Rule of Thumb Curwen • £12.50 • (F) David Curwen’ name is best known as a major designer of miniature railway locomotives, but he had served his apprenticeship in the garage trade in the 1930s, then maintained generating plant and steam cars. Along with the late Tom Rolt, he was the only other full-time employee of the Talyllyn Railway when it first emerged in preserved form although, by then, he had already built some 101/4” gauge miniature railwy locomotives and subsequently went on to design a whole range of steam or IC powered locomotives up to 15” gauge, including all of the motive power of the present Fairbourne Railway. This autobiography is written in an easy to read and humorous style, which reflects the man very well and, given David’s importance to the post-war miniature railway world, I am delighted he has penned this. 56 A4 format pages, full of B & W and colour illustrations. Paperback. David Edgington. Add to shopping basket

R.J. Mitchell, Schooldays to SPITFIRE Mitchell • £12.99 • (D) New and smaller format edition of this excellent biography of R.J. Mitchell, designer of the legendary Supermarine Spitfire. Mitchell died in 1937, aged just 42 but was one of the great aircraft designers, and certainly left his country with one of the most important items it had to resist Hitler and, ultimately, to beat him. Just over half the book is Mitchell’s story, the rest is the history of his legendary creation. Written by Mitchell’s son, this is a very readable tribute to a remarkable man. 384 illustrated pages. Paperback. Tempus Publishing Add to shopping basket

Sky Fever de Havilland • £ 8.99 • (E) Sir Geoffrey de Havilland was one of the pioneer British aviators, building his first successful flying machine, and its engine, from scratch in 1910, and l;earning to fly it by trial and error. But the firm he founded designed and built some of the most iconic of British aircraft, both civil and military. However, whilst this autobiography is a wonderful read, it is more concerned with the people, many famous, the author knew during his life in aviation, rather than being a blow-by-blow account of de Havilland and its products. 240 page paperback with 13 slightly murky B & W photos. Airlife Add to shopping basket

Barnes Wallis Dambuster Pugh • £14.99 • (E) Barnes Wallis is, of course, best known as the inventor and designer of the ‘bouncing bomb, which enabled 617 Squadron to carry out their famous raid on the Möhne and other dams. However he also worked on airships, including the successful R100 from which he developed the idea of geodetic construction, which was used in a number of aircraft, notably the Wellington bomber, which was robust in the extreme. Later in WWII, Wallis developed the Tall Boy and Grand Slam bombs, which were capable of causing immense damage, especially underground. During the 1950s he worked on ‘Swallow’ - a unique design for a Mach 5 aircraft capable of flying non-stop to Australia in 5 hours. He was one of the most original thinkers British aviation has had, as this readable account of his work shows very clearly. 200 text pages. 36 pages of B & W photos. Hardbound. Icon Books. Add to shopping basket

Not much of an Engineer Hooker • £ 14.99 • (E) The autobiography of Sir Stanley Hooker, who joined Bristol Aeroplane Co. in 1949 and tugged a rather reluctant company into the jet age, determined to give real competition to Rolls-Royce. This he did so successfully that in 1966 Rolls-Royce decided the best thing to do was to buy its rival. By this time there was scarcely a single modern British aero engine for which Hooker had not been responsible. An interesting, and far from dry autobiography. 255 pages. 70 photos. Paperback. Airlife Add to shopping basket

Genesis of the Jet Golley • £16.99 • (C) This is the story of Frank Whittle, how he developed the first turbojet engine, and how unbelievably he met considerable resistance to his engine, even in the middle of World War II. In every way a fascinating story! 272 illustrated pages. Paperback. Airlife. Add to shopping basket

Fedden Gunston • £15.00 • (B) Back in print, this is the remarkable story of Roy Fedden whose brilliance both as a designer, and a team leader, meant that Britain, in the shape of the Bristol Aeroplane Company, had an extraordinary hold on the supply of aircraft aero engines between the World Wars, when the Jupiter, Mercury, Titan, Pegasus, Perseus, Hercules and Centaurus engines, in particular, ruled the air - and were to feature in many Allied WW11 aircraft. The author of this highly readable best-seller describes Fedden as "one of the greatest intuitive engineers in history .....", yet in the middle of WW11, when he had just been knighted, he was effectively sacked by his employers, who had never offered him a place on their Board, despite his huge contribution to the making of the company! 353 pages full of drawings, photographs and illustrations. Paperback. Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust Add to shopping basket

