An Encyclopedia of the History of Technology (Routledge Companion Encyclopedias)

An Encyclopedia of the History of Technology, edited by Ian McNeil, Routledge, London, NYC, 1990. This 1062 page hardback is a single volume, handy reference to the subject of technologies. It provides concise summaries of a wide variety of technologies including basic details on how the technology works, inventors, and end of chapter references for additional detail. Should a technology question arise, this is an excellent quick reference that gets you started with enough detail to learn what related subjects to search.The book is organized into 21 broad subject chapters which give an indication of the breadth of coverage: Materials: Non-ferrous Metals, Ferrous Metals, Chemicals; Power: Water, Wind, Animal, Steam, Internal Combustion, Electricity, Engineering; Transport: Roads, Bridges, Vehicles, Inland Waterways, Ports, Shipping, Rail, Aeronautics, Spaceflight; Communications: Language, Writing, Printing, Information, Timekeeping, Computing, Telecommunications; Technology: Agriculture, Textiles, Clothing, Building, Domestic Interiors, Public Utilities, Weapons, Armor.I was especially impressed with the detail of the metallurgy section, which includes processing aluminum and magnesium as well as iron and steel. The coverage seemed thorough and surprisingly clearly written. Numerous illustrations help make the points. I noticed there are a few limits to coverage. Silicon is not included. Plastics are covered too briefly for a chemist. Integrated circuits are mentioned and get one paragraph, but there is no discussion of fabrication technologies. Gold mining is mentioned, but there is no discussion of ore processing. Germanium is not mentioned. One concludes that coverage is best of ancient technologies that led to the 19th Century industrial revolution, i.e., the machine age. Coverage of 20th Century topics is hit or miss, with some topics incomplete or absent.A second limitation is that the book is British in origin and most examples are chosen from UK. US inventions are also described when appropriate, but the examples are often to foreign, unknown (to us) places. Plus, European construction details make those descriptions not applicable to the US situation.This is an excellent desk reference which history and technology buffs will find fascinating. Indexed. Illustrated. End of chapter references. This One-of-a-kind Encyclopedia Presents The Entire Field Of Technology--from Rudimentary Agricultural Tools To Communication Satellites--in This First-of-its-kind Reference Source. Following An Introduction That Discusses Basic Tools, Devices, And Mechanisms, The Chapters Are Grouped Into Five Parts That Provide Detailed Information On Materials, Power And Engineering, Transportation, Communication And Calculation, And Technology And Society, Revealing How Different Technologies Have Together Evolved To Produce Enormous Changes In The Course Of History. Each Chapter Summarizes The Development Of A Particular Technology Emphasizing Its Relation To The Social Context Of The Time As Well As Its Place In Current Scientific Thought. Introduction: Basic Tools, Devices And Mechanisms / Ian Mcneil -- Part One: Materials -- Non-ferrous Metals / A.s. Darling -- Ferrous Metals / W.k.v. Gale -- The Chemical And Allied Industries / Lance Day -- Part Two: Power And Engineering -- Water, Wind And Animal Power / J. Kenneth Major -- Steam And Internal Combustion Engines / E.f.c. Somerscales -- Electricity / Brian Bowers -- Engineering, Methods Of Manufacture And Production / A.k. Corry -- Part Three: Transport -- Roads, Bridges And Vehicles / Ian Mcneil -- Inland Waterways / John Boyes -- Ports And Shipping / A.w.h. Pearsall -- Rail / P.j.g. Ransom -- Aeronautics / J.a. Bagley -- Spaceflight / John Griffiths -- Part Four: Communication And Calculation -- Language, Writing, Printing And Graphic Arts / Lance Day -- Information: Timekeeping, Computing, Telecommunications And Audiovisual Technologies / Herbert Ohlman -- Part Five: Technology And Society -- Agriculture: The Production And Preservation Of Food And Drink / Andrew Patterson -- Textiles And Clothing / Richard Hills -- Building And Architecture / Doreen Yarwood -- The Domestic Interior: Technology And The Home / Doreen Yarwood -- Public Utilities / R.a. Buchanan -- Weapons And Armour / Charles Messenger. Edited By Ian Mcneil. