kid who used to take clocks apart and put them back together
still working (when that was possible), build a telescope or put
together a radio, that sort of thing.
I remember seeing such a book and wishing I'd had it when I was twelve
myself, but I don't recall the name or author.
As for myself, that clock never worked again, so I'm not much of a
mentor here.
William Hyde

My son is an engineer, and 4 of my nieces/nephews are also engineers,
and when they were young, every one of them loved the book "The Way
Things Work" by David Macaulay. I'm just a math guy, but I enjoyed
flipping through it as well.
In looking for that title, I see he has also written a second book
called "The New Way Things Work". I am unfamiliar with that book.

Judging from
<https://www.amazon.com/New-Way-Things-Work/dp/0395938473#:~:text=To%20help%20make%20sense%20of%20the%20computer%20age,%20David%20Macaulay>,
it adds 12 new machines -- including digital machinery.

Well, digital computers as of 1998, anyway. But basics are basics,
after all.

It may also have updates on items discussed in the original (cars and
watches are mentioned, and surely they were in the original).

It is being advertised as an updated version of the original, not a
second volume in a series.

Some might be interested in a price inversion: the paperback costs
/more/ than the hardcover.

And here we have
<https://www.amazon.com/Way-Things-Work-Now-dp-0544824385/dp/0544824385/ref=dp_ob_title_bk>,
a new version dated 2023.

It apparently extends the tech to touchscreens and 3D printers. No
doubt other recently introduced items are there as well.

Continuing the price-inversion tradition, the Kindle edition (unless
you belong to KindleUnlimited) costs more than the hardcover.

The original from 1988
<https://www.amazon.com/Way-Things-Work-David-Macaulay/dp/0395428572/ref=pd_bxgy_d_sccl_2/142-6944350-7921335?pd_rd_w=BUSrl&content-id=amzn1.sym.f7fa8b58-6436-47b8-8741-9e90c231669e&pf_rd_p=f7fa8b58-6436-47b8-8741-9e90c231669e&pf_rd_r=YHW81NGTD74KVZB0R9QT&pd_rd_wg=wmYbJ&pd_rd_r=2fefd4c5-6629-437f-ae7a-31f560538b43&pd_rd_i=0395428572&psc=1>
also has the hardcover costing less than the paperback.

Also in the same tradition of price inversion is
<https://www.amazon.com/Way-Things-Work-Kit/dp/078946506X/ref=tmm_other_meta_binding_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=>
with 12 models and a CD-ROM to explore machines in (I presume) a
hands-on manner.

This makes me wonder: are Hardcover books falling out of favor to the
point that Paperbacks (presumably Trade Paperbacks) command a premium?

[Ted Nolan <tednolan>]

Post by Paul S Person

Post by Tony Nance

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.
The kind of kid who used to take clocks apart and put them back together
still working (when that was possible), build a telescope or put
together a radio, that sort of thing.
I remember seeing such a book and wishing I'd had it when I was twelve
myself, but I don't recall the name or author.
As for myself, that clock never worked again, so I'm not much of a
mentor here.
William Hyde

My son is an engineer, and 4 of my nieces/nephews are also engineers,
and when they were young, every one of them loved the book "The Way
Things Work" by David Macaulay. I'm just a math guy, but I enjoyed
flipping through it as well.
In looking for that title, I see he has also written a second book
called "The New Way Things Work". I am unfamiliar with that book.