The Knife and Fork Man Fairney • £14.95 • (B) Charles Benjamin Redrup, the subject of this biography, appears fleetingly in many reference books, but this is the first description of his extensive and innovative work. Most of this involved IC engines, especially contra-rotating “Reactionless” rotary ones, and subsequently ‘Wobble-Plate’ axial engines, these being fitted in a wide range of motor cycles, cars, WW1 and subsequent aircraft, boats and ‘Bristol’ built buses. He was also involved during WW11 with top-secret armament projects for Lancasters and other aircraft and, after the war, designed more motor-cycle engines and a large 2000hp axial aero engine. Fascinating, if occasionally rambling, story of a brilliant engineer and inventor. 319 pages.100s of photos and drawings, including 29 in colour. Hardbound. Diesel Publishing Add to shopping basket

Boxkite to Jet - the remarkable career of Frank B Halford Taylor • £ 15.00 • (D) The subject of this biography Frank Halford worked with Roy Fedden, and especially Harry Ricardo, was an aviation pioneer and responsible for a highly successful series of aero engines - the de Havilland Gypsy series, as well as the same company’s Goblin and Ghost jet engines. This is an interesting and readable biography of this remarkable man and his career. 221 pages with 71 photos and illustrations. Paperback. R-R Heritage Trust Add to shopping basket

The Lives of Ken Wallis Engineer and Aviator Extraordinaire Hancock • (Revised FOURTH Edition) • £ 9.99 • (C) Much revised and expanded (an extra 38 pages) informal biography of Wing Commander Ken Wallis, designer and builder of Motorcycles, Speed Boats, Sports Cars and Autogyros, Engineer, Inventor, Marksman, WWII Bomber Pilot, Armament Expert, Model Maker, Photographer....... the list goes on and on! Perhaps best known for his work on Autogyros, in one of which he doubled for Sean Connery in “You Only Live Twice”, this is the story of a truly remarkable man. 259 pages and over 130 photos. Paperback. Published in aid of The Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum Add to shopping basket

Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader An Inspiration in Photographs Sarkar • £15.95 • (A) Real wars tend to throw up heroes whose names are remembered long after the fighting is over. How people become heroes varies, but certainly it involves bravery, usually coupled to bloody-mindedness and an ability to inspire others. Douglas Bader, the subject of this book, had these qualities in spades; as is well known, he became an RAF fighter ace in WWII, despite having lost both legs in a flying accident in 1931 and, after his capture in 1941 was a thorn in the flesh of his captors, all recorded in the book and film Reach for the Sky. What is less well known is that, despite a very succesful career with Shell after the war, he did an enormous amount for the disabled, and especially the limbless which, since his death in 1982 has been continued by The Douglas Bader Foundation. Arguably this book is mistitled, as the first 67 pages are actually a very good abreviated biography of Bader. There then follow 78 pages of mainly B & W photos from various sources, of which 14 cover his time in the RAF, the balance covering his postwar life, and his work for the limbless in particular. Finally there are 25 pages of mixed colour and B & W photos recording the work of The Douglas Bader Foundation. It is an interesting look at the life of an inspirational man, and proceeds from the sale of this book go to help the Foundation. Hardback in Slipcase. Ramrod Publications and The Douglas Bader Foundation. Add to shopping basket

The Landscape Trilogy Rolt • £12.99 • (B) Back in print again, this is a combined edition of the three volumes forming the autobiography of one of Britain’s greatest writers on engineering history, Tom Rolt. The volumes are “Landscape with Machines” which covers Rolt’s youth and his apprenticeships at Bomfords, Kerr Stuarts and Listers up to the start of WW11 which saw him living on a canal boats, ‘Landscape with Canals” which covers his life on the narrow boat and his pioneering of canal preservation and ‘Landscape with Figures” (published posthumously) which covers his later life, and especially his time as the first General Manager of the world’s first preserved railway - the Talyllyn. Intensely readable, this book is interesting both for its insight into industry during the first half of the twentieth century, and for revealing a sometimes troubled man who was a true gentleman, a wonderful writer and pioneer of preserving the best of the past. 688 pages, including 16 pages of B & W photos. Paperback. Sutton Publishing. Add to shopping basket

