In 1900, Paris had no skyscrapers, no tourist helicopters, no drones. Yet well before aviation made aerial views more accessible, those who sought such vantages had countless options available to them. They could take in the vista from an observation ride, see a painting of the view from Notre-Dame, or overlook a miniature model city. In Aeroscopics, Patrick Ellis offers a history of the view from above, written from below. Richly illustrated and premised upon extensive archival work, this interdisciplinary study reveals the forgotten media available to the public in the Balloon Era and after. Ellis resurrects these neglected spectacles as "aeroscopics," opening up new possibilities for the history of aerial vision.

Leveson Francis Vernon-Harcourt (1839-1907) drew on a distinguished career in canal and river engineering for this illustrated two-volume survey, here reissued in its enlarged 1896 second edition. Having started as an assistant to the civil engineer John Hawkshaw, Vernon-Harcourt was appointed resident engineer in 1866 for new works on London's East and West India docks. Later, as a consulting engineer, he specialised in the design and construction of harbours, docks, canals and river works, and he was elected professor of civil engineering at University College London in 1882. This publication covers the design and construction of tidal and flood defences, canals, locks, and irrigation works. Volume 1 covers the physical characteristics of rivers and estuaries, and the control of their flow through dredging and works such as weirs and breakwaters. Vernon-Harcourt also discusses the design of flood defences. His Harbours and Docks (1885) is also reissued in this series.

Leveson Francis Vernon-Harcourt (1839-1907) drew on a distinguished career in canal and river engineering for this illustrated two-volume survey, here reissued in its enlarged 1896 second edition. Having started as an assistant to the civil engineer John Hawkshaw, Vernon-Harcourt was appointed resident engineer in 1866 for new works on London's East and West India docks. Later, as a consulting engineer, he specialised in the design and construction of harbours, docks, canals and river works, and he was elected professor of civil engineering at University College London in 1882. This publication covers the design and construction of tidal and flood defences, canals, locks, and irrigation works. Volume 2 covers canal engineering, discussing the design and construction of canals and their associated works such as locks and lifts. Vernon-Harcourt also discusses ship canals and irrigation works. His Harbours and Docks (1885) is also reissued in this series.

Originally published in 1934, this book contains a collection of papers written by Sir Charles Algernon Parsons, inventor of the steam turbine. The papers focus primarily on the steam turbine and Parsons' attempts to manufacture synthetic diamonds, and are prefaced by a memoir of Parsons written by Lord Rayleigh. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the history of science and Parsons' legacy.

Originally published in 1948, this book contains one man's story of working for the Telecommunications Research Establishment from 1934 until 1945. During this period, Rowe worked on many projects relating to air defence, particularly the development of radar. The text is simply and vividly written and illustrated with multiple photographs of relevant people and places mentioned in the narrative. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in WWII and the history of radar.

Originally published in 1938, this book contains the text of ten lectures arranged by the History of Science Committee at the University of Cambridge in 1936. Each speaker covered a different aspect of scientific endeavour, focussing mostly on advances made in the period between 1895 and 1935 in fields such as parasitology, radioactivity, astronomy and evolution theory. The lecturers include such scientific notables as Lord Rutherford, Professor George Nuttall and Sir William Dampier, chosen for the fact that they had 'made fundamental contributions to science' in the previous forty years. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the history of science.

The journalist and politician Edward Baines (1800-90) succeeded his father as editor of the Leeds Mercury and as MP for Leeds. From a dissenting family, he was a social reformer but passionately believed that the state should not interfere in matters such as working hours and education. In this 1835 work, he sees the cotton industry as an exemplar of the unity of 'the manufactory, the laboratory, and the study of the natural philosopher', in making practical use of creative ideas and scientific discoveries. He surveys cotton manufacture from its origins to its 'second birth' in England, and focuses on the current state of machinery, trade and working conditions in all aspects of the business, and its outputs, including cloth, lace, stockings and cotton wool. This comprehensive work was important for its detailed analysis of a vital commercial activity, and remains so today for the historical information it contains.

Originally published in 1907 as number seven in the Cambridge Tracts in Mathematics and Mathematical Physics series, this book provides a concise account regarding the theory of optical instruments. The text was written with the aim of leading 'directly from the first elements of Optics to those parts of the subject which are of greatest importance to workers with optical instruments'. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in optics, physics and mathematics.