Judging from
<https://www.amazon.com/New-Way-Things-Work/dp/0395938473#:~:text=To%20help%20make%20sense%20of%20the%20computer%20age,%20David%20Macaulay>,
it adds 12 new machines -- including digital machinery.
Well, digital computers as of 1998, anyway. But basics are basics,
after all.
It may also have updates on items discussed in the original (cars and
watches are mentioned, and surely they were in the original).
It is being advertised as an updated version of the original, not a
second volume in a series.
Some might be interested in a price inversion: the paperback costs
/more/ than the hardcover.
And here we have
<https://www.amazon.com/Way-Things-Work-Now-dp-0544824385/dp/0544824385/ref=dp_ob_title_bk>,
a new version dated 2023.
It apparently extends the tech to touchscreens and 3D printers. No
doubt other recently introduced items are there as well.
Continuing the price-inversion tradition, the Kindle edition (unless
you belong to KindleUnlimited) costs more than the hardcover.
The original from 1988
<https://www.amazon.com/Way-Things-Work-David-Macaulay/dp/0395428572/ref=pd_bxgy_d_sccl_2/142-6944350-7921335?pd_rd_w=BUSrl&content-id=amzn1.sym.f7fa8b58-6436-47b8-8741-9e90c231669e&pf_rd_p=f7fa8b58-6436-47b8-8741-9e90c231669e&pf_rd_r=YHW81NGTD74KVZB0R9QT&pd_rd_wg=wmYbJ&pd_rd_r=2fefd4c5-6629-437f-ae7a-31f560538b43&pd_rd_i=0395428572&psc=1>
also has the hardcover costing less than the paperback.
Also in the same tradition of price inversion is
<https://www.amazon.com/Way-Things-Work-Kit/dp/078946506X/ref=tmm_other_meta_binding_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=>
with 12 models and a CD-ROM to explore machines in (I presume) a
hands-on manner.
This makes me wonder: are Hardcover books falling out of favor to the
point that Paperbacks (presumably Trade Paperbacks) command a premium?

I had mentioned Alfred Powell Morgan upthread, and I see that several
of his books are on Gutenberg:

https://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/m#a52269

Home-made Toy Motors by Alfred Powell Morgan
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64046

The Boy Electrician by Alfred Powell Morgan
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63207

Home-made Electrical Apparatus by Alfred Powell Morgan
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63878

Model Flying Machines by Alfred Powell Morgan
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64296

How To Build A 20-Foot Bi-Plane Glider by Alfred Powell Morgan
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63077

None of the "Radio" books though.

[Tony Nance]

Post by Paul S Person

Post by Tony Nance

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.
The kind of kid who used to take clocks apart and put them back together
still working (when that was possible), build a telescope or put
together a radio, that sort of thing.
I remember seeing such a book and wishing I'd had it when I was twelve
myself, but I don't recall the name or author.
As for myself, that clock never worked again, so I'm not much of a
mentor here.
William Hyde

My son is an engineer, and 4 of my nieces/nephews are also engineers,
and when they were young, every one of them loved the book "The Way
Things Work" by David Macaulay. I'm just a math guy, but I enjoyed
flipping through it as well.
In looking for that title, I see he has also written a second book
called "The New Way Things Work". I am unfamiliar with that book.

Judging from
<https://www.amazon.com/New-Way-Things-Work/dp/0395938473#:~:text=To%20help%20make%20sense%20of%20the%20computer%20age,%20David%20Macaulay>,
it adds 12 new machines -- including digital machinery.
Well, digital computers as of 1998, anyway. But basics are basics,
after all.
It may also have updates on items discussed in the original (cars and
watches are mentioned, and surely they were in the original).
It is being advertised as an updated version of the original, not a
second volume in a series.
Some might be interested in a price inversion: the paperback costs
/more/ than the hardcover.
And here we have
<https://www.amazon.com/Way-Things-Work-Now-dp-0544824385/dp/0544824385/ref=dp_ob_title_bk>,
a new version dated 2023.
It apparently extends the tech to touchscreens and 3D printers. No
doubt other recently introduced items are there as well.
Continuing the price-inversion tradition, the Kindle edition (unless
you belong to KindleUnlimited) costs more than the hardcover.
The original from 1988
<https://www.amazon.com/Way-Things-Work-David-Macaulay/dp/0395428572/ref=pd_bxgy_d_sccl_2/142-6944350-7921335?pd_rd_w=BUSrl&content-id=amzn1.sym.f7fa8b58-6436-47b8-8741-9e90c231669e&pf_rd_p=f7fa8b58-6436-47b8-8741-9e90c231669e&pf_rd_r=YHW81NGTD74KVZB0R9QT&pd_rd_wg=wmYbJ&pd_rd_r=2fefd4c5-6629-437f-ae7a-31f560538b43&pd_rd_i=0395428572&psc=1>
also has the hardcover costing less than the paperback.
Also in the same tradition of price inversion is
<https://www.amazon.com/Way-Things-Work-Kit/dp/078946506X/ref=tmm_other_meta_binding_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=>
with 12 models and a CD-ROM to explore machines in (I presume) a
hands-on manner.
This makes me wonder: are Hardcover books falling out of favor to the
point that Paperbacks (presumably Trade Paperbacks) command a premium?

