Online Catalogue last updated 15th of September 2008
This complete guide, originally published in 1908, presents the origins and mechanical principles of farm motors. Beginning with a brief and fascinating introduction to "the animal as motor," authors Davidson and Chase explain how the consumption of energy (in the form of food) results in the production of carbon dioxide and other products of combustion. Such products of combustion, in turn, result in mechanical energy. Using the mechanics of the horse as a springboard, Farm Motors goes on to present an accessible and fully illustrated tutorial on energy and its sources, the law of transformation of energy, prime movers (such as heat engines) versus electrical motors, and much more. Also included are clear explanations of the mechanics of the most popular types of farm motors - including waterwheels, tidal machines, and windmills; steam engines; internal-combustion engines; traction engines; and current electricity - along with information on their construction.
Farm Motors is a fascinating slice of Americana as well as an important snapshot of the legacy of an industry that continues to sustain the American farmer.
Code No. 009332, 222 pages, ISBN 1585740071, $24.95