Rare and Interesting Woodworking-related Books and Pamphlets

[Trevanion]

even if I never have needed to build a viaduct...

I've got a job coming along soonish where the information on this subject will be quite invaluable... :lol:

I'm constantly amazed by the knowledge of the people of the time to pull off such feats of engineering and even the more complex woodwork, there are very few people left in this world that could even understand some of the things written in these Victorian books, let alone put it to practice.

Even flicking through my volumes of "Wonders of World Engineering" or "Man and Machine" makes you wonder "Just how the hell did they pull that off with the most basic of tools and a draughting board?".

 

[AndyT]

Agreed. Reading a few of these books, I often found myself skipping over the chapters on geometry. Some time later, the penny dropped - to do the really demanding work, like that arched headed window which is also circular on plan in plate LXXX, you aren't going to get anywhere if you can't produce the drawings yourself. Producing drawings depends on understanding the geometry. Now, when I walk around a city centre and look at the sort of impressive joinery there is on Victorian banks, hotels or churches, it all makes much more sense and I appreciate the level of skill even more.

 

[Chris101]

I was having a walk with my old man at the weekend down the Darent Valley and my lad (10) was talking to my dad about various shi*e but it strayed onto bridge design. As you do when you are 10 walking down a river. My Dad was telling him about maths and physics being the central proponents for designing shizzle (my lad wants to be 'an architect' or a 'spitfire pilot)'. I'm nudging him one way tbh. Yep Spitfire pilot because that's my main dream job too. No brainer.

Long story short. My Dad's family were on the tools, Clerk of Works etc. Skilled labour. And my Dad surprised me as I was talkining about this complex mathematics in the old woodworking when he said, (vaguely....) Well the woodworkers were the brains, they always went onto be site managers etc. Really? I said. Think about it he said. Ahhh. ok I said. And then later on I did and it did.

 

[AndyT]

I can remember having a chat with a site manager who had been a chippie. He said it was quite a common career path, but put it down to the way that carpenters and joiners were needed (off and on) right through a build. Unlike the bricklayers or plumbers, for example. So they developed a better overview of the project and how the various trades fitted together.

But I guess a good helping of intelligence helps as well!

 

[Trevanion]

Going back to the beginning, I managed to grab another couple copies of the Woodworker pamphlets for the collection, "Softwoods and Colonial Timbers" and "Hardwoods, English and Foreign" by Percy A Wells.



I also picked up this copy of "Staining and Polishing" in the same lot, but it's by a different publisher but from around the same time-frame.

 

[Trevanion]

The Modern Carpenter and Joiner and Cabinetmaker, by G. Lister Sutcliffe, 1906.

I finally got my hands on a complete 8-volume set of these after a long while of waiting for a set to come up for a reasonable price. Since the books are sought after for the knowledge within by woodworking enthusiasts and also by book art enthusiasts because of the covers being designed by the famous Talwin Morris, they do tend to demand a premium.

There's a staggering amount of information in these on practically every topic you could think of. One thing that does stand out to me about these old books though is just how much of the writings are dedicated to scaffolding of all things. Having never seen wooden scaffolding in my lifetime it never really came to mind that in the old days it was indeed made from wood, to extreme heights, which required quite a lot of skilled labour and thinking to put up without it all coming crashing down.

Something that shocked me when I received them is just how bloody big they are, I always assumed from the photos that they were just average-sized books, but no, they are 13.5" tall, 10" side and 6.5" thick total between all eight volumes. These, like The Carpenters and Joiners Assistant, also do not fit on the shelves :lol:

 

[AndyT]

Well done Dan, glad you found a decent set. I shan't need to scan the other seven and a half volumes!

I'm a little bit dubious about some of the contents. They were clearly sold on some sort of multiple payments scheme, so subscribers would have been relying on a written description. If it had a checklist of all the topics covered, it would have looked impressive, but some sections - such as the hand tools - are quite superficial, though that's a trick that still works for Reader's Digest and Time-Life!

And the pictures are very impressive for any armchair craftsman. (Meaning me, not you!)

Do you need any design ideas for bigger book cases ?

PS - on wooden scaffolding, I was a bit surprised to see some in use when I visited Reykjavik a few years ago. Iceland has no timber at all (the 9th century settlers cut it all down) so maybe it's a practice they have adopted from nearby Scandinavia.

