Book Reviews

<BODY TEXT=#000000 LINK=#0000FF VLINK=#FF0000 BGCOLOR=#80FFFF > <BASE TARGET="_top"> <DIV ALIGN=center class=s0 style='text-align: center;'> <FONT style='font-family:"Copperplate Gothic Bold";font-size:20pt;'><B>Book Reviews </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=center class=s0 style='text-align: center;'> <FONT style='font-family:"Copperplate Gothic B";font-size:20pt;'><B> </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=center class=s0 style='text-align: center;'> <FONT style='font-family:"Copperplate Gothic B";font-size:20pt;'><B></B></FONT><FONT style='font-size:11pt;'><B>Submissions are encourage on any book relating to steam,  </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=center class=s0 style='text-align: center;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'><B>steamboats, cruising waters or associated</B><B> items. </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=center class=s0 style='text-align: center;'> <FONT style='font-size:12pt;'><B> </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=center class=s0 style='text-align: center;'> <FONT style='font-size:12pt;'><B> </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'><B></B></FONT><FONT style='font-size:11pt;'>********************************************************************************* </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'> </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'>In order to get started learning about hobby steam launches there are  </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'>three books that should be the core of every steam library. </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'> </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'></FONT><FONT style='font-size:11pt;'><B>The Steam Launch</B></FONT><FONT style='font-size:11pt;'> by Dick Mitchell published 1982.   </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'></FONT><FONT style='font-size:11pt;'><B>Steamboats & Modern Steam Launches</B></FONT><FONT style='font-size:11pt;'>, Bill Durham editor. </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'></FONT><FONT style='font-size:11pt;'><B>The Nature of Boats</B></FONT><FONT style='font-size:11pt;'> by Dave Gerr published 1995. </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'> </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'>********************************************************************************* </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'> </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'></FONT><FONT style='font-size:11pt;'><B>The Antique American Steam Gauge </B></FONT><FONT style='font-size:11pt;'>by</FONT><FONT style='font-size:11pt;'><B> Barry Lee David 2003.  </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'><B> </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'>This paperback 8-1/2 x 11 inch book 285 pages is a satisfying introduction to the early history of the pressure gauge as made in America.  The book covers the major manufacturers, their most common offerings, patents, methods of identifying gauges as to when they were made and their intended service.  The section on cleaning and restoration alone is worth the price of the book.  For those steamboaters wishing to insure that the gauges on their boat are traditionally accurate the book will serve as a guide, although only six pages deal with marine steam, and more than half of them are pictures.  The only negative aspect of Mr. David's publication is that the prices of gauges in the market place have increased significantly since this reference book has made everyone "an expert".  An example of the gauge shown on the cover of the book recently sold on Ebay for more than $3,000.00.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'>  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'>******************************************************************************* </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'> </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:12pt;'></FONT><FONT style='font-size:12pt;'><B>The Engine's Moan - American Steam Whistles </B></FONT><FONT style='font-size:12pt;'>by</FONT><FONT style='font-size:12pt;'><B> Edward Fagen 2001. </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:12pt;'><B> </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:12pt;'><B></B></FONT>"A mere recital of the uses to which the steam whistle was put, however, conveys nothing of its extraordinary evocative power, particularly when associated with means of transportation.   ...the sound of the train whistle is invested with symbolic meaning far beyond anything.... It is by turns a wailing banshee, a demonic shriek, a song of bewitchment, the spur to wonderlust, the voice of loneliness, the echo of solitude, the harbinger of grief, parting, and loss." </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'> </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'>Mr. Fagen can write!  Even better he knows his subject matter.  What's more, the excellence of this tome is demonstrated by the fact that the book is interesting reading even if you are not a whistle buff.  Historians, industrialists, curators, and fans of technology will find a wealth of entertainment and information within the 275 pages of this paperback.  I knew Ed Fagen as publisher of </FONT><FONT style='font-size:11pt;'><I>Horn and Whistle</I></FONT><FONT style='font-size:11pt;'> magazine, where I published a short article on the whistles of Cedric Witham in 2002.  His talents and humor are on display in </FONT><FONT style='font-size:11pt;'><I>The Engine's Moan</I></FONT><FONT style='font-size:11pt;'>. </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'><B> </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'><B></B></FONT><FONT style='font-size:11pt;'>Steamboat fans will find seven pages devoted to marine whistles.  There are chapters on restoration and blowing whistles.  All major American manufacturers are covered in the book as well as an insightful chapter on the steam whistle in popular culture.  Buy, borrow or steal this book and keep it by your favorite reading chair. </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'> </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'>I find it most interesting that Ed Fagen and Barry David (see book review above) both give large credit to Lin Chapman.  It was Lin, who got me interested in collecting whistles beyond the one attached to my boat.  I met Lin at Mystic Seaport and the next day I had subscribed to </FONT><FONT style='font-size:11pt;'><I>Horn and Whistle</I></FONT><FONT style='font-size:11pt;'> magazine.  Lin Chapman had an amazing effect on people and our hobby and we miss him. </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:12pt;'>************************************************************************************* </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:12pt;'> </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:12pt;'></FONT><FONT style='font-size:11pt;'><B>Steaming to Bamboola</B></FONT><FONT style='font-size:11pt;'> by Christopher Buckley  1982 </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'> </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'>The really great boating books transcend narrow categories like sailing, rowing or canoeing and this book is no exception.  While it is about a journey on a steam powered boat the reason it is included in this book review section is that everyone with any interest in boating will find Buckley's writing informative, entertaining and humorous.   </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'> </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'>The book has interesting nautical information beginning with the argonic line all the way to how many turns the engine made crossing the Atlantic from Charleston to Bremerhaven in 1979.  If you ever thought of running away to sea, you may want to read this book first, and then reconsider your options.  The crew of the heavy freighter </FONT><FONT style='font-size:11pt;'><I>Columbianna</I></FONT><FONT style='font-size:11pt;'> are so outragous that they must be real.  No one could have invented these stories. </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'> </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'>    </FONT> The Captain was also eating Oreos.  Before putting each one in his mouth, he  </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'>     tapped it, edges down, on the table. </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'>          "What are you doing, Skipper?" </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'>          "Tappin' out the weevils." </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'>          "The <I>weevils</I>?" </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'>          "Yeah." </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'>          "Oh." </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'>          "You mean all this time you been on ships you never tapped your cookies?" </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'>          "No sir." </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'>          "Well then you've et a lotta weevils." </DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:9pt;'>******************************************************************************************************************** </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'> </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'> </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: justify;'> <FONT style='font-size:11pt;'> </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN=justify class=s0 style='text-align: 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