Oh cool - thanks for all of that info.
- Tony

[William Hyde]

Post by Tony Nance

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.
The kind of kid who used to take clocks apart and put them back
together still working (when that was possible), build a telescope or
put together a radio, that sort of thing.
I remember seeing such a book and wishing I'd had it when I was twelve
myself, but I don't recall the name or author.
As for myself, that clock never worked again, so I'm not much of a
mentor here.
William Hyde

My son is an engineer, and 4 of my nieces/nephews are also engineers,
and when they were young, every one of them loved the book "The Way
Things Work" by David Macaulay. I'm just a math guy, but I enjoyed
flipping through it as well.
In looking for that title, I see he has also written a second book
called "The New Way Things Work". I am unfamiliar with that book.

That may well have been the book I mentioned above.

Thanks for this, and all the other suggestions.

William Hyde

[Chris Buckley]

Post by William Hyde

Post by Tony Nance

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.
The kind of kid who used to take clocks apart and put them back
together still working (when that was possible), build a telescope or
put together a radio, that sort of thing.
I remember seeing such a book and wishing I'd had it when I was twelve
myself, but I don't recall the name or author.
As for myself, that clock never worked again, so I'm not much of a
mentor here.
William Hyde

My son is an engineer, and 4 of my nieces/nephews are also engineers,
and when they were young, every one of them loved the book "The Way
Things Work" by David Macaulay. I'm just a math guy, but I enjoyed
flipping through it as well.
In looking for that title, I see he has also written a second book
called "The New Way Things Work". I am unfamiliar with that book.

That may well have been the book I mentioned above.
Thanks for this, and all the other suggestions.
William Hyde

We're old enough so I bet you were originally thinking of a much earlier
_The Way Things Work_ . A very impressive book. I was disappointed in
the content of Macaulay's book in comparison, though his presentation
is better. Macaulay's book is more engineering of everyday things
while this is more technology, so Macaulay's book would probably be
more targeted for your purposes, though there is plenty for an
engineer-to-be here.

The early version is unauthored; it calls itself "an illustrated
encyclopedia of technology". It was originally written in German in
1963 and translated/published in the US in 1967 which must have been a
major undertaking. It's 580 pages of small type, with 1/3 of it being
diagrams. It goes from pumps to juke-boxes to electron microscopes;
I'm surprised leafing through it for the first time in decades about
how much technology was already well-developed in 1963.

Chris

[Scott Lurndal]

Post by Chris Buckley

Post by William Hyde

Post by Tony Nance

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.
The kind of kid who used to take clocks apart and put them back
together still working (when that was possible), build a telescope or
put together a radio, that sort of thing.
I remember seeing such a book and wishing I'd had it when I was twelve
myself, but I don't recall the name or author.
As for myself, that clock never worked again, so I'm not much of a
mentor here.
William Hyde

My son is an engineer, and 4 of my nieces/nephews are also engineers,
and when they were young, every one of them loved the book "The Way
Things Work" by David Macaulay. I'm just a math guy, but I enjoyed
flipping through it as well.
In looking for that title, I see he has also written a second book
called "The New Way Things Work". I am unfamiliar with that book.

