I need book information help please.

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • I need book information help please.

    I have 2 sets and plan on keeping 1 of them in my library and selling the other, perhaps on ebay or one of the mach. forums.

    2 volumes to a set. Book#1, Book#2

    Title: Practical Shop Work
    Editor: Carl S. Dow
    First year copywrite:1906 and 1907(which is this set)
    Ref number of this set: 11092
    Total text pages: 1352
    Index: additional 21 pages

    I have searched the net and googled many avenues. I found in all my searching Book#1 available for $385.
    Sad though there wasn't a Book#2 offered as it is the one with the full index and ref.number record.

    There are a fair number of Dows' later books on machine shop practice and some of his engineering texts but from what I have been able to find, this particular set is somewhat rare.

    These texts of reference were compiled to promote that of a journeyman
    machinist.
    At each main chapters' end is a test for the upcoming new machinist.

    Referred material to the compilation of these texts include those of:

    MECHANICAL ENGINEERS POCKET BOOK-
    PRINCIPLES OF MECHANISM-
    AMERICAN FOUNDARY PRACTICE-
    TRANSACTIONS AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS-
    MODERN MACHINE SHOP TOOLS-
    PRESS-WORKING OF METALS-
    MATERIALS OF MACHINES-
    KINEMATICS OF MACHINERY-
    ELEMENTS OF MACHINE DESIGN-
    STEEL-A MANUAL FOR STEEL USERS-
    ELEMENTS OF MECHANICAL DRAWING-
    FORGE PRACTICE-
    THE AMERICAN STEEL WORKER-
    MECHANICS OF MATERIALS-
    COMPLETE MACHINIST PATTERN MAKERS' ASSISTANT-
    THE IRON FOUNDER/THE IRON FOUNDER'S SUPPLEMENT-
    THE ART OF COPPERSMITHING-
    MATERIALS OF ENGINEERING-
    ELEMENTS OF MECHANISM-
    MACHINE SHOP CONSTRUCTION,EQUIPMENT, AND MANAGEMENT; MACHINE SHOP ECONOMICS AND SYSTEM, CHANGE GEAR DEVICES-
    MECHANICAL DRAWING-
    THE SPEED LATHE-
    IRON AND STEEL MANUFACTURE-
    KINEMATICS OF MACHINERY-
    THE ART OF PATERN MAKING-
    MANUAL OF MACHINE DRAWING AND DESIGN-
    PRACTICAL IRON FOUNDING-
    THE AUTOMOBILE-
    MANUFACTURE AND PROPERTIES OF IRON AND STEEL-
    GEAR CUTTING; GRINDING MACHINES-
    MACHINE DRAWING AND DESIGN-
    MACHINE DESIGN; THE TESTING OF MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION-
    GAS. GASOLINE, AND OIL ENGINES, MECHANICAL MOVEMENTS, POWERS,Etc. HORSLESS VEHICLES-
    SELF PROPELLED VEHICLES-
    PRINCIPLES OF PATERN MAKING-
    FREE HAND LETTERING-
    MACHINE DESIGN-
    THE CUPOLA FURNACE; THE FOUNDING OF METALS-
    MACHINE SHOP TOOLS AND METHODS-
    METALLURGY OF STEEL; IRON, STEEL, AND OTHER ALLOYS-
    CAST IRON-
    DIES, THEIR CONSTRUCTION AND USE; HARDENING. TEMPERING, ANNEALING AND FORGING OF STEEL-
    THE COUNTRY CORNICE SHOP. EASY LESSONS IN ROOF MEASUREMENTS. SHEET METAL PATTERN MAKING. FORMING MOULDINGS AND SKYLIGHTS ON THE CORNICE BRAKE-
    PRACTICLE PATTERN MAKER-
    THE MODERN MACHINIST-
    ---
    CONSULTING AFFILIATE MAGAZINES:

    THE AMERICAN MACHINIST-
    THE DRAFTSMAN-
    THE ENGINEERING MAGAZINE-
    MACHINERY-
    THE FOUNDARY-
    CASSIERS-
    THE GAS ENGINE-
    THE HORSELESS AGE-

    45 COMPILATED REFERRED DRAFTS.


    So my questions are:

    Would these texts have any appeal as noted to a beginning or journeyman machinist if sold?

    What kind of a price should I hope for?
    (both texts are in fair condition. pages are intact and without oil or grease.
    rear spines worn basicly at front-rear covers at hinge areas.)

    I found from a book bindary service the average cost if I wanted to have them rebound would be approx. $35 each.
    Should I do this first before listing them for sale or do you think doing this would depreciate the true value of these texts?


    Any input welcome.

    Thank-you,

    Patch
  • PTSideshow
    Senior Member
    • Nov 2005
    • 2651

    #2
    First off, they probably would be only of interest in a historical context. Or recreating something the old fashion way. When dealing with books condition is prime importance. The flea bay is probably a wishful thinking.
    The sale of obsolete books on subjects that have a low sales numbers. Will not have a high resale value, even if it is a first edition. I have located 15 copies/sets in libraries in the US the closest copies 25 miles away at the Henry Ford museum library mostly in the collections of Library of Congress, and assorted University libraries.

