Practical and Experimental Researches in Hydraulics

n.p. [ London ]: [ John Weale ], 1845. Cloth. Good. [4], 63 pages + 6 folding Diagrams/plates. 4to. 9 1/2 x 12 inches. Publisher's original brown ribbed cloth with embossed decoration and gilt "Peacocke on Hydraulics" on front board. Hinges repaired preserving yellow endpapers. Several plates with neat paper tear repairs. Cloth worn with staining, scratches and minor losses. Corners of cloth binding rounded. Uncut and partially unopened. Ex-library Franklin Institute with their perforated stamp on the bastard half-title page. An ugly, but still useful reference copy. Cloth. "Rare. The researches contained in this volume are intended to establish a universal law concerning the flow of water...Peacocke places the results of his experiments and the calculations by new formulae side by side in parallel columns of figures. The third section discusses the formulae for calculating the discharges of water through pipes of Smeaton, Young, Prony, Eytelwein, Du Buat, and Genieys, with that given in 'Young on Eytelwein' the results of which he compares with his experimental data in order to demonstrate that none of these formulae accurately calculates the flow. Not in NUC or BLC." (Roberts and Trent, 1991, Bibliotheca Mechanica, p247).

Trent and Roberts (Bibliotheca Mechanica) seem unaware that this work was also published (pagination as here) in John Weale's "Quarterly Papers of Engineering", Volume 5, 1846. That serial's preface notes the intent to inform readers about "the first period of English mechanical and manufacturing ingenuity" noting that the cost to review patents was prohibitive at the time. A review of OCLC/Worldcat finds each of the other titles in Vol V also listed separately, and without reference to the specific publishing history. This supports the conclusion that each, as here, was apparently separately bound and sold without the original title page or references bound in. We have not been able to determine which was printed first (the separate works or the volume).

Regardless, it is rare in the marketplace and an interesting illustrated early work on British hydraulics. As of this listing there are 2 copies (as here) noted in OCLC/Worldcat (Cornell and University of Toronto) one of which is ex-Bibliotheca Mechanica. We have been able to trace only one other copy.