Sir Nigel Gresley - the Engineer and his Family Hughes • £ 14.95 • (D) Add to shopping basket

Sir Henry Fowler - A Versatile Life Chacksfield • £ 11.95 • (E) Add to shopping basket

Sir William Stanier - a New Biography Chacksfield • £ 11.95 • (E) Add to shopping basket

C.B. Collett - A Competent Successor Chacksfield • £ 11.95 • (E) Add to shopping basket

The Drummond Brothers - A Scottish Duo Chacksfield • £ 12.95 • (E) Add to shopping basket

Douglas Earle Marsh - His Life and Times Marx • £ 12.95 • (E) Add to shopping basket

Sir Vincent Raven and the North Eastern Railway Grafton • £ 11.95 • (E) Add to shopping basket

F.W. Webb In the right place at the right time Chacksfield • £ 11.95 • (E) Add to shopping basket

Lawson Billinton A Career Cut Short Marx • £13.95 • (D) Add to shopping basket

Edward Thompson of the LNER Grafton • £12.95 • (E) Add to shopping basket

Excellent, largely engineering, biographies of Sir Nigel Gresley of the LNER, Sir Henry Fowler and Sir William Stanier of the L.M.S., C.B. Collett of the GWR, Dugald Drummond of the Caledonian & LSWR and Peter Drummond of the Highland & GSWR, Douglas Earle Marsh of the LB&SC, Sir Vincent Raven of the NER, Francis Webb of the LNWR, Lawson Billinton, the last CME of the LB&SC, and Edward Thompson, last CME of the LNER, twelve men responsible for some of Britain’s most famous locomotives. All are well produced books and highly readable. 216, 168, 168, 160, 168, 160, 144, 144,192 & 152 pages respectively, each with around 150 b & w photos, illustrations, maps etc. All paperback. Oakwood Press

Sir Edward Watkin Greaves • £ 17.95 • (B) Edward Watkin is described here as "The Last of the Railway Kings", and he undoubtedly had considerable influence over the expansion of Britain's railways in the second half of the nineteenth century, mainly through his involvement with the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway, (from which grew the Great Central), the Metropolitan Railway and the South Eastern Railway, all part of his scheme to join his native Manchester by rail to the Continent. But there was a lot more to this interesting man, as this well written biography makes clear. Hardbound. 373 pages. 51 illustrations. Maps. The Book Guild Add to shopping basket

Thomas Bouch Rapley • £17.99 • (D) This can best be described as an ‘engineering biography’ of Thomas Bouch, the builder of the first Tay Bridge. The Bridge, the enquiry after its fall, and Bouch’s death occupy just 50 pages, the bulk of the book detailing Bouch’s considerable number of other works, some of which, in view of what was to happen, showed a worrying lack of attention to important detail. The author makes the point that Bouch was well liked in the corridors of Westminster Palace, but regarded with some suspicion by many of the engineering establishment, which sounds remarkably familiar today, as does the fact that Bouch’s widow was pursued for compensation by some relatives of those who died in the Tay Bridge disaster. John Rapley tells the story of the man’s work, and takes a balanced view of it all here. 192 page illustrated paperback. Tempus Publishing Add to shopping basket

James Watt Volume 1: His time in Scotland, 1736-1774 Hills • £37.50 • (A) This first volume of the first new biography of James Watt for over 60 years, is based on original research on his papers, and covers his career in Scotland as a scientific instrument maker, civil engineer and his invention of the separate condenser for the steam engine, ending when he goes into partnership with Matthew Boulton. It is erudite, technical and highly readable, and I will happily admit I learnt a lot from this book. Highly recommended for the serious student of engineering and steam power. 480 pages, illustrated with drawings, engravings and maps. Hardbound. Landmark Publishing Add to shopping basket