 

[Trevanion]

Carpentry and Joinery by S.T. Aveling, 1871.

I'm not sure about the date on this one, the preface states 1871 but the book is in absolutely immaculate condition for something that would be 150 years old, surely it must be a later re-print? It's a really nice little book that’s mainly focused on the traditional hand craftsmanship of carpentry and joinery, going into great detail on the tools and how they are used in relation to certain tasks with wonderful illustrations (I know you love stuff like this Andy) to complement the writing. The cover and spine are possibly the most wonderfully detailed I've come across for a woodworking book too!

 

[AndyT]

Dan, your collection is continuing to enthral me! What a gem!

It wouldn't surprise me if it had been bought as a gift for some undeserving schoolboy who never opened it. As you say, lovely condition for the date, which is pleasantly early but entirely believable.

I recognise that picture of The Workshop.

Just as magazines recycle content now, so did Victorian book publishers. We used to have a lovely old book at home that my mother found at a jumble sale - "The Boy's Modern Playmate". It was a dictionary sized collection of healthy pastimes for boys, amusingly dressed in old fashioned suits. Alongside the parlour games, sports and groanworthy jokes there was a section on making stuff, including a dog kennel and a steam engine.

You can find it online at the Internet Archive but the scan there is from microfilm and is poor. There's a better version at Google Books here:

https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/ ... 20playmate


and here are two of the pictures

I suspect some of the text will match too. Hours of fun for a wet bank holiday!

 

[toolsntat]

So, who's bringing what to this week's Benchtalk101 party ?
Cheers Andy

 

[AndyT]

Dan and I could easily fill several hours just from this thread!
I'll see if I can get a word in tomorrow.

 

[Trevanion]

So, who's bringing what to this week's Benchtalk101 party ?
Cheers Andy

I was beginning to wonder if you'd ever show up! :lol:

Much to my own disappointment, I've never been there for a live BenchTalk (Although I have watched/listened to a couple of the Youtube videos that are put up later). As a matter of fact, I've never even tried the whole "Zoom" thing!

Dan and I could easily fill several hours just from this thread!
I'll see if I can get a word in tomorrow.

Speak for yourself Andy, I would be very quick and concise about my favorite book, "Success with Biscuit Joiners" by Anthony Bailey.

 

[toolsntat]

Well Dan, its quite simple if you want to have a dabble.
Sign up for Zoom
Hit this link near to start time 8.30pm and the gatekeepers will let you in.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81164688577?p ... JMNXdkQT09

You have the option to be off camera and mute if you prefer....
Cheers Andy

 

[Trevanion]

An enjoyable evening! Despite being an interloper among hand tool users :lol:

 

[Trevanion]

The Encyclopaedia of Practical Carpentry and Joinery by Edward Lance Tarbuck, 1859.

I think I'm going to need to get bigger shelves at this rate. Another great nineteenth-century book which is filled to the brim with information and very detailed and beautiful illustrations.

 

[AndyT]

Well, that looks much nicer than it did in its eBay listing!

I especially like those Gothic window details from Stapleford Park - how many custom cutters would you need for that lot - or how many weeks with all your moulding planes?!

I see from a quick search that it's in use as a golf and events venue, but in a bizarre omission the promotional photos on the website are mostly of cake, curtains and cushions, and ignore the interesting features entirely!

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Agreed. Reading a few of these books, I often found myself skipping over the chapters on geometry. Some time later, the penny dropped - to do the really demanding work, like that arched headed window which is also circular on plan in plate LXXX, you aren't going to get anywhere if you can't produce the drawings yourself. Producing drawings depends on understanding the geometry.

At school at 14 or 15 we were only allowed to make things we could draw properly. That always seemed a sensible restriction to me - if you didn't understand how to draw something properly, you wouldn't understand how to make it properly.

 

[Trevanion]

Well, that looks much nicer than it did in its eBay listing!

Yes, I think they took the photos in too bright of a light which can make flaws look worse than they actually are. It's not a perfect book by any means, it is 160-years-old so it's going to have a bit of wear and tear. But the binding is tight and it's all there, just needs gentle handling as with any Victorian-era book.

I hope it wasn't you that I was bidding against! :lol:

At school at 14 or 15 we were only allowed to make things we could draw properly. That always seemed a sensible restriction to me - if you didn't understand how to draw something properly, you wouldn't understand how to make it properly.

