Brigden

Hand tools are scarcely used at all in modern agriculture as mechanical handling techniques continue to spread and grow in sophistication.  A whole range of tools, once all too familiar to the farm worker gradually became obsolete during the twentieth century.  Some were of comparatively recent origin while others could be traced back to classical times and even to the very beginnings of farming.  Although they are no longer used, farm tools have not been forgotten for interest has steadily grown since the Second World War.  Many rural museums are now flourishing throughout Britain and the implements are highly prized by a growing number of private collectors.  This Album describes these tools and the farming processes they performed in the period before the general dominance of the tractor and combine harvester.

32 pages, 6 x 8-1/2 (Paperback)

Item #: BK30

192 pages, 6 x 9 (Paperback)

Valuable information on coopering by a master cooper.  This is a great find with historical data on the making of barrels, tools and techniques from the earliest times up to today.  56 plates and 87 drawings.

Item #: BK143

Fearn

Hasteners, idlebacks, washing bats and goffering machines all had a place in the Victorian household but few people now recognize them or appreciate their usefulness to our great grandparents.  The author has assembled photographs of many such bygones, with a commentary on their place in the domestic economy.  This title has sold over 65,000 copies.

32 pages, 6 x 8-1/2 (Paperback)

Item #: BK656

214 pages
6 x 9 inches
Soft cover
Fully illustrated

Tinware, Tin, Toys, Tin Kitchen, Household, Toilet and Britannia Ware, Tinners Tools, Supplies & Machines. Founded in 1833, the Dover Stamping Co. was, by 1869, one of the leading American manufacturers and distributors of houseware goods and tinner's tools and machines. Included in this extensive catalog are a wide variety of products, ranging from plates, cake pans, molds, tea and coffee pots to graters, match safes, stove ornaments, and toys. Also shown are many tinner's tools and machines. A most valuable resource for tinsmiths and other metal workers, as well as collectors and dealers.

Item #: BK940

Chronicle

Fifty-five fascinating and informative articles on early tools and trades, selected from several thousand published in the journal of the Early American Industries Association over the past 60 years.  Some written by experts, others the first hand accounts of early craftsmen, pioneers, and travelers, they cover a wide variety of subjects including:  lumber rafting down the Delaware in 1896; America's largest tool store-Hammacher Schlemmer in 1900; how tinsmiths used their tools; the bygone cobbler and clogmaker; cutting; blacksmiths' hammer signals; traditional soapmaking on the frontier; making horsehair sieves; education of apprentices in New England and more.

424 pages, 6-1/8 x 9-1/4 (Hardcover)

Item #: BK134

Mathot

A practical and thorough treatise that delves into every detail with thorough explanations and countless diagrams and illustrations.  Among the topics covered are the principles of gas-engines and producer design, selection and installation of an engine, care and maintenance, and many more, including a chapter on volatile hydrocarbon and oil engines.  This book fully deals with the many minute points which occur in the installation and running of gas and oil engines, and clearly points out all the matters which must be attended to in getting the best work from the gas-engine.  So whether you are a mechanic, interested in gas-engines, or just like an informative well-written book, then this one is well worth your time.

314 pages, 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 (Paperback)

Item #: BK606

Originally published in 1911. This is about snow castles, soap box racers, a home workshop and much more. And beautifully illustrated with drawings and photographs.

Chapters include the home workshop, tools and home-made shop equipment, elementary manual training, wood finishing, working-drawings, easily made furniture, handy contrivances for the house, a boy's room in an attic, box and barrel furniture, cigar-box toys and gifts, clockwork toys, brass craft, a boy's wireless telegraph outfit, stunts for a boys' vaudeville show, moving pictures, a snow battleship, a coaster and a bob-sled, model aeroplanes, a boy's auto-airship, camping equipment, a home-made punt (boat), a home-made sharpie (boat), pushmobiles and other home-made wagons, bird-houses, houses for pets, a castle club-house and home-made armor, and a boy's band of home-made instruments. This is loaded with great ideas but you'll have to modify some of the plans. Where are you going to get old-time cigar boxes, or wooden barrels, or clockworks? This is a plans book. Have fun!

