Disegni di Macchine.
Il Codice S.IV.5 della Biblioteca Comunale degl'Intronati di Siena. Introduction by Carlo Maccagni. Approx. 100 facsimile drawings, 403pp., thick 4to, cloth, board slipcase; (slightly rubbed). Genova: IBM Italia, (1986). More
INVENTION
Cryptic Autographed Letter Signed by an inventor seeking a patent
Stockton, CA: 1919. 1 page, 11 x 8.25 inches, on ornate personal colorized "Defiance Tires and Tubes" letterhead, depicting a touring car (with passengers) circling the globe, Stockton, California, April 19, 1919. Intriguing letter written by Frank Justin, a part-time inventor who had successfully filed a patent for a piano stool in 1869 through the assistance of Scientific American Magazine, sending an unsolicited letter to the American Aeronautic Association, asking for assistance in filing a patent, in full: "Gentleman, I.... More
The History of the Telephone in the United Kingdom.
London: Chapman and Hall, 1925. Many illustrations. 728 pages. Tall and thick 8vo, blue cloth with decorative cover; library bookplate on inside front cover and stamp on title page and small label on spine. London: Chapman & Hall, 1925. First Edition. Very good. More
Autographed Letter Signed on personal letterhead
Denmark Hill, Surrey: 1880. 1 page, 6.75 x 4.5 inches, Denmark Hill, Surrey, September 6, 1880, inviting the recipient to visit his estate, in full: "I enclose my card which if presented at the Lodge will secure you a walk through the grounds and erneries. I fear the beauty of the season is over but such as it is you are welcomed to see it." Two horizontal folds; very good condition. English inventor whose steel making process would become the... More
Autographed Note Signed in Spanish
Bernal, Argentina: 1924. 1 page, 5 x 8.25 inches, Berrnal, Argentina, June, 1924 -- translated in full: "The radio will one day be able to transport human ideas to the ends of the earth. Bernal June 1924, C. Braggio." Very good condition. Argentinean inventor who developed a booster to increase the range of two-way radios. He set the world distance record for two-way radio communication in 1924 with a relay between Argentina and China. This is essentially a manuscript souvenir... More
Autograph Quote Signed
Autograph quote signed "Edouard Branly", 8vo. 1 page, c. 1900, in French, four lines including: "il faut se contenter du temps present, sait - on l'avenir ce que sear l'avenir?" ("One must be happy with the moment, what do we know about the future?") Condition: two minor spots along the left margin (far from text), otherwise very good. French physicist and inventor involved in the early development of wireless telegraphy. More
John A. Brashear: The Autobiography of a Man who Loved the Stars
New York: American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 1924. Edited by Lucien Scaife. Frontispiece portrait, illustrated in black and white. 262 pages (some very minimal foxing), 8vo, green cloth (some light scratches to back cover). A very good(+) copy. "Dr. Brashear... is recognized as one of the most notable makers of optical lenses and surfaces..." Publisher's presentation slip tipped in and letter laid in to Mr. Edward Dean Adams. More
The Stereoscope: Its History, Theory, and Construction
London: Morgan & Morgan, 1971. Introduction by Rudolf Ringslake. Illustrated in black and white. 235 pages, small 8vo, gilt stamped brown cloth, dust wrapper. London: Morgan & Morgan, 1971. A fine copy in a near fine dust wrapper. Facsimilie of the 1856 edition, published by John Murray. More
Willis Rodney Whitney: Pioneer of Industrial Research
Albany: Fort Orange, 1946. Foreword by Dr. Karl T. Compton. Illustrated. 324 pages, 8vo, green cloth. Albany: Fort Orange Press, (1946). Second edition. A very good(+) copy. More
Looking Forward: Life in the Twentieth Century as Predicted in the Pages of American Magazines from 1895 to 1905.
New York: American Heritage, 1970. Interpretive text by Ralph K. Andrist. Numerous b/w illus., 352pp., Folio, red cloth, d.w. New York: American Heritage, (1970). A near fine copy in very good dust wrapper. More
Engines of Democracy: Inventions and Society in Mature America.
