Construction Projects Book information...

[James D. Satterfield]

This ole codger needs help in finding the title and publisher of a book from way back in 1946-49 era.

I've looked at several of the Popular Science publications, but so far I haven't found the book though the illustrations suggest that it may have been a Popular Science publication.

The book was hardback, around 9x12", perhaps 1.5" thick. I think it had a red cover.

I recall it was filled with construction projects. One may have been on how to make a boat trolling motor from an A-Model Ford horn...can't recall for sure.

But I do remember one specific project:

It was the directions to construct a "weather forecasting" device which had a round sun-face that was drawn such that the face was smiling, but if rotated 180 degrees, the face was frowning. A disck with the face glue to it was mounted at the end of a horizontal axel, and on the back side of the frowning face, a box was attached that was filled with cobalt chloride (?). The box had a cloth cover, and when the air became humid, the box contents would pick up moisture, become heavier, and the frowning face would rotate into view.

If you can provide me any information about this book, I would be grateful. Perhaps I can then find it on ABE or other old book sales places and ultimately purchae it.

Thank you for your help.

Jim

[Charlie Self]

Jim Satterfield asks:

I think ultimately you're going to have to dig up the writer's name, the publisher's name, or the title.

I ran a few test shots through google, but the information is too amorphous to allow an easy search. JOAT might help you set parameters, as he's a real expert in finding oddball stuff, but I sure can't.

Good luck.

Charlie Self "A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right." Thomas Paine

[K. B.]

You may not be able to find such a book on a modern database. A trip to your local University might be best. Send your request to the main branch of your library. The branch probably does research and they are very good at I bet.

-- KB

"Change is the law of life, and those who look only to the past and present are certain to miss the future."

[Bay Area Dave]

K.B. in case you didn't know it, our resident wacko is appropriating my screen name. He also does other impersonations...

check the headers.

dave (the REAL one)

K. B. wrote:

[James D. Satterfield]

I have done several searches on Google and Dogpile. I do get a good many listing of Popular Science Home Worshop Annuals which I've been able to get via ABE, but I haven't gotten any line on the specific book.

I had hoped that some kindly old soul around 70 years old might have the book or could recall the title. It is a difficult search.

Thank you for the suggestion. I'm acquainted with Boolean expressions and should be able to narrow a search easily enough. Of course, I suppose that if it were a limited edition, the book may no longer be extant.

Charlie, I appreciate your response. Best wishes for many good years of woodworking. I am presently enjoying making some wooden planes, forging blades, etc.

Jim

[James D. Satterfield]

Dave, thank you for your response. I've worked several of the search engines, and finally decided that ABE was my best bet. I've been able to get a few leads, some interesting books, but not the specific book for which I'm searching.

We have an excellent library system in our town, and I'll explore the possibilities there.

I thought I might be able to find someone in this group who actually still had the book and could give me the title and other data. Perhaps making my original post was simply too much of a long shot.

Best wishes to you for many good years to come, years in which your knowledge of woodworking can grow. I'm presently enjoying some boatbuilding.

Jim

[Charlie Self]

Jim Satterfield notes:

It's a long shot, but in my experience, librarians really enjoy long shots when it comes to research into books, about books, about content of books. And there are few people who know more about that research.

ABE is probably also a good continuing bet.

Charlie Self "A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right." Thomas Paine

[Larry Jaques]

On 25 Apr 2004 21:53:46 GMT, [e-mail] (Charlie Self) brought forth from the murky depths:

Hi, my name's Larry and I'm a bookaholic. Don't rule out

, , , , or after trying ABE, Half, Amazon, EdwardRHamilton and such. I've been having very good luck with lately.

----------------------------------------------------------------------- A PSYCHOLOGIST looks at everyone -else- ||

an attractive woman enters the room. || Full Website Programming

[Mark Jerde]

As does a wise man, PSYCHOLOGIST or not, if his wife is present... ;-)

-- Mark

[James D. Satterfield]

Larry, thank you for the url's. I've used several, but you've given me some new areas to check. You're a goldmne of information.

Best wishes to you for good reading. btw, look into Bookcrossing.com if you're not already a participant. I release books all along.

Jim

[Larry Jaques]

On Mon, 26 Apr 2004 06:54:47 -0400, James D. Satterfield brought forth from the murky depths:

You're very welcome.

I have about 3 case boxes to throw back. Thanks.

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[J T]

Sat, Apr 24, 2004, 8:59am [e-mail] (Bay=A0Area=A0Dave) the troll tries to imitate someone:

Silly, silly, silly, little troll. Yeah, I know you're not Bay Area Dave. That should be clear to anyone by now, except you. Still practicing your basic misconceptions, I see.

I'm not cranky, don't care to do other people's work for them is all. That why you always try to defame me, because I wouldn't look up something for you, in your real life? I don't consider myself old, so not sure why you would. Plus my parents were married - can you say the same?

Yep, you guys really do, remind me of cockroaches. And, you've gotten so steenkin' boring about the whole thing, that's maybe the worst part. I don't usually get bored often, but you guys are working on it. Silly, and boring. Boring, and silly.

JOAT The intelligence suffers today automatically in consequence of the attack on all authority, advantage, or privilege. These things are not done away with, it is needless to say, but numerous scapegoats are made of the less politically powerful, to satisfy the egalitarian rage awakened. ~ Wyndham Lewis