Alison Reynolds - Rare Book Spotlight 2025

Georgia Tech's Research Services and Instruction Archivist, Alison Reynolds, explores rare 16th and 17th century books on mechanical engineering from the genre known as the “Theater of Machines.”

 

These heavily illustrated books showcase both real machines and hypothetical inventions designed to improve daily life, such as a treadmill that mills flour, a fire-fighting device resembling the modern fire hose, and a wind-powered barbecue spit. These books were often used to show-off ideas for new machines and build on existing knowledge to help solve problems in increasingly growing urban societies across Europe.

 

This event includes a presentation about the creation and historical context in which these books were distributed followed by an invitation for attendees to explore the books from the Georgia Tech Library’s Archives and Special Collections hands-on and contemplate innovations in mechanical engineering over the centuries. Experts will detail how these books were used, as well as their contributions to knowledge about mechanical engineering at the time of their publication.