Engineer and Machinist's Assistant: Being a Series of Plans, Sections, and Elevations, of Steam Engines, Spinning Machines, Mills for Grinding, Tools, Etc. , Etc. Taken from Machines of Approved Construction At Present in Operation

Edinburgh: Blackie and Son. Good. Hardcover. An early machine guide with many detailed illustrations. No publication or copyright date for this book but published circa 1850s. Three-quarter green leather with marbled paper boards. Heavily rubbed edges, corners, and faces; spine ends worn off; worn gilt on spine. Glue toning patterns on endpapers and light soil and toning on pages. There are two sections within this book, titled "Engineer and Machinist's Assistant - Part First - The Construction and Application of the Steam Engine" which is paginated 1-64pp with plates, including a 2 page "Appendix"; this section is followed by "Engineer and Machinist's Assistant - Description of the Plates" which is paginated 1-24pp and has more plates. The last page of the "Description of the Plates" section (on page 24), ends mid-sentence, so it seems there is at least one other volume associated with this set. Plates are out of order and have various numbering but appear to be complete, with 37 total plates. Various editions of this guide were published over several decades. A finely hand-drawn tracing paper plan is also laid in. Many tables and illustrate the text descriptions, and the title page is ornately illustrated. ; 15" x 11" .