Spon's Mechanic's own book

This is a book I don't find linked here. We actually have a hardcopy (dated 1901) that was left here by a friend, and it is fascinating to dip into it. It covers a wide range of skills from french polishing wood to forging steel as it was done over 100 years ago. Want to build a log cabin or thatch a roof? You can read about it here.



The whole book seems to be on the internet archive:
https://archive.org/details/sponsmechanicsow00spon/sponsmechanicsow00spon/page/n5/mode/2up and I'm pretty sure it would be out of copyright generally now.

Some of the information is likely to be of less use: setting up a bell pull system, or gas lighting for example. But the uses of different types of wood, and the tools for doing different jobs by hand won't have changed that much.

I looked at the link provided. I love your book.
I have been a framer off and on since early 80's. I like anything to do with historical construction. The carpentry section caught my eye, all the joinery. Section on roundwood framing for secondary structures. Greenhouses, chicken coops, gates, fences, all kinds of stuff.

The painters trade for residential has been reduced to clowns slopping latex bear sourced from an orange box over every unprepared surface in a home.
The old painters made their own paints, specific to the surfaces being treated. The leads were toxic, but not all mixes used them. Preparation was thorough. Quality brush and mix work, getting the paint to layout, a point of pride.
The original trimwork that existed on the never occupied third floor of the 1892 Victorian my folks bought in Helena when I was in high school, looks nothing like the poured on 'paint' finishes of today.

Gas light fixtures and plumbing still on the walls, by the way.
There was also a touching little hand written script in one of the bedrooms, never painted over as the room was never used.
'Happy April Fool's Day
April First, 1892' The two little girls who lived there, along with two of their friends signed their names using their best grade school cursive. One of the girls lived there her entire life, passing away in 1969 or so.

Pretty interesting ideas on paint formulation. Few gallons of blood sourced from a slaughterhouse cauldroned and mixed to make primer for plaster? Paints for various types of floors? Paints for damp surfaces?

I hand file my own saws, there's a section for that. More skill and knowledge than I have. Slate roofing, like wise. Interesting section on heating a home and improving the efficiency of contemporary coal fireplaces, as well as improving air circulation and efficiency  ventilation in the days before electricity.

We have something similar I bought my wife years ago. A sort of "How to Build a House" collection of small texts, from the early 1930's. Mixing your own paint included.

These are the sorts of books I hope I can encourage my grandsons to read and keep. I hope they are interested.
I have a lot of things to teach an open mind and inquisitive little hands.
No phone or internet required/permitted.