A Treatise on Gear Wheels · 1907 ·

George B Grant ran a very successful gear manufacturing business in late 19th century America, and his “Odontograph” appeared later in many editions of Machinery’s Handbook. When this book was published, many gears were used as cast, and some were of the mortise gear style (cast wheel with wooden teeth), hence the need for pattern makers and carpenters to be able to set out accurate tooth forms. This treatise really does start at the beginning, with a discussion of theoretical tooth action, working forwards to the interchangeable tooth shape, and thence to the involute and cycloidal tooth systems. Spiral, worm and bevel gearing are addressed, with attention also being given to the pin tooth (lantern pinion) and skew pin bevel gears. Manufacturing methods are discussed, principally milling hobbing and planing. Interestingly one illustration shows the “Conjugator” - essentially a hobbing machine with an added swing frame specifically to produce spiral gears. Ideal reading for those wishing to understand more of the underlying theory of gearing. My thanks to Dave Fenner, ex editor of Model Engineers Workshop, for the above, and for suggesting I persuade Lindsay to do another printing of this great book. 105 pages, full of drawings and diagrams. Paperback.