First published in 1940, this book describes how the power industry originated and describes the various types of machinery and equipment used in power stations up to the end of the nineteenth century, by which point the steam turbine and three-phase turbo alternator became more commonly employed. The text is also accompanied by engravings and photographs of Victorian power stations and equipment. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the history of public electricity supply.

John Hopkinson (1849-98) was a British electrical engineer who invented the three-wire system for the distribution of electricity. Originally published in 1901, this book forms the first in two volumes of Hopkinson's papers, focusing mainly on technical subjects. The text also incorporates editorial notes, numerous illustrative figures and a memoir of Hopkinson's life. Material of a more purely scientific character can be found in the second volume. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in Hopkinson, engineering and the history of science.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1822. Excerpt: ... APPENDIX (B). Abstract of Evidence and Reports made by a Select Com? mittee of the House of Commons, on Steam Engines and Furnaces. MICHAEL ANGELO TAYLOR, ESQ, In the Chair. Mr. Joseph Gregson, Surveyor, called in and examined. Was of opinion that the nuisance that arose from the smoke of steam engine furnaces might be attributed to two causes: one, the putting on the fire or furnace too much crude fuel at one time; the other, from the chimnies being commonly too low, in proportion to the fuel consumed.--Had seen this nuisance effectually removed; but it had generally been attended with an increased consumption of fuel: it was seldom adopted but where the parties had been or were under an indictment.--His own invention consisted in, causing all the smoke after it had arisen from the fire, to return into the heat of the fire before it entered into the flue or chimney, and so was consumed; 2dly, By putting on no more fuel at any one time than the smoke of which can be so consumed, and that without opening the furnace door for the purpose; 3dly, By supplying every fire with air, in order to counteract the effect of those winds that operate against the draft.--Had employed it in the fires and boilers of private houses, under steam engine boilers, and in wealding furnaces, where a number of bits and scraps of iron were packed together, and subjected to an intense heat 3 they were, in that state, then rolled or hammered into one compact body.--The result however in the latter case was, that although every thing acted according to the plans laid down, and the fire was regularly supplied with fuel, and the smoke completely destroyed, yet the heat necessary to weald those scraps of iron together could never be attained, and this was in consequence of the continued...

Published in 1878, this biography of the civil engineer Robert Stevenson (1772 1850) was written by his second-youngest son David (1815 86), also a civil engineer and uncle to the author Robert Louis Stevenson. Having already published The Principles and Practice of Canal and River Engineering in 1872 (also reissued in this series), he set about writing this survey of his father's life and works, based on extracts from Robert's professional reports, notes from his diary, and communications to scientific journals and societies between 1798 and 1843. Perhaps most widely known for his practical and persuasive leadership in building many lighthouses for the Northern Lighthouse Board - including that on the notorious Bell Rock, over which he came into conflict with engineer John Rennie regarding the design - Stevenson ensured that the Scottish coastline became a much safer place for shipping for decades to come."

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1914 edition. Excerpt: ...In the world of affairs the wind was howling, too, and the storm was gathering which culminated in the series of lawsuits brought by Morse and his associates against the infringers on his patents. The letters to his brother are full of the details of these piratical attacks, but throughout all the turmoil he maintained his poise and his faith in the triumph of justice and truth. In the letter just quoted from he says: "These matters do not annoy me as formerly. I have seen so many dark storms which threatened, and particularly in relation to the Telegraph, and I have seen them so often hushed at the 'Peace, be still' of our covenant God, that now the fears and anxieties on any fresh gathering soon subside into perfect calm." And on November 27, he writes: "The most annoying part of the matter to me is that, notwithstanding my matters are all in the hands of agents and I have nothing to do with any of the arrangements, I am held up by name to the odium of the public. Lawsuits are commenced against them at Cincinnati and will be in Indiana and Illinois as well as here, and so, notwithstanding all my efforts to get along peaceably, I find the fate of Whitney before me. I think I may be able to secure my farm, and so have a place to retire to for the PEACE IN THE NEW HOME 283 evening of my days, but even this may be denied me. A few months will decide.... You have before you the fate of an inventor, and, take as much pains as you will to secure to yourself your valuable invention, make up your mind from my experience now, in addition to others, that you will be robbed of it and abused into the bargain. This is the lot of a successful inventor or discoverer, and no precaution, I believe, will save him from it. He will meet with a mixed estimate; the...

