Technology and Culture

478 Book Reviews TECHNOLOGY AND CULTURE The last thirty pages are devoted to contributions from eleven schol­ ars at a symposium of the International Work Group for Paleoethnobotany , held at Castle Kacina in Prague October 14-18, 1968. A loose organization was formed to continue the working relationship in this, new and highly specialized scientific area. An interesting article con­ cerns the morphology and taxonomy of prehistoric grains (barley, emmer, wheat, etc.) with two pages of photographs of carbonized kernels retrieved from archaeological diggings. A map of Poland shows numerous sites of such diggings. The cover illustration is a sketch of a type of legume dating from 1562, and the frontispiece reproduces rural scenes from an illuminated manuscript, circa 1600, both from Prague. The serious scholarly approach of this journal, intended to make museums valuable adjuncts to historical and scientific research and not merely antiquarian curiosities, is most commendable. Fred W. Kohlmeyer* Fire Fighting Appliances. Descriptive Catalogue of the Science Mu­ seum Collection. By K. R. Gilbert. London: Her Majesty’s Sta­ tionery Office, 1969. Pp. 47. $2.30. This illustrated catalog complements Gilbert’s Fire Engines (1966). Essentially it is a description of some 101 items of fire-fighting appli­ ances in the collection of the Science Museum (London). Forty-one items are illustrated, with some duplication of the 1966 booklet. The full story of the technology of fire fighting is cataloged here, from the fire squirts of the 17th century to the motorized appliances of the 20th century. Fire extinguishers, escapes, and alarms as well as pumps and engines are itemized. A brief introduction on the historical evolu­ tion of fire-fighting technology precedes the itemized catalog. ReINHOI.D A. DoRWARlf Simple Working Models of Historic Machines (Easily Made by the Reader). By Aubrey F. Burstall. Cambridge, Mass.: M.I.T. Press, 1969. Pp· 79. $3.95. In an earlier stage of industrial development youths grew up with a more intimate knowledge of machinery than now. At that time ma­ chinery was very approachable; indeed, it had to be, for its reliability was less certain and its repair more frequent and less convenient. New parts couldn’t be taken off the shelf and substituted for worn ones with the aid of wrenches and similar tools as now. First, raw material had to be found and then given form and size with the aid of saws, files, drills, possibly a forge, or perhaps the tools and materials available precluded * Dr. Kohlmeyer is professor of history at Illinois State University and former editor of Agricultural History. + Dr. Dorwart is professor of history at the University of Connecticut. ...