James Watt Volume 2: The years of toil 1775-1785 Hills o £26.99 o (A) This second volume focuses on Watt's first 10 years in England and especially his involvement with Mathew Boulton and the establishment of Boulton & Watt and their Soho Works. It includes family details but concentrates upon his developing work with his engines. It also covers his activities and problems in Cornwall, rivals and pirates, which culminated in the patent trials. This volume takes the reader up to 1785, the year before Boulton & Watt sold their first rotative engine to a textile mill. 256 pages and approx 50 illustrations. Hardbound. Landmark Publishing Add to shopping basket

James Watt Volume 3: Triumph through adversity, 1785-1819 Hills • £26.99 • (B) This final volume in Richard Hills’ comprehensive biography of James Watt covers his later years, when he introduced the double-acting, rotative type of engine, became estranged from his eldest son, lost his two youngest children to tuberculosis and had his patents challenged. However he won the lawsuits, and was reconciled with his son to lead an honoured life in retirement. All this, plus much more is covered here in the 288 pages of this lightly illustrated volume. Hardbound. Landmark Publishing Add to shopping basket

William Edwards Architect, Builder, Minister Richards • £ 6.50 • (G) Fascinating short biography of William Edwards, born 1719 near Caerphilly in South Wales who, in seventy years, was minister of a new church, a stone mason, an architect and a bridge builder. Edwards chief claim to fame and, at the time, it did make him famous, was his design for, and construction of, the stunning 'New Bridge' over the River Taff at Pontypridd in 1756. With a single span of 140 feet this was almost certainly the widest arch in the world at the time, and it remains in use today. Not content with this Edwards also designed and built a number of masonry bridges in the southern half of Wales, all detailed here. This very nicely done book is a fitting reminder of a now largely forgotten figure. 88 pages with numerous illustrations, some in colour. Softcover. Pontypridd Town Council. (also available, to special order, in Welsh) Add to shopping basket

Matthew Boulton Dickinson • £ 9.95 • (F) Fisrt published in 1936, this book looks at one of the best known names in the early development of steam power - James Watt’s partner Matthew Boulton. Whilst it concentrates on the partnership, this book also tells of Boulton’s early life when he was a very successful buckle and plate maker, this giving him the financial clout to back Watt. 217 illustrated pages. Paperback. TEE Publishing Add to shopping basket

Richard Trevithick Giant of Steam Burton • £ 9.99 • (F) This is Anthony Burton’s very good biography of Richard Trevithick, the “Cornish Giant”, one of the great pioneers of steam power, especially in his use of high pressures, or “strong steam” as he called it. Trevithick’s ideas were as big as he was, which may explain why he died penniless in 1833, the great prophet of the steam age who would gain only posthumous recognition. 246 page paperback. 23 B & W photos, some drawings and sketches. Aurum Press Add to shopping basket

The Ingenious Mr. Bell Osborne • £ 9.99 • (E) No less a figure than Isambard Kingdom Brunel wrote of Henry Bell, subject of this biography, “Bell did what we engineers failed in; he gave us the sea steamer; his scheming was Britain’s steaming”. Yet this is only the second biography of a man whose Comet, sailing from Glasgow to Greenock in 1812, was the first commercial steamship in Europe. The reason for this lack of historical acclaim may be because Bell was difficult, not a ‘gentleman’ and a ‘schemer’, but the author certainly tells of the life and times of this largely forgotten pioneer in a very readable book. 251 lightly illustrated pages. Paperback. Argyll Publishing Add to shopping basket

Harry Ferguson Inventor and Pioneer Fraser • £ 9.95 • (D) First published in 1972, this book provides a good account of the development of the system and tractors that are Ferguson’s permanent memorial. His early days as an aviator and motor car pioneer, his business dealings, including the tumultuous relationship with Ford, and the merger with Massey are also covered in this interesting and readable book. 320 pages. 20 b & w photos. Paperback. Old Pond Publishing Add to shopping basket

The Diesel Odyssey of Clessie Cummins Cummins • £ 28.50 • (A) A mainly engineering biography of Clessie Cummins, and his very considerable contribution to the development of the diesel engine into the reliable prime mover it is today. Written by his son Lyle, this is an entertaining and comprehensive story of the father of the American truck diesel. 400 pages, around 30 drawings and 100plus photos. Hardbound. Published by the author. Add to shopping basket