''Machinery's Handbook'' ''for machine shop and drafting-room; a reference book on machine design and shop practice for the mechanical engineer, draftsman, toolmaker, and machinist'' (the full title of the 1st edition) is a classic reference work in
mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is the study of physical machines that may involve force and movement. It is an engineering branch that combines engineering physics and mathematics principles with materials science, to design, analyze, manufacture, and ...
and practical
workshop
Beginning with the Industrial Revolution era, a workshop may be a room, rooms or building which provides both the area and tools (or machinery) that may be required for the manufacture or repair of manufactured goods. Workshops were the only ...
mechanic
A mechanic is an artisan, skilled tradesperson, or technician who uses tools to build, maintain, or repair machinery, especially cars.
Duties
Most mechanics specialize in a particular field, such as auto body mechanics, air conditioning an ...
s in one volume published by
Industrial Press
Industrial Press, Inc., is a privately held corporation headquartered in South Norwalk, Connecticut. Its primary areas of business are publishing technical books for engineering, technology, and manufacturing.
The company was founded in New Yor ...
, New York, since 1914. The first edition was created by Erik Oberg (1881–1951) and
Franklin D. Jones (1879–1967), who are still mentioned on the title page of the 29th edition (2012). Recent editions of the handbook contain chapters on mathematics,
mechanics
Mechanics (from Ancient Greek: μηχανική, ''mēkhanikḗ'', "of machines") is the area of mathematics and physics concerned with the relationships between force, matter, and motion among physical objects. Forces applied to objects r ...
,
materials
Material is a substance or mixture of substances that constitutes an object. Materials can be pure or impure, living or non-living matter. Materials can be classified on the basis of their physical and chemical properties, or on their geologic ...
,
measuring
Measurement is the quantification of attributes of an object or event, which can be used to compare with other objects or events.
In other words, measurement is a process of determining how large or small a physical quantity is as compared ...
, toolmaking,
manufacturing
Manufacturing is the creation or production of goods with the help of equipment, labor, machines, tools, and chemical or biological processing or formulation. It is the essence of secondary sector of the economy. The term may refer to a r ...
,
threading,
gear
A gear is a rotating circular machine part having cut teeth or, in the case of a cogwheel or gearwheel, inserted teeth (called ''cogs''), which mesh with another (compatible) toothed part to transmit (convert) torque and speed. The basic ...
s, and
machine element
Machine element or hardware refers to an elementary component of a machine. These elements consist of three basic types:
# '' structural components'' such as frame members, bearings, axles, splines, fasteners, seals, and lubricants,
# '' mech ...
s, combined with excerpts from
ANSI
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI ) is a private non-profit organization that oversees the development of voluntary consensus standards for products, services, processes, systems, and personnel in the United States. The organi ...
standards. The work is available in
online
In computer technology and telecommunications, online indicates a state of connectivity and offline indicates a disconnected state. In modern terminology, this usually refers to an Internet connection, but (especially when expressed "on line" or ...
and
ebook
An ebook (short for electronic book), also known as an e-book or eBook, is a book publication made available in digital form, consisting of text, images, or both, readable on the flat-panel display of computers or other electronic devices. Alt ...
form as well as print.
During the decades from
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
to
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, these phrases could refer to either of two competing reference books:
McGraw-Hill
McGraw Hill is an American educational publishing company and one of the "big three" educational publishers that publishes educational content, software, and services for pre-K through postgraduate education. The company also publishes referenc ...
's ''
American Machinists' Handbook'' or Industrial Press's ''Machinery's Handbook''. The former book ceased publication after the 8th edition (1945). (One short-lived spin-off appeared in 1955.) The latter book, ''Machinery's Handbook'', is still regularly revised and updated, and it continues to be a "bible of the metalworking industries" today.
''Machinery's Handbook'' is apparently the direct inspiration for similar works in other countries, such as Sweden's ''Karlebo handbok'' (1st ed. 1936).
Machinery's Encyclopedia
In 1917, Oberg and Jones also published ''Machinery's Encyclopedia'' in 7 volumes. The handbook and encyclopedia are named after the monthly magazine ''Machinery'' (Industrial Press, 1894–1973), where the two were consulting editors.
See also
*
Machinist Calculator
External links
Industrial Press websiteHistory of Machinery's Handbook
References
{{reflist
1914 non-fiction books
Mechanical engineering
Handbooks and manuals
Metallurgical industry of the United States