Ahah! I've just picked up "Principles of Educational Woodwork" by C.L. Binns and R.E. Marsden from 1929 which is aimed at teachers who are teaching children woodwork in schools.

"Our pupils will already have done something in the way of drawing before entering the manual training rooms, but the drawings will now have an added interest because what is drawn is afterwards to be made. In spite of this added interest, however, boys naturally look upon the drawing lesson as of quite secondary importance compared with the tool-work. Anything, therefore which emphasises the value of understanding thoroughly this "shortest of shorthands" this "universal language" as drawing has been aptly termed, should be taken advantage of. When a few drawings have been made, it may be pointed out how difficult it would be to describe fully in words some of the objects they have drawn."

In other words... "A picture is worth a thousand words"

 

[AndyT]

This arrived today:



I think at least one contributor to this thread will recognise it and take the blame for making me buy it...

The title that the bookbinder has put on the spine may be different from your copy, Dan, but the title page confirms that it's the same book:



I'm pretty sure that back at the time this was published, it was normal for books to be sold unbound. The purchaser would then have them bound, in a style that matched the rest of the books in their library.

That's ok, it's a decent leather binding in good enough condition and I paid about the same as you did.

There's just one problem. The organisation of the book is a bit muddly. There's an attempt at a structure but there are two series of full page plates - the Lines and the Practical Examples. These have their own numbering but no page numbers and whoever bound this copy got confused. It's missing plates 72, 75 and 77. I'm sure this was at the binding stage; there's no evidence of removal afterwards.

You've already helpfully provided pictures of 75 and 77 which I shall print out and insert. Could I ask you to point your camera at plate 72 and upload it?

I'd hate to think there might be some bit of abstruse information that I might really really need some time soon!

 

[Trevanion]

This arrived today:

View attachment 1

I think at least one contributor to this thread will recognise it and take the blame for making me buy it...

Ah... Err... Well... :eusa-shifty:

I did see that one, looked to be in nicer condition than mine from the eBay photos.

The title that the bookbinder has put on the spine may be different from your copy, Dan, but the title page confirms that it's the same book:



I'm pretty sure that back at the time this was published, it was normal for books to be sold unbound. The purchaser would then have them bound, in a style that matched the rest of the books in their library.

That's ok, it's a decent leather binding in good enough condition and I paid about the same as you did.

That's interesting, I was wondering why when you're looking at a particular book such as the one you and I have there are so many different bindings and the titles on the spines were different to the actual title of the book, it never occurred to me that they could be supplied unbound.

There's just one problem. The organisation of the book is a bit muddly. There's an attempt at a structure but there are two series of full page plates - the Lines and the Practical Examples. These have their own numbering but no page numbers and whoever bound this copy got confused. It's missing plates 72, 75 and 77. I'm sure this was at the binding stage; there's no evidence of removal afterwards.

You've already helpfully provided pictures of 75 and 77 which I shall print out and insert. Could I ask you to point your camera at plate 72 and upload it?

I'd hate to think there might be some bit of abstruse information that I might really really need some time soon!

I also found my copy quite difficult to traverse through when trying to refer to the index. I'll get a photograph of plate 72 for uploaded for you later today.

 

[Trevanion]

Right, here are your missing plate, I downsized the photos in my original post as there's usually not much need for super high-quality photos and it saves time uploading them to the site, these following ones haven't been resized so they're at their highest quality for you Andy

 

[AndyT]

Brilliant!

Many thanks Dan. That's service you just don't get anywhere else.

I owe you one!

 

[AndyT]

Thanks again Dan. I printed them all out, and this time found plate 72, so I was only missing the other two, which are now in their proper places in the book.

I looked into it a bit more, and some things became clearer as I started reading it.

For books without a date, the British Library catalogue often provides one, put in [square brackets] to indicate that it wasn't printed in the book. Their entry, at http://explore.bl.uk/BLVU1:LSCOP-ALL:BLL01003580003 shows 1857 to 1859 as the publication date, suggesting it was a serial publication.

There's another clue on page 3, where the editor writes that including some idea of the contents is "a matter of justice to subscribers who are solicited to take about thirty parts of a serial." The old idea, started by Joseph Moxon, of selling textbooks in weekly parts, was a good one and has lasted into the present day.

