Power from Steam: A History of the Stationary Steam Engine

By Richard L. Hills and Richard Leslie Hills

Book Overview

This is the first comprehensive history of the steam engine in fifty years. It follows the development of reciprocating steam engines, from their earliest forms to the beginning of the twentieth century when they were replaced by steam turbines.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 052145834X
• ISBN13: 9780521458344
• Release Date: August 1993
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 356 Pages
• Weight: 1.21 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

The Power of Steam (Richard Hills)

One of the few relatively recent works in the field of stationary steam engines. In addition to his work at the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry which has resulted in this becoming a 'World Class' Museum Richard Hills has found time to contribute a major written work, the meticulous way in which he has researched this book is impressive, while detailed enough to be of interest to the 'expert' (and including an extremely substantial and authoritative bibliography) he has presented what might be considered a fairly 'dry' subject in such a way that the non enthusiast can both learn and enjoy. Photographs and drawing of now lost examples make this a valuable volume for anyone interested in the development of steam power from it's early beginnings as an interesting phenomena for the inquiring mind, through to its essential part of todays world, providing power everywhere. One of very few modern books on the subject (which tend to be re-hashes of recognisable older works) it is very difficult to fault and a must for anyone with an interest in steam or industrial history