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Marinturbinens historia, Del 1: Kolefs och ångans ind 1897–1927 [The history of the marine turbine, part 1: the period of coal and steam, 1897–1927] by Ingmar Jung, and: Bergshistoria: Mal, medel och arbetsmetodik vid studier och forskning [The history of mining and metallurgy: goals, means, and methods for study and research] by Erik Tholander (review)

1981; Johns Hopkins University Press; Volume: 22; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1353/tech.1981.a890958

1097-3729

Ulrika Sandblom,

Chemical and Environmental Engineering Research

TECHNOLOGY AND CULTURE Book Reviews 805 tremes. Words like “ale,” “lager,” and “Repeal” receive a “q.v.” after each of their many appearances. Equally frustrating is the frequent duplication of information in separate listings of individuals and companies which bear their names. Sometimes the information given in such back-to-back entries is contradictory. To cite one of several examples, the entry for Frederick Pabst has him becoming a partner in the Philip Best Brewing Company in 1863; the following entry for the Pabst Brewing Company cites the partnership date as 1865 and notes that the Empire Brewery changed its name to the Philip Best Brewing Company in 1873. On a larger scale, one might question the exclusion of wines, the lack of comment on the recent popularity of import beers, and, in a work devoted to “American” industries, the exclusion of Canadian firms. Downard mentions Labatt and Molson in conjunction with brewery acquisitions in the United States but does not even include them in an otherwise complete, carefully prepared index. On the whole, these are minor flaws in a work which is invaluable to anyone seeking information about any aspect of the American brew­ ing and distilling industries. In addition to a general introduction and the alphabetical entries that make up the bulk of the volume, Dow­ nard includes a section of appendices, including statistics on produc­ tion and consumption of alcohol, summaries of federal liquor laws and tax schedules, and lists of currently operating breweries and dis­ tilleries. Downard’s Dictionary is a useful and apparently exhaustive reference work. Jeffrey L. Meikle* Marinturbinens historia, Del 1: Kolefs och angans ind 1897-1927 [The history of the marine turbine, part 1: the period of coal and steam, 1897-1927]. By Ingmar Jung. Stockholm Papers in the History of Technology. Stockholm: Royal Institute of Technology, 1979. Pp. 166. Bergshistoria: Mai, medel och arbetsmetodik vid studier ochforskning [The history of mining and metallurgy: goals, means, and methods for study and research]. By Erik Tholander. Stockholm Papers in the History of Technology. Stockholm: Royal Institute of Technology, 1979. Pp. 52. The personal introduction to this volume on the marine turbine is in itself a historical document: “With a home atmosphere of technol­ *Dr. Meikle is assistant professor of American studies and art history at the Univer­ sity of Texas at Austin. He has recently published Twentieth Century Limited: Industrial Design in America, 1925-1939, and his research interests include the intersection of technology and design. 806 Book Reviews TECHNOLOGY AND CULTURE ogy and a summer atmosphere of sailing ... it was obvious that I if possible would combine my technical interest with my love for the sea.” Jung is a retired marine engineer who describes the develop­ ment of STAL-LAVAL marine turbines. He does it with the insight and knowledge that naturally flows from someone who tells about work that is also his hobby. The history of the steam turbine is not yet 100 years old. The two pioneering inventors were Gustaf de Laval from Sweden and C. A. Parsons from England, who performed their experiments in the late 19th century. Tables with milestones of the early development show names such as Curtis from France, Westinghouse and General Elec­ tric in the United States, A.E.G. in Germany, and Ljungstrom from Sweden. Neither enough interest nor capital could be raised in Sweden for de Laval’s turbine, whereas Parsons was much encouraged in En­ gland. His goal was a light-weight, high-pressure steam turbine for warships. In 1894 Parsons made his first experiment with his turbine on a specially constructed ship, Turbinia. After a few years he had solved most of the problems concerning suitable turbines, propellers, and shape of the hull. The vessel, which could make more than 30 knots, was admired throughout the world. Turbines were soon in­ troduced to the merchant navy, and passenger boats were ordered for the North Atlantic. Parsons’s influence in ship machinery is explained technically and supported by detailed figures. Birger and Fredrik Ljungstrom’s turbine is also discussed in this study. The brothers founded STAL, the firm that together with GE became pioneers for turbo-electric operation of vessels. However, turbine...