I noticed that the title page says that Edward Lance Tarbuck contributed articles to The Builder and wondered if they might have published a review of his Encyclopedia. I've not found one, but I did find this little ad in the Builder from 30 January 1858 which confirms that it was indeed issued in 30 parts at a shilling each or 15 at two shillings. Not needing to find the full cost in one go could have made it a bit more accessible to ambitious working carpenters and fits with the bindings of our two copies being a bit different.



I know that it was often up to the bookbinder to summarise a long title in a form which would fit on the spine, as my brother trained as a bookbinder and told me.

I also found that the Hathi Trust has a complete scan of the same work, freely readable and downloadable.
So anyone who doesn't want to fill their shelves with Victorian paper can have a compact pdf version and see what we are wittering on about!

https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/100977557

 

[Trevanion]

I picked this up, "A Glossary of Wood" by Thomas Corkhill. It's not particularly old at 1979 (I think the first edition was published in the 40s but wasn't reprinted until this edition, so early copies are very rare), but its a sort of woodworker's dictionary with just about every possible term you could imagine being in there and explained concisely, with an illustration to accompany on occasion. I imagine it would be a very handy book to have on hand as a supplementary aid when reading through older woodworking books where a lot of terms aren't explained by the author, especially as a beginner.

Thomas Corkhill is mostly known as a contributor to the "Joinery and Carpentry" series of six books that were edited by Richard Greenhalgh.

 

[AndyT]

Thanks, that looks much more useful than the title suggests and better than the Woodworker's Dictionary from the 70s. There is now one less secondhand copy available.

 

[Trevanion]

To expand on my growing collection of Victorian-era Carpentry and Joinery books, I managed to get a really nice copy of "Practical Carpentry, Joinery, and Cabinet Making" by Peter Nicholson and Thomas Tredgold, 1852. Peter Nicholson was one of the very first individuals to write books on the subject of Carpentry and Joinery and the information held within still holds up to this day, Thomas Tredgold was also another notable author on the subject as well as being a very talented engineer in his own right, who unfortunately passed quite young in his forties.

 

[AndyT]

Yea! Nice one.

Ok Dan, I think we're all ready for some wip's now...

 

[Trevanion]

Ok Dan, I think we're all ready for some wip's now...

Wait, you want me to actually make something?

 

[Trevanion]

Another one for the "Trevanion and AndyT talk about old woodworking books" thread :lol:

A five-volume set of Carpentry and Joinery by John Ednie, 1932. This set is great, I always wondered why these books commanded high prices because they looked very similar to the sets of "Joinery and Carpentry" by Richard Greenhalgh which go for much less, but I can see why now as this set is immensely detailed, written clearly by the absolute best in their fields at the time, instead of giving John Ednie all the credit I'll note the authors below which also shows just how many topics this set covers:

Practical Geometry by Thomas Brown, A.I.Struct.E., F.S.A.Scot.
Strength of Timber and Timber Framing by Alexander Cruickshank, A.I.Struct.E.
Partitions by William Paterson, A.R.I.B.A
Doors and their Architraves by John Ednie
Windows and Skylights by Robert Robertson
Stairs and Handrailings by William Paterson, A.R.I.B.A
Roofs by Joseph Wilson, A.R.I.B.A, D.A. (Glas.)
Domes and Pendetives By Thomas Brown, A.I.Struct.E., F.S.A.Scot.
Vaults and Niches by Thomas Brown, A.I.Struct.E., F.S.A.Scot.
Floors and Ceilings by James B. Ednie
Parquet and Wood-Block Flooring by Eric MacDougall
Panelling and Chimney-Pieces by William Paterson, A.R.I.B.A
Interior Finishings by John Ednie
Timber Bridges by W. Blackadder, D.Sc, A.M.Inst.C.E
Joints by Malcolm McLullich,
Gates and Fences by John Ednie,
Scaffolding by James A. Weatherly
Woodturning by William Paterson A.R.I.B.A
Cabinetmaking by John Ednie
Church Furniture by Andrew Ednie
Building Law by E.S. Roscoe, Barrister-at-Law, and Norman M.L. Walker, B.A., LL.B.
Estimating by W.E. Davis and Charles S. Gray
Shop Management by A.C. Remnant and John W. Milne
Temporary Structures by G.L. Sutcliffe, and John W. Milne
Woodworking Tools and Machinery by A. Mackintosh and John W. Milne

I think you can see just how much these cover, they'll teach you how to make a chair, a door, a cathedral vault ceiling, an elliptical staircase, and even a railway bridge!





















