Landmarks in Mechanical Engineering - Softcover

Asme, .

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1557530947 ISBN 13: 9781557530943

Publisher: Purdue University Press, 1996

Synopsis

The book describes, and where possible illustrates, historic mechanical engineering landmarks, representing the accomplishments of mechanical engineers over the past 250 years-from the steam engine of Thomas Newcomen (1712), which launched the Industrial Revolution, to the Saturn V rocket (1967). Some of them are recognizable to us all, such as Xerography, Sikorsky's helicopter, and Disneyland's monorail. Others work behind the scenes or have been superseded, such as the Owens AR bottle machine and the Jackson Ferry Shot Tower. The landmarks are grouped into such categories as mechanical power production, power transmission, minerals extraction and refining, food processing, environmental control, transportation, biomedical engineering, and communications and data processing. Each section is introduced by an essay that helps place each landmark into the context of technical and general history. While some of these landmarks have not survived intact, others can be visited, and travel information is provided. The machines that shape our society help educate us about an important facet of human history and how technology has influenced it. ASME International's landmarks program identifies and recognizes artifacts of significance before they disappear. This roster of landmarks tells a magnificent story of people and places and of innovation and discovery.

About this title

Reviews

This interesting collection from the History and Heritage Committee of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME International)?a successor to an earlier, and much smaller, volume entitled National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmarks?is really a sort of museum guide to more than 130 mechanical relics scattered around the country, standing resolutely?though retired?as monuments to the aspirations and achievements of mechanical engineers. Each entry includes a brief history of the objet de mechanique, a shallow explanation of how it worked, directions for getting to it today (including hours and fee information), and a list of further reading. Photos, but virtually no schematics, help illuminate the machines. Introductory essays by committee members are proud and dry; the text in each entry isn't much better. The latest entry is the Saturn V rocket (1967); the earliest, Newcomen's steam engine (1712). Recommended for libraries in search of a single volume enshrining the great works of the mechanical engineering profession.?Robert C. Ballou, Atlanta
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Purdue University Press
• Publication date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1557530947
• ISBN 13: 9781557530943
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 384