A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines / containing a clear exposition of their principles and practice

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

44562

Title

A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines / containing a clear exposition of their principles and practice

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Andrew Ure's comprehensive reference work defines arts and manufactures as industries transforming raw materials for the general market, distinct from engineering or handicrafts. Featuring over 1,200 wood engravings, this second edition offers precise chemical and mechanical explanations of processes ranging from iron smelting to dyeing, aiming to emancipate practitioners from blind routine while educating merchants, legislators, and students.

Summary up to 500 words

In the preface to his 'Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines,' Andrew Ure establishes a rigorous taxonomy for industry, distinguishing between the engineer, who manages motive power and transport; the manufacturer, who transforms materials via mechanical or chemical means for the general market; and the handicraftsman, who creates capricious objects for local demand. Using iron production as his primary example, Ure illustrates this division: miners extract ore, engineers facilitate its transport, and manufacturers transform it into pig iron, steel, and finished goods like nails or anchors. He explicitly excludes topics involving no change in matter's constitution or those too varied for scientific investigation to maintain a coherent focus. The work serves multiple audiences, instructing manufacturers to master their businesses rather than rely on operatives, providing merchants with commodity descriptions, offering students a practical school in chemistry and physics, aiding capitalists in investment selection, helping lawyers understand patents, guiding legislators away from obstructive laws, and educating the general reader on Britain's industrial achievements. Drawing upon his long experience as a Professor of Practical Science at the Andersonian Institution, Ure consults with factory proprietors to rectify operational defects. The text includes extensive statistical data on British manufactures from 1836, detailing capital embarked and produce values for sectors ranging from cotton and iron to spirits. Ure covers diverse subjects, including seal engraving techniques using lathes and diamond tools, the preparation of sealing-wax from shellac and turpentine, the chemical composition of sea water, and the extraction of pigments like sepia from cuttle-fish. He notes that while mechanical arts are often obvious, chemical operations involve delicate affinities requiring familiarity. Enriched with descriptions of modern patent inventions permitted by agent William Newton, the volume acknowledges its vast scope may contain errors, soliciting reader suggestions for a supplement. Ure also addresses the insecure tenure of chemical patents, noting many can be readily evaded. The text features numerous illustrations covering topics from hydraulic cements to mineralogy and textile processing, aiming to present a clear exposition of industrial principles and practice.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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• Science
• Technology