Professor Burstall gives us a record of the machines, mechanical inventions and ideas from ancient times up to today that appear to him to have been most significant for the art and science of mechanical engineering. Contrary to popular belief the history of mechanical engineering did not begin with the steam engine and the industrial evolution; a great many machines and mechanical processes were used from very early times in Egypt, China, Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome and the Arab world. The problem of transportation has always inspired a remarkable number of mechanical inventions. At the same time Professor Burstall gives us an account of the foundation and growth of application of the sciences of thermodynamics, mechanics and metal-cutting, and of the development of automatic control, mass-production and aeronautics.
The almost 300 illustrations and the copious references at the end of each chapter will make this particularly valuable book. A history of inventions rather than of inventors, it will appeal to the student, teacher and general reader alike.