I think I recognise a couple of the illustrations in this set, since it's published by the Gresham company I wouldn't be surprised some is recycled from the earlier set of books (also in this thread) by G.L. Sutcliffe "The Modern Carpenter and Joiner and Cabinetmaker", I'll have to get both books out and compare but I haven't got the time as I'm right in the middle of a large railway bridge project I must get on with.

 

[AndyT]

Another one for the "Trevanion and AndyT talk about old woodworking books" thread :lol:

I'll have to get both books out and compare but I haven't got the time as I'm right in the middle of a large railway bridge project I must get on with.

It's a scary thought, isn't it? You've read the book, now build the bridge...

But when you think about just how much was built in the short period covered in this thread, including all the canals, docks, railways, churches, hotels, banks, mills, factories and millions of smaller buildings, I do think time spent looking at these books increases your respect for the work that our recent forebears did.

And thanks for the tip about another set to look out for. How's the expanding bookcase coming along?

 

[Trevanion]

It's a scary thought, isn't it? You've read the book, now build the bridge...

I mean, it's only a train weighing several tens of tonnes carrying hundreds of passengers, what could possibly go wrong? :eusa-think:

:eusa-doh:

But when you think about just how much was built in the short period covered in this thread, including all the canals, docks, railways, churches, hotels, banks, mills, factories and millions of smaller buildings, I do think time spent looking at these books increases your respect for the work that our recent forebears did.

Would it be wrong to consider the period of 1800-1900 the "Golden Age" of British architecture? It seems most of the highest quality and most revered work comes from this period, especially in woodwork.

And thanks for the tip about another set to look out for. How's the expanding bookcase coming along?

It isn't expanding, I've had to be rid of some books which don't mean that much to me, mostly just naff DIY/Hobby books of no value from the 70s and 80s that I've inherited off individuals back when I was starting in woodworking.

 

[Cabinetman]

Quite agree about this period and the work produced.
just looking at that page of joints most of which I’ve never even considered doing – it’s almost as if they made some of them up just for the book?

 

[Trevanion]

Been a while since there was a post in here!

I recently picked up this little gem. Many people will be familiar with George Ellis’ “Modern Practical Joinery” which is considered one of if not the best book on the subject of architectural woodwork, however you will not have likely seen this little rare book by Ellis which could be considered a companion volume to “Modern Practical Joinery” as it gives more detail in certain subjects not fully explored in the original. It’s full of excellent plate drawings which we all love to see.

 

[Cabinetman]

Thanks that’s cleared something up I’ve often wondered about, when you see two doors fastened edge to edge like that – double margin doors – that’s another thing I didn’t know what they were called, I’ve always thought they looked weak at that joint I hadn’t realised there were several double wedges pushed through which would strengthen it enormously. Cheers Ian

 

[Windows]

I wonder how many times I’ve seen a double margin door and just thought it was two doors?

 

[AndyT]

What a brilliant find! I had no idea that book existed. And I love the weary tone of the preface - it must have been so frustrating for someone with 40 years in the trade to see rival books with misleading content.

 

[Trevanion]

Thanks that’s cleared something up I’ve often wondered about, when you see two doors fastened edge to edge like that – double margin doors – that’s another thing I didn’t know what they were called, I’ve always thought they looked weak at that joint I hadn’t realised there were several double wedges pushed through which would strengthen it enormously. Cheers Ian

I suppose the modern equivalent would be to use draw bolts rather than folding wedges, I imagine bolts would've been a very expensive option back in the early half of the century for such an application when there was a dearth of timber scraps available to made wedges from.

 

[Trevanion]

What a brilliant find! I had no idea that book existed. And I love the weary tone of the preface - it must have been so frustrating for someone with 40 years in the trade to see rival books with misleading content.

I'd never heard of it until I saw the eBay listing either. Fortunately, if you wish to read it Google Books have a full copy scanned free-to-view.

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[AndyP]

What always strikes me with these books is the names that exist for everything. I have no idea that some of this terminology exists.

 

[AJB Temple]

Just cruising through this thread again, I'm impressed with the quality of technical drawing that was evident in those times. For example the conservatory lean to, which depicts the glass beautifully.