Synopses & Reviews
More outrageous tales from Osborne. The first volume of 1901 articles published is really about the third volume in the series. This is kind of like George Lucas and his Star Wars series - starting in the middle.
The truth is, I first published the 1901 tales I had. Since then, I've acquired a complete run of American Machinist Magazine, and can now go back to the very first articles Osborne wrote starting in July 1900 and reprint those earlier stories now.
You'll discover how Osborne got to Petroleum Center in western Pennsylvania: oil country. He'll tell you about meeting the owner, the room he stayed in, and the machinery all over the shop floor. Then it's out to repair a 9x12 steam engine pumping oil out on a "lease", details of the work of the joint turner, crack pot inventors, and more.
You have to let Osborne "tell" you about his ride in a buggy sitting on top of twelve cans each filled with 26 pounds of nitroglycerine! They were on their way to shoot a well. Osborne will tell you what they did after the first attempt was a dud. I'm here to tell you, these weren't no Fourth-of-July fireworks, Jack!
And the ol' man talks about shrink fits, why the mill engine wouldn't work, and about his being sure he could design a better steam engine than he could buy, and the lessons he learned from the experience.
More great Osborne. From the beginning. The very first of a long run of articles. Great reading. But you probably already know that.