Product Description

Britain's favourite steeplejack and industrial enthusiastic, the late Fred Dibnah, takes us back to the 18th century when the invention of the steam engine gave an enormous impetus to the development of machinery of all types. He reveals how the steam engine provided the first practical means of generating power from heat to augment the old sources of power (from muscle, wind and water) and provided the main source of power for the Industrial Revolution. In "Fred Dibnah's Age of Steam Fred: shares his passion for steam and meets some of the characters who devote their lives to finding, preserving and restoring steam locomotives, traction engines and stationary engines, mill workings and pumps. Combined with this will be the stories of central figures of the time, including James Watts - inventor of the steam engine - and Richard Trevithick who played a key role in the expansion of industrial Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #75037 in Books
• Published on: 2006-07-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Review
"Fred Dibnah's Age of Steam was reviewed by the Good Book Guide (1 July) who called it "A loving testimony to a seemingly lost era of beautiful machines and elegant engineering"."

About the Author
Fred Dibnah and David Hall also collaborated in producing the popular television series and best-selling book 'Fred Dibnah's Industrial Age' as well as 'Fred Dibnah's Magnificent Monuments'. Fred is Britain's favourite steeplejack and his skill, his love of industrial and urban architecture and his down-to-earth style has captivated viewers and readers everywhere. David has been a television producer for over twenty years and his credits include 'Maggie's Children', 'Vikings' and 'A Practical Guide to Europe'.

Customer Reviews

Good on history & some funny tales.
If you are already a fan of the late & great Fred, then this will be a brilliant read. You can hear his wonderful voice as he tells the story of steam.

However, even if you have never heard of Fred, this is still a very good book with which to get a good overview of the Industrial Revolution and the vital part that steam power played in it.

Intertwined with the history are some colourful stories relating to real people and events and these just serve to bring the subject alive for the reader.

Overall an excellent and entertaining read.

Fred Dibnah's Age of Steam
Had a quick look at this, as it was a gift for an older family member who said it was a great read for a steam fanatic.