That may well have been the book I mentioned above.
Thanks for this, and all the other suggestions.
William Hyde

We're old enough so I bet you were originally thinking of a much earlier
_The Way Things Work_ . A very impressive book. I was disappointed in
the content of Macaulay's book in comparison, though his presentation
is better. Macaulay's book is more engineering of everyday things
while this is more technology, so Macaulay's book would probably be
more targeted for your purposes, though there is plenty for an
engineer-to-be here.
The early version is unauthored; it calls itself "an illustrated
encyclopedia of technology". It was originally written in German in
1963 and translated/published in the US in 1967 which must have been a
major undertaking. It's 580 pages of small type, with 1/3 of it being
diagrams. It goes from pumps to juke-boxes to electron microscopes;
I'm surprised leafing through it for the first time in decades about
how much technology was already well-developed in 1963.

I have a copy of _The Pocket Guide To Science_ (W.H. Neumeyer),
Second Edition, edited by E.E. Free, Ph. D. (c) 1924.

Subtitled "A book of questions and answers on the facts of modern science"

Not particularly impressive 100 years later, in fact sometimes
completely wrong. However, the introduction states:

"As in the first edition, a number of the answers touch
upon matters which are still in dispute amongst scientists
and upon which opinions may properly differ."

"If the reader who happens to disagree is stimulated therby to
investigate such matters for himself the publishers and editors
will regard this book as having done what it intended to do".

Sample question/answer:

Is it true that light has weight?

According to the Einstein theory it has, and
there is every reason to believe this is true. Of
course the weight is really small. An ordinary
electric lamp would have to burn about two million
years to produce one ounce of light.

Modern answer:
https://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/ParticleAndNuclear/photon_mass.html


How do we know that the earth is slowing shrinking?

Because that is the way that mountain ranges are formed. As
the earth shrinks, it wrinkles up on surface skin a little,
just as the skin of a prune wrinkles up when it dries and
shrinks. These wrinkles on the earth are what we call
Mountains. The rate [...] is very slow, probably not over
an inch or two in a century.

(pre plate tectonics).

[Gary R. Schmidt]

Post by Chris Buckley

Post by William Hyde

Post by Tony Nance

Post by William Hyde
I am looking for a book which will interest a 12 year old kid who is
fascinated by things mechanical.
The kind of kid who used to take clocks apart and put them back
together still working (when that was possible), build a telescope or
put together a radio, that sort of thing.
I remember seeing such a book and wishing I'd had it when I was twelve
myself, but I don't recall the name or author.
As for myself, that clock never worked again, so I'm not much of a
mentor here.
William Hyde

My son is an engineer, and 4 of my nieces/nephews are also engineers,
and when they were young, every one of them loved the book "The Way
Things Work" by David Macaulay. I'm just a math guy, but I enjoyed
flipping through it as well.
In looking for that title, I see he has also written a second book
called "The New Way Things Work". I am unfamiliar with that book.

That may well have been the book I mentioned above.
Thanks for this, and all the other suggestions.
William Hyde

We're old enough so I bet you were originally thinking of a much earlier
_The Way Things Work_ . A very impressive book. I was disappointed in
the content of Macaulay's book in comparison, though his presentation
is better. Macaulay's book is more engineering of everyday things
while this is more technology, so Macaulay's book would probably be
more targeted for your purposes, though there is plenty for an
engineer-to-be here.
The early version is unauthored; it calls itself "an illustrated
encyclopedia of technology". It was originally written in German in
1963 and translated/published in the US in 1967 which must have been a
major undertaking. It's 580 pages of small type, with 1/3 of it being
diagrams. It goes from pumps to juke-boxes to electron microscopes;
I'm surprised leafing through it for the first time in decades about
how much technology was already well-developed in 1963.

That rings a bell, I recall my copy of it having an orange cover, the
"small type" triggered the memory, and so I went a-googling!

Here's a hard-cover, and looking inside it is the book I recall!

By C. Van Amerongen.

<https://www.amazon.com.au/Way-Things-Work-Illustrated-Encyclopedia/dp/0000913154>

Now, if I could locate a decently priced once it got to Oz copy somewhere...

Cheers,
Gary B-)