Cold Storage and Ice-Making: An Elementary Handbook by Bernard H. Springett.

Cold Storage and Ice-Making: An Elementary Handbook by Bernard H. Springett. Hardcover book published by Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons 1921, 122 pages with some black white photographs and illustrations. (Book contains some advertising)

PREFACE:  This work has been prepared in order to provide a sufficiently comprehensive while necessarily concise handbook on the refrigerating industry, which has proved itself of such world-wide importance since the part it played in winning the Great War has become more fully known. In the present compilation the object has been to present to the general reader, as well as to the untechnical user of refrigerating machinery, sufficient knowledge as to the first principles of artificial refrigeration, while avoiding the mass of technical terms, formulae and descriptions of machinery and methods which are inseparable from the usual publications on the subject, excellent and important as these are to those able to appreciate their contents. No attempt has been made to differentiate between the many excellent, well-constructed standard types of refrigerating machines made by various English firms of engineers, or to mention machines supplied by foreign makers. Only machines and appliances of special design or construction are separately mentioned, except when some special feature has needed enlarging upon. This handbook is intended more for the owners and users of small refrigerating plants, and the general student desirous of becoming acquainted with the elementary principles of the production and application of artificial cold.

It's been fairly cold here recently. It is winter and despite it being a bit late and a bit milder than usual*, we have managed a few cold days. I have a gauge that indicates to me whether it's cold or not. No, it's not a thermometer or anything thermometerish. My gauge is my water supply. If there's no water due to frozen pipes, it's cold. If there's still water running freely, it's not that cold. So far this winter this has only happened the once and fortunately the kettle was full, so I didn't have to go without a coffee first thing in the morning.

This book has nothing to do with my pipes or my coffee, or with natural coldness. It's about the artificial creation of coldness as it was done in 1921. Just up the road from where I now sit there was an ice making factory which I believe also did a bit of cold storage business as well. I'm not sure when it originally opened or when it closed down, but i've got a feeling that this is the sort of book that they would have found of interest circa 1921... or maybe not.  

I've mentioned before that I love finding these sort of old technical books. I think it's the idea of something that was so important and is now out of date and nearly forgotten.  Old technology books do have buyers who are often passionate about their subjects. I've just got to find them.

*Thanks Global Warming