While digging around in a crowded, disorganized bookshop in the eastern part of the state, I came across what I think is a great volume. Though many people would consider it unimportant and not worthy of purchasing, it fit right into my own qualifications for a good buy.
The book was an old instruction manual on how to
run and maintain a steam engine. Printed in 1926, it was the 20th
edition of a 1916 printing. The book is called “Enginemen’s Manual”, written
and published by W.P. James.
The book is a bit over 350 pages with black
hardback covers. The corners are rounded perhaps to avoid damage from heavy
use. The book is in fairly good condition for a book a little under100 years
old. The binding is a bit worn and there are a few wrinkles in some of the
pages but for a book this old it is in surprisingly good condition. The edges
of the pages are red and none are missing.
Inside there are pictures of different locomotives
and a fold out diagram of a steam engine along with the various parts listed.
It describes how to start an engine, how to properly maintain the heat and
pressure along with all the things which need to be properly lubricated. It isn’t
easy to keep a steam engine running properly!
From the headlight and how it needs lubricated,
(yes, lubricated) to how to set the various valves located on the drive train,
it covers it all. After each chapter there are questions and answers to the
different exams the firemen and engineers would be tested on. With lots of
pictures, diagrams and charts, it is a fun book to page through.
What I consider the best part of the whole package
is, inside the manual was a pass for the Reading Lines RR for the year 1935,
belonging to Ardnor Barndt, an Engineman of “The New York Division”. (passed
away in 1945 at age 58) He no doubt was the man who owned and studied the book. A
bit of the book’s provenance,
this makes it even more valuable to me. Not bad for $15!
1 comment:
Really does sound like a treasure find
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