    You will be good to get from $20.00 to $50.00, Unless you get real lucky and find two people that have to have the books.
    Currently there are two for sale on Amazon.com from $29.95 and $50.00

    If you sell to a used book store, count on$2.00 to $10.00 if they think they have a buyer or are a specialist seller.

    Because they are old,don't mean they are good or useful.

    The local used bookstore has a 8 volume set of shop books for $35.00 they are later copyright newer current info. And have been there for a couple of years I'm the only one that has asked about them. I'm looking to make mine a complete set as I'm missing 2 of the 8 volumes. I still haven't decide if they are worth it.

    Hope this helps, I don't mean to rain on your parade, but used, old books doesn't mean they are worth money, very few books are worth the occasional ones that turn up in the news or on the TV shows.
    Glen
    Been there, probably broke it, doing that!
    I am not a lawyer, and never played one on TV!
    All the usual and standard disclaimers apply. Do not try this at home, use only as directed, No warranties express or implied, for the intended use or the suggested uses, Wear safety glasses, closed course, professionals only

    Comment

    • PTSideshow
      Senior Member
      • Nov 2005
      • 2651

      #3




      WorldCat.org is a global catalog of library materials. You can search for books, music, video, articles and much more at libraries near you.


      Here are some used book sites, and the last is the world catalog of libraries. If a local library belongs to it it will tell you if they have it. And how many other libraries and how far away they are.
      Glen
      Been there, probably broke it, doing that!
      I am not a lawyer, and never played one on TV!
      All the usual and standard disclaimers apply. Do not try this at home, use only as directed, No warranties express or implied, for the intended use or the suggested uses, Wear safety glasses, closed course, professionals only

      Comment


      • #4
        PTSideshow,

        Thanks much for the additional information. The book sites you listed will come in handy as I begin to clear out many of my old reference materials.

        Looking at Amazon, I guess tops would be $100 with perhaps a low of about $60 for the pair.
        This is good to know. It makes me wonder what made Book#1 being sold by the net chap I found as high as he had it.

        Thanks again for your time on this,


        Patch

        Comment

        • TGTool
          Senior Member
          • Aug 2005
          • 3613

          #5
          I've bought used technical books (and others) from Alibris and Abebooks and can't make any sense of the prices listed. Sometimes there will be 15 copies of the same thing available from different sellers with prices ranging from $6.50 to $85. How the high priced sellers expect to move their copies I can't fathom. Even looking at book condition it doesn't separate high and low cost offerings so I usually buy the best condition copy in the $8 - $10 range and the owners of the $85 books can eat the book when they get hungry as far as I'm concerned. They're not offering rare books. They're not pristine, unused, first editions. They either have no idea what it's worth (which they ought to be able to figure out by searching just like I did) or they're wildly optimistic, or they don't want to sell them but just keep their name out there.

          Jan
          .
          "People will occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of the time they will pick themselves up and carry on" : Winston Churchill

          Comment

          • PTSideshow
            Senior Member
            • Nov 2005
            • 2651

            #6
            Yep Jan it's the old thinking of well its old so it must be worth a lot. And they sold that book form ole lady Jones estate for $200.00 because it was from 1906.
            Problem is the books that are worth money are original First editions of popular novels, signed first editions, rare subjects printed in low numbers, and books by famous people.

            The inter net helped the used book market greatly, by increasing the number of people that may be looking for marginal subject matter titles. So the prices went up.

            Now that amazon,barnes and noble, and other sites that let anybody sell books on line as an associate vendor.

            Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America. does have standards, but like used machine sales standards they can vary greatly. http://www.abaa.org/books/abaa/index.html

            The people that can sell a book at a reasonable price will have a better chance of selling it.
            There is also Collectors copies ones that are in the best of mint condition and graded something like baseball cards. Handled with gloves and never turned a page.
            And then the Readers, ones that are actually used or read. generally a lot cheaper.

            You can find cheap first edition copies of P.T. Barnum's autobiography signed by him for under $20.00 bucks or $200. Depends on which of the many first editions it is. One of his autobiographies is in print someplace in the world continuously. It held the record of continuously in print a number of years ago. Some were upwards of 40 million in print.

            In the book market there is a some what twisted logic that the seller controls the price. No matter what the price list says something is worth. If you don't have somebody that wants to pay.It won't sell.

            I was looking for a title a number of years ago, I keep receiving an offer to sell me a copy for $250. It normally goes for in the $15.00 to $20.00 range. I keep telling them I would pass. I got one in a batch of books I bought on the subject area. For $50.00 12 books total about $4.17 each.

            3 years after the fact they still had the book for sale. And couldn't understand why it didn't sell.

            So the pricing on the sites that have multiple sellers with copies, is strictly the sellers option to put a price and like you say. You generally can find a great condition copy, for a reasonable price.
            Glen
            Been there, probably broke it, doing that!
            I am not a lawyer, and never played one on TV!
            All the usual and standard disclaimers apply. Do not try this at home, use only as directed, No warranties express or implied, for the intended use or the suggested uses, Wear safety glasses, closed course, professionals only

            Comment

            Working...
            X