Machines A visual history : 100 machines and the remarkable stories behind each invention

Machines may be considered reflections and extensions of humans. Repair expert Chinea chose 100 unique machines to represent six themes, two related to an era: ancient machines (from levers and wheels to the 1578 idea of the submarine), food and drink (from butter churns to can openers), heritage craft (from lathes to book-binding machines), the Victorian age (from seismographs to fiddle drills), fairgrounds and novelties (from candy floss machines to Ferris wheels), and home and recreation (from hand drills to treadmills). Most machines are human-powered, ranging from pencil sharpeners to mechanical calculators. Each machine's history and use are explained in engaging terms. Entries are one to five pages long, with historical illustrations (by Lee John Phillips) on most double-spreads. Each machine's history and use are explained in engaging terms. An index completes the volume. Readers will enjoy browsing these fascinating machine facts and will gain an appreciation for human inventiveness--and thank inventors for advances in dishwashers and dentist's drills.

A lifelong tinkerer and beloved restorer on BBC's Repair Shop, Chinea (Tools) collects origin stories and outlines the evolution of 100 mostly human-powered machines, chosen for traits of innovation, inventor perseverance, cultural contribution, and aesthetic appeal, design flair, or whimsy. Organized sometimes chronologically (e.g., Victorian-era machines) and other times by function (food and drink), the inventions run both large (water wheel, steam engine) and small (pharmacist's pill roller, wristwatch). Phillips's detailed illustrations add to enjoyment. VERDICT A pleasant, educational browse for all ages.