Motors

James Slough ZerbeProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.6

Word count: 270K words
Chapters: 27

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Motors by James Slough ZerbeAuthor: Zerbe, James Slough, 1850-,Language: English, Class: TJ: Technology: Mechanical engineering and machinery, Release Date: Mar 19, 2013

Editor's review

This is an early mechanical engineering reader aimed at general readers. In clear, accessible prose, the author explains the basic construction and operating principles of electric motors, generators, and mechanical transmissions, making it a work of technical popularization from the era when steam was giving way to electricity. The book includes numerous diagrams and step-by-step explanations that help readers with no prior background understand how mechanical parts work together; it has considerable value as a historical document and as an introduction to engineering. For anyone interested in early technical writing, it offers an intuitive way of understanding machines rather than a pile of formulas. Read it out of interest in the technology and mindset of its era; there is no need to go through it chapter by chapter. Compare it with modern physics as you go, and treat its descriptions as an old window onto mechanical principles.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Popular-science readers interested in the history of mechanical engineering and early technical popularization
Beginners who want an accessible, illustrated introduction to electric motors and transmissions
Specialists studying the history of technical writing and engineering education
Engineers who enjoy understanding the origins of modern machinery through old books

Not a good fit for

Technical professionals who need modern formulas for motor design and control
Readers expecting rigorous experimental data and current industry standards
Casual readers looking only for light fiction

Reading tips

Start with the chapters that contain many diagrams to build an overall picture of the parts and how they operate
Note outdated statements against modern physics and keep your own notes on them
Summarize each type of motor or transmission in a relationship diagram for easy review
You may read only the types of machinery that interest you most rather than going straight through in order

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable for someone with no engineering background at all?

Fairly suitable. The author writes for general readers and uses diagrams and everyday language to explain how mechanical parts work, so the barrier to entry is low. Some terminology and period background may feel unfamiliar, however; start with the illustrated chapters, then return to the text, and use modern popular-science material to clarify concepts you do not understand.

Do the mechanical principles in the book still have reference value today?

They still have value as history of technology and as an introduction to engineering, helping readers understand the basic ideas behind electric motors, generators, and transmissions and the style of early technical writing. But content on specific design parameters, materials, and control methods is clearly outdated and should not be used as a basis for modern engineering practice; read it mainly to understand principles and history.

What supplementary materials should I prepare for reading?

A basic physics or electrical engineering primer can help you compare the book's concepts and diagrams; if you are interested in the historical background, you might also read an overview of electrification from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century. This will let you understand the text and also distinguish which descriptions reflect the limits of knowledge at the time.

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About the author

James Slough Zerbe Author · American · 1849–1921

James Slough Zerbe (1849–1921) was an American inventor, mechanical and electrical engineer, and writer, born in Womelsdorf, Pennsylvania. He took part in early multiplane aircraft design, an experience that gave him firsthand knowledge of mechanics and the principles of flight. He is better known as a popular science author for young readers, writing many accessible technical books for boys on subjects such as carpentry, mechanics, electricity, motors, and aeroplanes. His works explain principles clearly and encourage readers to try things for themselves. His representative titles include Electricity for Boys, Carpentry for Boys, Motors, and Aeroplanes, and five of his works are held in this collection. Public information about his life is limited; his influence rests mainly on these technical introductions for young readers.