The History of Stainless Steel provides a fascinating glimpse into a vital material that we may take for granted today. Stainless steel, called "the miracle metal" and "the crowning achievement of metallurgy" by the prominent metallurgist Carl Zapffe, is a material marvel with an equally fascinating history of people, places, and technology. As stainless steel nears the hundredth anniversary of its discovery, The History of Stainless Steel by Harold Cobb is a fitting perspective on a vital material of our modern life. Aptly called the miracle metal by the renowned metallurgist Carl Zapffe, stainless steel is not only a metallurgical marvel, but its history provides an equally fascinating story of curiosity, competitive persistence, and entrepreneurial spirit. The History of Stainless Steel is the world's first book that captures the unfolding excitement and innovations of stainless steel pioneers and entrepreneurs. Many new insights are given into the work of famous pioneers like Harry Brearley, Elwood Haynes, and Benno Strauss, including significant technical contributions of lesser known figures like William Krivsky. This fascinating history of stainless steel exemplifies the great push of progress in the 20th Century. From the stainless steel cutlery of Brearley in 1913, stainless steel burst on the modern scene in many tangible ways. Excerpted text by William Van Alen, architect of the Chrysler Building, describes the early architectural use of stainless steel. Another historic application of stainless steel is the revolution in rail travel by the Edward G. Budd Company, which built the first light-weight stainless steel passenger trains--with an astounding 90% reduction in fuel costs. This remains recognized today as one of the technological marvels of the modern world. Harold Cobb, a metallurgist who has spent much of his career in the stainless steel industry, uncovers many interesting stories and insights, including a special perspective on the prominent role of stainless steel in the activities of emerging technical societies such as the American Society for Metals and the American Society for Testing and Materials. Amply illustrated and with a 78-page timeline, this publication truly evokes the inspirations created by and from stainless steel.

Hailed since its publication as the definitive - and most opulent - book on the subject, The American Railroad Passenger Car is now made available in an unabridged two-part softcover edition.

Lavishly illustrated and a joy to read, this authoritative reference work on the North American continent's railroads covers the U.S., Canadian, Mexican, Central American, and Cuban systems. The encyclopedia's over-arching theme is the evolution of the railroad industry and the historical impact of its progress on the North American continent. This thoroughly researched work examines the various aspects of the industry's development: technology, operations, cultural impact, the evolution of public policy regarding the industry, and the structural functioning of modern railroads. More than 500 alphabetical entries cover a myriad of subjects, including numerous entries profiling the principal companies, suppliers, manufacturers, and individuals influencing the history of the rails. Extensive appendices provide data regarding weight, fuel, statistical trends, and more, as well as a list of 130 vital railroad books. Railfans will treasure this indispensable work.