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. * 22 Sections Cover The Entire Field Of The History Of Technology And Each Section Summarises The Development Of Its Subject From The Earliest Times To The Present Day * Written Without Unnecessary Jargon * 2 Extensive Indexes Of Names And Topics * Usefully Illustrated With 150 Black & White Photographs And Line Drawings To Explain Key Advances `contain[s] A Vast Amount Of Reliable Information Over A Very Wide Field. It Is Certainly A Work Of Which I Shall Myself Make Frequent Use ... It Deserves To Find A Place ... In Every Reference Library.' - Times Higher Education Supplement `the Coverage Is Excellent ... A Most Valuable Single-volume Source Which For Its Comprehensiveness And Ease Of Reference Will Earn Its Place In Both Specialist And General Reference Collections.' - Reference Reviews `informative And Comprehensive, Remarkable In Its Coverage ... Covers Every Aspect Of Technology From The Stone Age To The Space Age ... Will Undoubtedly Help Readers To Get A Grip On And Feel Of An Enormous Range Of Subjects ... An Invaluable And Practical Addition To Most Office Bookshelves Or Libraries.' - New Civil Engineer `the Authors Represented In This Book Are To Be Congratulated For Their Readable And Reliable Surveys Of The Past And Present Status Of The Major Areas Where Mankind Has Harnessed Science For The Production Of Useful Products And Processes.' - Choice Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 Preface......Page 15 Introduction: Basic Tools, Devices and Mechanisms......Page 20 MATERIALS......Page 64 Non-Ferrous Metals......Page 66 Ferrous Metals......Page 165 The Chemical and Allied Industries......Page 205 POWER AND ENGINEERING......Page 246 Water, Wind and Animal Power......Page 248 Steam and Internal Combustion Engines......Page 291 Electricity......Page 369 Engineering, Methods of Manufacture and Production......Page 407 TRANSPORT......Page 448 Roads, Bridges and Vehicles......Page 450 Inland Waterways......Page 493 Ports and Shipping......Page 538 Rail......Page 574 Aeronautics......Page 628 Spaceflight......Page 667 COMMUNICATION AND CALCULATION......Page 682 Language, Writing, Printing and Graphic Arts......Page 684 Information: Timekeeping, Computing, Telecommunications and Audiovisual Technologies......Page 705 TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY......Page 778 Agriculture: The Production and Preservation of Food and Drink......Page 780 Textiles and Clothing......Page 822 Building and Architecture......Page 874 The Domestic Interior: Technology and the Home......Page 921 Public Utilities......Page 968 Weapons and Armour......Page 986 The Contributors......Page 1031 Index of Names......Page 1037 Index of Topics......Page 1052 Arts, Language and Literature Book Cover 1 Title 4 Contents 5 Preface 15 Introduction: Basic Tools, Devices and Mechanisms 20 MATERIALS 64 Non-Ferrous Metals 66 Ferrous Metals 165 The Chemical and Allied Industries 205 POWER AND ENGINEERING 246 Water, Wind and Animal Power 248 Steam and Internal Combustion Engines 291 Electricity 369 Engineering, Methods of Manufacture and Production 407 TRANSPORT 448 Roads, Bridges and Vehicles 450 Inland Waterways 493 Ports and Shipping 538 Rail 574 Aeronautics 628 Spaceflight 667 COMMUNICATION AND CALCULATION 682 Language, Writing, Printing and Graphic Arts 684 Information: Timekeeping, Computing, Telecommunications and Audiovisual Technologies 705 TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY 778 Agriculture: The Production and Preservation of Food and Drink 780 Textiles and Clothing 822 Building and Architecture 874 The Domestic Interior: Technology and the Home 921 Public Utilities 968 Weapons and Armour 986 The Contributors 1031 Index of Names 1037 Index of Topics 1052 An Encyclopedia of the History of Technology includes 21 chapters by international experts covering the entire history of technology, from humankind's earliest use of stone tools to the exploration of space Emanating from the prestigious Science Museum, London, this is the only one-volume encyclopedia covering the entire field of the history of technology. Emanating from the prestigious Science Museum, London, this is the only one-volume encyclopaedia covering the entire field of the history of technology