Item #: BK659

Gehards

In this concise and bargain-priced volume, Gerhards focuses on the business of crafts--how to sell them at crafts fairs, galleries, and trade shows.  Over half the book is devoted to the ins and outs of trade shows; as these shows are a very lucrative and often ignored vehicle for marketing and selling crafts, this book is an invaluable source for all artisans.  The last section covers the basic paperwork aspects of a small business as well, and four appendixes cover trade show promoters; a calendar of trade shows; publications; and organizations.

160 pages, 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 (Paperback)

Item #: BK657

Monk

From the dawn of time, the need to safeguard his possessions has occupied man's mind and taxed his inventiveness.  The means by which he achieved this is the subject of this great new book.  Keys are a very valuable collectible item, owing to their convenient size and decorative appearance, and are an increasingly sought after item.  This book not only gives the complete history of the key, but is also a valuable tool for the collector who will find the numerous illustrations and important collecting information very useful.

72 pages, 5-3/4 x 8-1/4 (Paperback)

Item #: BK666

Wailes

Every wonder how to keep esky flies from hatching?  Or perhaps how to make fireworks, ease a nagging toothache, bleach freckles, or make strawberry wine?  These questions, and hundreds more are answered in the Manual of Formulas.  Learn to dry flowers, brew wine, re-ink typerwriters, make mouthwash, silver nitrate from spoons and much, much more in this fascinating compilation of formulas from the pages of Popular Science Magazine, published in 1932.  This handy book is new enough to be useful and old enough to have unusual formulas.  It has something for everyone - all will benefit from the practical and even fun formulas in this book.

250 pages, 4-1/2 x 8 (Paperback)

Item #: BK395

168 pages, 8-1/2 x 11 (Paperback)

Survey of early metal working trades, each discussed in its own chapter.  A wonderful overview for collectors who are interested in reproduction work.  210 illustrations.

Item #: BK141

Eveleigh

In the twentieth century far-reaching technological and social changes have made their mark on the kitchen and long established methods of cooking have been swept away.  Items of equipment in regular use for several thousands of years have disappeared while others have changed beyond recognition with the adoption of electricity and new materials such as plastics.  This book looks at the kitchen, which centered on the open hearth or range and surveys the equipment used for storing and preserving, preparing, boiling, roasting and baking food.

32 pages, 6 x 8-1/2 (Paperback)

Item #: BK654

Gingery

An intelligent person knows that hoarding gasoline is not a solution to fuel shortages.  An intelligent person finds alternative solutions, and this machine is just such a solution.  Instead of trying to stockpile gasoline, you can make your own substitute out of sugar, corn, potatoes, or almost anything you can ferment into alcohol.  This still will remove the water, creating almost pure alcohol, nearly 200 proof, so you can burn it in just about any type of engine.

82 pages, 8-1/2 x 11 (Paperback)

Item #: BK658

Daniel

For over 1000 years sundials have played an important role in regulating the daily life of mankind throughout Europe and the British Isles.  Indeed the study of the art of constructing sundials, or the 'Art of Dialing', was a part of every scholar's education.  Only with the coming of modern communications and the extreme accuracy of timekeeping equipment has the sundial been eclipsed as a scientific instrument and ceased to provide a useful service.  This book describes and illustrates each particular class of dial likely to be found on buildings, in churchyards, public squares, private gardens and remote countryside locations.

32 pages, 6 x 8-1/2 (Paperback)

Item #: BK653

32 pages, 6 x 8-1/2 (Paperback)

The Victorian ironmonger's shop was the nineteenth-century equivalent of the modern department store and a vast range of goods could be bought there. If the Victorian housewife needed knife-cleaning powder, candles, a saucepan or wallpaper she would visit the ironmonger. This book describes the Victorian ironmonger's varied stock and also explains the purchase of goods, keeping accounts, giving credit and the prompt delivery service. It features countless rare vintage black and white photos and diagrams that complement the well-written text. This fascinating book and look back into history will be an interesting read for all.

The late Cecil A. Meadows was apprenticed in the 1920s to one of the last of the great furnishing and general ironmongers in Norwich. He gave many talks and lectures on the subject and contributed to the Eastern Daily Press on bygones as well as to the Hardware Trade Journal.

Item #: BK664