Machinery's Handbook - 16th Edition 1959

[stokester]

Some time ago I helped a friend clean out a garage for his neighbor calling me over because they had a couple of radios he thought I may be interested in.  The gentleman who lived here was a retired machinist from Newport News Shipbuilding and along with the radios had a pretty good selection of tools, many of which were claimed by a grandson.  Along with a very nice Starrett dial indicator on a Mitutoyo magnetic base I was given this book if I found it of interest.

It's a 1959 copyright Machinery's Handbook of just over 2100 pages filled with personal notes and papers stuck in various sections.  This well-used book was obviously a regular reference for this machinist before calculators as there are many notes with math problems worked out based on the formulas found.

An interesting window into this man's occupation.

[goodfellow]

Fantastic find! --

[slip knot]

That's a cool book I have one and find it very interesting. Having the owners notes just makes it cooler.

[Uncle Buck]

Great find and unquestionably the best reference manual you will ever add to your shop library!

[DeadNutz]

That is a great find and you probably prevented it from going in the trash.
When Kennedy boxes have a drawer made just for the MH it shows how important that book is. In a large company with multiple machinists you could piss off the old timers by asking questions when the answer is right in the book. I sometimes sit down with my book and just look through it and read a little.

[stokester]

Great find and unquestionably the best reference manual you will ever add to your shop library!

Yes, some quick skimming through the sections I was amazed at the data and subjects addressed:
math tables, wire rope, springs, bearings, gearing, splines, chains, joints, threads, milling, heat-treatments and the list goes on and on.

[goodfellow]

Great find and unquestionably the best reference manual you will ever add to your shop library!

Yes, some quick skimming through the sections I was amazed at the data and subjects addressed:
math tables, wire rope, springs, bearings, gearing, splines, chains, joints, threads, milling, heat-treatments and the list goes on and on.

There is a learning curve associated with reading the book, and there are several guides that have been published to aid in the understanding and interpretation of MH tables, charts, and formulas.   

[stokester]

That is a great find and you probably prevented it from going in the trash.
When Kennedy boxes have a drawer made just for the MH it shows how important that book is. In a large company with multiple machinists you could piss off the old timers by asking questions when the answer is right in the book. I sometimes sit down with my book and just look through it and read a little.

Yes, this was a save from the trash or recycling bin and I don't know if I will ever use it but it is a great reference book and "light" read.

[bonneyman]

Old books like that are just gold to me.

I have an old book from my wife's family. I'll start a new thread so as not to become a hi-jacker.

[skfarmer]

lots of info and history to go with it. even if you are not a machinist there is lots of every day info in them as well.

[stokester]

Old books like that are just gold to me.

I have an old book from my wife's family. I'll start a new thread so as not to become a hi-jacker.

Me too.

I'm with you.
This is one I just picked up for 1941 Motorola auto radios. 

[bmwrd0]

The MH is great, I keep my grandfathers copy in the chest where I can get to it.

[mdlbldrmatt135]

The 25th edition "required textbook" in college, sits on my desk at work.   I have a pair of older ones I keep at home as they're just too damn handy not to have.

[fatfillup]

Very cool find especially with the notes