Originally published in Chicago in five volumes in 1913 as The Boy Mechanic by the editors of Popular Mechanics Press, this was republished to great acclaim in 2001 and then in this second softback edition in 2007. The perfect book for any model maker, DIY-er, plain overgrown kid or nostalgia-hound, it is a gigantic collection of over 700 activities and improvements for home, garden, transport and recreation, and contains enough to keep a pair of hands busy for a lifetime. An igloo, a toboggan, how to make skis, how to make runners for your bicycle so it can be used on ice and an ice-yacht are but a few of the projects suitable for the up-coming winter months, and for next spring and summer what about making a grape arbour, a porch swing chair, a hammock, a treehouse, a birdhouse and a sprung diving board? There is a wealth of fascinating electrical projects as well as mechanical marvels such as a homemade steam engine, a hydrogen generator and a merry-go-round, plus a telescope, kites of various designs, a camera, a toaster and a great many craft projects including some smashing looking replica armour and leatherwork. There are also lots of splendid magic tricks and a host of contraptions for trapping pests and silencing or scaring off errant cats and dogs. For kids of all ages. 480pp. Paperback.