Fred, a lot of the actual machining info has been pretty much the same for 120years. But there are sections from the very early books on things like case hardening, cyanide bluing, forge welding, and the treatment and properties of wrought iron (not the stuff we call wrought iron today). This kind of info is only in the older books for various reason like toxic/harmful processes, outdated procedures, and unavailable materials. There’s also a lot of info on things like gas welding cast iron effectively etc.Hi Rustie,
I have a 17th edition of Machinery's Handbook that a co-worker gave me when I left the UK
and a 24th edition that left with me when I was laid off in Saskatoon.
A friend sent me a copy of a 1913 copyright Rogers Machinist's Guide.
Apart from the machine tools all having flat belt drives from line-shafts; the descriptions of the table of elements saying
"there's about 80 elements, some of which are metals and are useful" and the only people shown being white men
the actual machine tools shown in the book's illustrations wouldn't look out of place in a modern shop.