The construction of the first Westminster Bridge, upon which Wordsworth composed his famous sonnet, presented many challenges in terms of the materials and methods with which a sturdy bridge could be built in tidal water and on a gravelly riverbed. A number of candidates presented their surveys to the commissioners of the bridge, but it was the Swiss-born Charles Labelye (1705 62) who was appointed to oversee construction in 1738. The bridge opened to traffic in 1750. This 1751 publication expands upon the shorter work that Labelye had prepared in 1739 to address the laying of the foundations. Significantly, he used caissons - vast wooden structures sunk into the riverbed - within which the stone piers were built. Although the promised illustrations did not appear in this work, the book provides a valuable insight into the technical problems of a major engineering project, and the solutions available at that time."

First published in 1934, this book provides an accessible introduction to various aspects of radio technology. The text begins with a historical discussion of radio waves and their discovery, before moving on to an examination of the uses of radio in the contexts of broadcasting, medicine, safety at sea, the military and weather forecasts. Illustrative figures are incorporated throughout. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in radio and the history of science.

This biography of the civil engineer Thomas Telford (1757 1834) was published in 1867 by Samuel Smiles (1812 1904), the author of Self-Help and of other biographies of engineers and innovators. Smiles had already written about Telford's life and achievements in Volume 2 of his Lives of the Engineers (which is also reissued in this series), but in returning to the topic he adds to this new edition an introductory section (taken from Volume 1 of Lives of the Engineers) on the history of roads in Britain, from prehistoric trackways, via the Romans, to the modern road-building system pioneered by John Metcalf (the extraordinary 'Blind Jack of Knaresborough') and Telford himself. This illustrated work gives engaging accounts from earlier writers of the perils of road travel, and also deals in detail with Telford's own career as a builder of roads, bridges and canals."

The politician Sir Henry Parnell (1776 1842) was instrumental in drafting legislation to improve the important road linking London with Holyhead in Anglesey, a major port for communication with Dublin. He was aided by the pioneering civil engineer Thomas Telford, and in 1833 Parnell published the first edition of this thorough work on road construction and maintenance. Reissued here is the second edition of 1838. Drawing on his experiences with Telford, who called the work 'the most valuable Treatise which has appeared in England' on the subject, Parnell outlines not only the rules governing the planning of a new road, but also addresses the practical aspects of building and repairing roads, noting the various tools and materials needed. Parnell, later Baron Congleton, also highlights the connection between road construction and national development, and includes a number of appendices relating to contemporary legislation on the subject of roads."

The history of science is all around us, if you know where to look. With this unique traveler's guide, you'll learn about 128 destinations around the world where discoveries in science, mathematics, or technology occurred or is happening now. Travel to Munich to see the world's largest science museum, watch Foucault's pendulum swinging in Paris, ponder a descendant of Newton's apple tree at Trinity College, Cambridge, and more. Each site in "The Geek Atlas" focuses on discoveries or inventions, and includes information about the people and the science behind them. Full of interesting photos and illustrations, the book is organized geographically by country (and within the U.S. by state), complete with latitudes and longitudes for GPS devices. Notable destinations include: Bletchley Park in the UK, where the Enigma code was broken; The Horn Antenna in Holmdel, New Jersey, where the Big Bang theory was accidentally confirmed; The Trinity Test site in New Mexico, where the first atomic bomb was exploded; The Alan Turing Memorial in Manchester, England; The National Cryptologic Museum in Fort Meade, Maryland; and, The Joint Genome Institute in Walnut Creek, California You won't find tedious, third-rate museums, or a tacky plaque stuck to a wall stating that 'Professor X slept here'. Every site in this book has real scientific, mathematical, or technological interest - places guaranteed to make every geek's heart pound a little faster. Plan a trip with "The Geek Atlas" and make your own discoveries along the way.

