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April 13, 2006
The Boy Mechanic

If there was ever a perfect example of American mechanical ingenuity, it's the Device That Frightens Flies At Screen Door. A spring, a curtain rod, a length of scalloped, 8-oz. cotton duck, and a cord combine to form an inconspicuous little device that flaps when the screen door opens, keeping flies from swarming the kitchen. Simple, inexpensive, yet brilliant — these are the qualities that make each of the over 200 vintage projects in The Boy Mechanic so enjoyable to read, let alone create. Culled from a half-century of Popular Mechanics issues (make that the first half of last century), The Boy Mechanic represents an age when imagination could conquer far more than the checkbook — when solving a problem was more satisfying than paying to have it go away. We can all learn something from The Boy Mechanic, even if it's nothing more than how to construct A Simple Device for Suspending Parcels from Overhead Hooks. —Benjamin Chertoff

The Boy Mechanic is available for $9.95 at Barnes and Noble.

Reader Comments
30. RE: The Boy Mechanic
Seems like a great deal for $9.95...am going to buy it in the way home!

29. RE: The Boy Mechanic
I still have my copy which I received from my parents as a birthday gift 55 years ago. It has my name embossed in gold on the cover which was offered as an incentive at that time. My interests, aided by regular reading of Popular Mechanics magazing, led me to a 45 year career as an industrial technology teacher and a recipient as teacher of the year in my state in 2003. Thanks and best wishes. L. C.

28. RE: The Boy Mechanic
Website: www.livinginthesunshine.com
Plan to buy this. Looks really good. Another series that would be great to re-publish: A Boy's First Book of Electricity. There was a long, blue cover version and a shorter red cover version. I lost my blue one.

27. RE: The Boy Mechanic
This is a good book, my grandad gave me a copy just before Christmas. It is full of good ideas and fun projects. I recomend this book to anybody who likes to create something from nothing.

26. RE: The Boy Mechanic-where to get it from
You can get it from borders,thats where i got mine.its in the craft section i think. its a fab book,very glad i got it.

25. RE: The Boy Mechanic
I am a new age boy mechanic born in 1989 and raised in arizona. i will buy this book asap, or add it to my christmas list.

24. RE: The Boy Mechanic
The Boy Mechanic's book looks amazing! Where could I get a copy!?

23. RE: The Boy Mechanic
Hi I am an Antarctic penguin boy. Many are the things I wish to build, and it sounds like this is the book for me. Will Amazon send my one to ANtactic? PS I don't have a credit card, or opposable thumbs. Is that a problem?

22. RE: The Boy Mechanic
I have two original copies of the Boy Mechanic, Book I copyright 1913 and Volume II copyright 1915. They were my father's originally. He was born in 1905. I spent many an hour building projects from these books when I was a boy in eastern South Dakota. There are also numerous articles that he cut from Popular Science Monthly folded and in between the pages. They somewhat shaped my life as I have never managed to get over the urge to build things.

21. RE: The Boy Mechanic
Heh I have a lot of simmiliar polish books (20ys ago this pastime was very popular), can already say this one will be good

20. RE: The Boy Mechanic
I hope your new issue of the Boy Mechanic is as good as the original. I received mine from my parents as a gift. I then built two of the 17th century naval canons in high school metal shop. I built the second one about double the size of the first and won the Sweepstakes prize in St. Paul all city competition in 1961. I wish I still had the book. I was glad to see its return. Keep up the good work.

19. RE: The Boy Mechanic
Project Gutenberg has the book as a pdf file

18. RE: The Boy Mechanic
Kindly inform me where I can buy this book (The Boy Mechanic)including other past series. Thank you .

17. RE: The Boy Mechanic
jAY'S INTEREST IN THIS LITTLE THREE WHEELED MARVEL IS MORE THAN JUST A MECHANICS INTEREST. HERE IS A MAN WHO HAS THE BEST LIFE CAN OFFEER, YET HE TAKES THE TIME TO HELP A SENIOR FULFILL HIS WISH TO LET THE CAR SURVIVE. hE DIDN'T TRY TO TAKE, HIDE IT OR KEEP IT OUT OF THE PUBLIC EYE. jAY SHOWS HIS HUMANITY IS LARGER THE LIFE AND TWICE AS REAL. gO jAY THERE IS A SPECIAL GARAGE FOR GUYS LIKE YOU. yOUR FAMILY SHOULD BE PROUD.

16. RE: The Boy Mechanic
how i get this book in india

15. RE: The Boy Mechanic
I want this book. can you tell me where its available at Bangalore India

14. RE: The Boy Mechanic
we need more of these type of books to inspire the youth of today.

13. RE: The Boy Mechanic
I have an original copy of book 3 that belonged to my father. 800 things for boys to do. A great book! Does anyone know where I can find the other books in the series?

12. RE: The Boy Mechanic
It's also on amazon.com, which, I believe, will ship internationally

11. RE: The Boy Mechanic
I are too the wanting of this book it is here. Fearsome I am of the complicated for to getting the it delivered at the 3rd world s-hole I am habitating =(

10. RE: The Boy Mechanic
This is reminiscent of a neat book my father had, The Boy's Book of Engineering, or maybe The American Boy's Book of Engineering. Does anyone know where I can get this long-out-of-print book? It was probably printed in the early 1900s, maybe 1920s. I remember some of the things it had in it were things you could make out of your bicycle, some of which did not require diassembling it. One project was using your bike to sharpen knives.

9. RE: The Boy Mechanic
I am going to buy this today - it has been my dream to do things - and I am a boy mechanic too, although I am 56 yeras old.

8. RE: The Boy Mechanic
hi i am aircraft designear. i have many advanced and hi-tech designs with its all hi-tech systems. will you tell me that what i have to do to advetise in this magazine?

7. RE: The Boy Mechanic
Website: http://www.capitol-auto-body.com
good

6. RE: The Boy Mechanic
Does this reissue have the same content as the original version?

5. RE: The Boy Mechanic
Website: www.longrangephones.net
When i was a boy, i always had a science project and tend to invent things. i think i will love this book. Where can i get it in the Philippines?

4. RE: The Boy Mechanic
this is a funny review

3. Re: The Boy Mechanic
Hi, can you tell me were i can get the Boy Mechanic`s book,in México. Thanks a lot best regards.

2. Re: The Boy Mechanic
i want to read this book.

1. Re: The Boy Mechanic
How to get this book on Indonesia. or Can give me Free this book

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The Boy Mechanic

Culled from a half-century of Popular Mechanics issues (make that the first half of last century), The Boy Mechanic represents an age when imagination could conquer far more than the checkbook — when solving a problem was more satisfying than paying to have it go away.





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