OF TECHNICAL LITE RAT I RE.

Progress, Volume II, Issue 7, 1 May 1907, Page 263

OF TECHNICAL LITE RAT I RE.

By W. M. M., in Electrical Review.

(concluded.) Let any engineer who thinks I have undervalued the importance of reading technical books ask himself to what he is indebted for his own knowledge. I fancy he would find himself compelled to put first and foremost his practical experience in workshop and laboratory. Second would come what is picked up in conversation with his friends and fellow engineers. There is no more foolish piejudice than that against talking shop ; premising of course, that no one is shut out ol the conversation thereby. Third in importance are lectures, debates (which are mere formal conversations, and all the better the less formal), and the floating literature of papers and journals Last of all, longo in*ervallo, would come technical books, rather a storehouse of what has been otherwise acquired, than a means of acquiring ; useful for reference, but deceptive as a basis of knowledge. For the engineer is indeed a man who works with his brains, but he must think with his fingers. Those whose knowledge comes mainly from books have their mmds filled with eidola, and are out of touch with realities, which perplex and annoy them. A boy learns more engineering from his bicycle, especially if it be a motor-bicycle than from all the primers and diagrams with which he may be crammed and learns it in a much pleasanter way. The motor-car, as Mr O' Gorman once said, is making us, men and woman alike, a nation of engineers. It follows that technical literature should be marilv theoretical The bridge of the text-book should be a diagram, or it some special pattern be described it should be merely by w ly ot illustration. Details of manipulation, the cleaning of connections, how to put the wire round the bmd'ng screw, &c, should be taught orally in the laboratory Too often the text-bcoks pile one pattern on another till the thing looks more like a maker's catalogue than a book. Writers of papers should make sure they have something to say worth saying before they rush into print The ?reat majority of papers reminds one of Millars picture, "Now all turn round an see me jumo " The egotism is charming in a child, but disgusting in a man. We don't want to see them jump, unless they can jump further in some direction than fnyone else In short, every paper should constitute a record in its particular line. There might be fewer of them, but what discussions we should have ' In the highest department of technical literature of all, that of pure theory, it is above all things requisite to have ideas to have some message to deliver.

Rosin on the blacksmith's forge improves and toughens steel. When the tool is hot, dip it into the rosm, then hammer.