Replete with detailed engravings, this four-volume catalogue was published to accompany the International Exhibition of 1862. Held in South Kensington from May to November, the exhibition showcased the progress made in a diverse range of crafts, trades and industries since the Great Exhibition of 1851. Over 6 million visitors came to view the wares of more than 28,000 exhibitors from Britain, her empire and beyond. Featuring explanatory notes and covering such fields as mining, engineering, textiles, printing and photography, this remains an instructive resource for social and economic historians. The exhibition's Illustrated Record, its Popular Guide and the industrial department's one-volume Official Catalogue have all been reissued in this series. Including a floor plan of the main buildings, Volume 1 begins with a concise history of the exhibition written by John Hollingshead (1827-1904). It then catalogues and illustrates impressive examples of British manufacturing.

Replete with detailed engravings, this four-volume catalogue was published to accompany the International Exhibition of 1862. Held in South Kensington from May to November, the exhibition showcased the progress made in a diverse range of crafts, trades and industries since the Great Exhibition of 1851. Over 6 million visitors came to view the wares of more than 28,000 exhibitors from Britain, her empire and beyond. Featuring explanatory notes and covering such fields as mining, engineering, textiles, printing and photography, this remains an instructive resource for social and economic historians. The exhibition's Illustrated Record, its Popular Guide and the industrial department's one-volume Official Catalogue have all been reissued in this series. Volume 2 continues with further illustrated examples of British design and innovation, featuring exhibits that one might find not only at the Victorian factory, workshop or farm, but also in the home.

Replete with detailed engravings, this four-volume catalogue was published to accompany the International Exhibition of 1862. Held in South Kensington from May to November, the exhibition showcased the progress made in a diverse range of crafts, trades and industries since the Great Exhibition of 1851. Over 6 million visitors came to view the wares of more than 28,000 exhibitors from Britain, her empire and beyond. Featuring explanatory notes and covering such fields as mining, engineering, textiles, printing and photography, this remains an instructive resource for social and economic historians. The exhibition's Illustrated Record, its Popular Guide and the industrial department's one-volume Official Catalogue have all been reissued in this series. Volume 3, given over to the Colonial Division and the Foreign Division, includes copious examples of manufactured and agricultural goods from India, occupying nearly 300 pages. Also featured are 91 exhibitors of Jamaican rum.

Replete with detailed engravings, this four-volume catalogue was published to accompany the International Exhibition of 1862. Held in South Kensington from May to November, the exhibition showcased the progress made in a diverse range of crafts, trades and industries since the Great Exhibition of 1851. Over 6 million visitors came to view the wares of more than 28,000 exhibitors from Britain, her empire and beyond. Featuring explanatory notes and covering such fields as mining, engineering, textiles, printing and photography, this remains an instructive resource for social and economic historians. The exhibition's Illustrated Record, its Popular Guide and the industrial department's one-volume Official Catalogue have all been reissued in this series. Volume 4 continues to catalogue the Foreign Division. Notable is the appearance of early exhibits from Steinway & Sons in the brief section for the United States. In contrast, Austrian and German exhibits occupy more than 400 pages.

Originally published in 1941, this book seeks to inform the scientific community of the possible uses of photography in research or teaching. Lawrence gives an account of the possibilities and limitations of the medium for the scientific reader as well as for the 'serious amateur', explains the various mechanisms of the camera and gives some suggestions for scientific applications, such as high-speed photography. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in photography or the history of science.

An American inventor and entrepreneur, Taliaferro Preston Shaffner (1818-81) collaborated with the Rev. W. Owen on this 'guided tour' of London's 1862 International Exhibition, showcasing Victorian achievements in technology and the arts. Described here are exhibits, originating from Britain, her empire and beyond, which include early washing machines and lawnmowers, as well as grand ideas for metropolitan drainage systems and a Channel Tunnel. The arts are also well covered, with descriptions of the latest fabrics, wallpapers, musical instruments, ceramics and photography. The authors also give background details of how the International Exhibition built upon the success of the Great Exhibition of 1851. Illustrated with sixty full-page steel engravings, this is a highly detailed guide to a very modern event. Also relating to the exhibition, Edward McDermott's Popular Guide and both the official and illustrated catalogues of the industrial department have been reissued in this series.