Inventors at Work, with Chapters on Discovery

An illustrated survey of inventive principles and practical engineering, focusing on how form and material shape performance. It treats structural design—girders, trusses, bridges, ships—and techniques to reduce resistance, save light and heat, and improve tools and machine parts. The work discusses materials and their treatment, measurement and testing methods, model experiments, and manufacturing practices that enable interchangeability and economy. Brief accounts of contemporary discoveries and phenomena, including radioactivity, show how precise measurement and material knowledge drive advances in practical invention.