New York: Scribner, 1940. Illustrated. Thick 8vo, blue cloth. New York: Scribner, 1940. First Edition. Very good (+). More
Autographed Manuscript Signed
Geneva, NY: 1823. Original detailed autographed manuscript signed, folio, 10 pages (front and back), 13 x 8 inches, Geneva, New York, May 20, 1823 -- an extensive draft describing an invention that was called "a machine for hulking and cleaning clover seed," a device that was granted a patent by the United States Government on March 18, 1824. Burrall explains in detail that his innovation is unique because previous models wasted much of the seed, worked slowly, and ran at... More
Souvenir Typescript Signed
1964. 2 pages, 11 x 8.5 inches, an excerpt from "Of Leaders and Leadership," circa 1964, in small part: "For our method of electing a President is crude in the extreme. Pre-convention juggling with local political bigwigs is obscure (often, one fears, on a low plane), and it, and the travel and speechmaking, cost millions, the sources of which are sometimes questionable. Our national conventions are at best ludicrous, and at worst scandalous. They are conducted by delegates, chosen ofttimes... More
John Fitch; The first in the World's History to Invent and apply Steam Propulsion of Vessels through Water
Hartford: National Navy League of the United States, 1912. Frontis. 50pp. 8vo, original pr. wrs., ex-lib. (Hartford): Admiral Bunce Section, Hartford, Conn., No. 42 of the National Navy League of the United States, 1912. More
Scientific Papers of Arthur Holly Compton: X-Ray and Other Studies
Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1973. Illustrated. 777 pages. Thick 4to., red cloth boards. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, (1973). A very good(+) copy. More
Rare typed letter signed "Coop"
New York: 1927. 1 page, 11 x 8.5 inches, 1040 Lexington Avenue, New York City, docketed in pencil January 1927 to Jim [Hastings], touching base after a lapse of communication, in full: "It has taken a week for your letter to follow me to my new home here at 1040 Lexington Avenue -- don%u2019t forget the new address. Wish I could join your table at the Explorer's Club Dinner but I am at George Putnam's table already. As soon as... More
American Machinist's Tools: An Illustrated Directory of Patents
New Jersey: Astragal Press, 1993. Illustrated in black and white. 420 pages (lightly foxed on page edges, interior clean and free of foxing) brown pictorial wrappers. New Jersey: Astragal Press, 1993. A near fine copy. More
Father of Radio
Chicago: Wilcox and Follet, 1950. Illustrated. 502 pages. 4to, stamped worn blue cloth, mylar-wrapped chipped and edge-worn pictorial wrapper. Ex-library: stamp on end page, embossment on title page. First edition. Chicago: Wilcox & Follet, 1950. A very good copy in a good wrapper. Scarce. Signed by the author on title page. More
Samuel Cropmton: The Inventor of the Spinning Mule
Bolton: Dobson & Barlow, 1927. Illustrated. 147 pages. Green lettered boards, slightly bumped, some light wear at top of spine. Bolton: Dobson and Barlow, 1927. A very good copy. More
Autographed Letter Signed about his "caloric" engine invention
1857. 1 page, 10 x 8 inches, no place, August 8, 1857. Rare and early autographed letter signed by the Swedish-born American engineer and inventor of advances in ship-building, regarding his "caloric" (steam) engine invention, in part: "...Of course we cannot test our obion system unless we have a boat that will float in open water and, if we fail, you then meant, a tight boat to put the caloric engine into..." Blind-stamped in the upper left corner. Blue wax-crayon... More
They Made America; From the Steam Engine to the Search Engine: Two Centuries of Innovators.
New York: Little Brown, 2004. Many color and b/w Illus. 496pp. 4to, 1/2 black cloth, d.w. New York: Little Brown, (2004). Book Club Edition. Very good. More
Historically Important Manuscript about early Firefighting alarm technology
Boston: 1852. Partial unsigned manuscript consisting of four pages, 9.75 x 7.75 inches, labeled "2" through "5," of a more extensive document, all in the hand of Moses G. Farmer from 1852-1853, discussing the earliest trial-runs of the first ever Electric Fire Alarm System implemented in Boston. Though placed into service on April 28th 1852, Farmer's notes (in diary form) start on June 21st, assessing the system while constantly citing ways to improve his new invention, in very small part... More
Fessenden: Builder of Tomorrows
New York: Coward-McCann, 1940. Frontis. vi + 362pp., 8vo, cloth. New York: Coward-McCann, 1940. A very good copy. New York: Coward-McCann, 1940. A very good copy. More
Conquerors of Time; Exploration and Invention in the Age of Daring
London: John Murray, 2004. Illus. 444pp. 8vo, gray cloth, d.w. (London): John Murray, (2004). Very good. More
Typed Letter Signed on scarce "American Television Laboratories" letterhead
Chicago: 1947. 1 page, 11 x 8.5 inches, Chicago, January 13, 1947, to Dr. Walter Ransom Baker, electrical engineer who contributed greatly to the development of radio and television, in full: "I am deeply gratified to read what you say in the January issue of Radio-Craft [enclosed pages] regarding my work in the electronic field, a field to which you have, yourself, contributed so generously." Some discoloration throughout the body of the letter due to the previous enclosure of a.... More