A Descriptive and Historical Account of Hydraulic and other Machines for Raising Water, Ancient and Modern: with Observations on Various Subjects connected with the Mechanic Arts, including the Progressive Development of the Steam Engine, in Five Books Illustrated by Nearly Three Hundred Engravings

Fourth edition.  xvi, 608pp, extra engraved title page, with many drawings and figures in text.  Brown cloth-covered board with blind embossed decorations, gilt lettering and decorations on the spine.  8vo.  Cloth is heavily worn, rubbed and indented all round edges, cracks and flaps on spine joints and ends.  Text block edges a little toned.  Internally some rusting and foxing, especially on first and last few leaves and general signs of handling and use, including the occasional short ink line and lightly soiling in margins. 

An evocative volume of mechanics and mechanical devices from the mid 19th century, aged with a patina of use  Thomas Ewbank (1792-1870) was an English businessman and writer who started out in London in the meat preservation industry.  He emigrated to the United States, founding a business in New York manufacturing lead, tin and copper tubing, before becoming the United States Commissioner of Patents from 1849 to 1852.  He was one of the founders of the American Ethnological Society.  His manual on practical mechanics, first published in 1841/2 was influential in the engineering sectors and inspirational for many amateurs, running to at least 16 editions in 35 years.