The _American Steam Engineer_ of New York, which is the official organ
of the rapidly growing American Order of Steam Engineers, says in its
issue of March 1, 1888:
“The peculiar hold which the Grimshaw ‘Practical Catechisms’ have on
the constituency for which they are intended is due to these facts:
They answer at once any question about any kind of a pump or a steam
engine that the author could think of or had ever had asked him; are
absolutely scientifically correct; practically useful; written in a
clear, plain, popular style; up to date; free from hard words and
mathematical formulas. Each question is asked by itself and answered
in full by itself, thus saving the reader the necessity of wading
through a whole book when he only wants to know one thing, but wants
to know that right away. The books are plainly printed, liberally
illustrated, of a convenient size for the pocket, bound strongly to
stand use, and in dark cloth not to show the dirt; are on hard paper
to stand thumbing; handy for instant reference; liberally indexed
and cross indexed; and explanations are concise, yet very complete.
Their author is a favorite writer for the scientific papers; is known
to be careful, competent, original, practical, abreast of the times,
and able to tell what he knows. They can be drawn on for examination
questions by examining engineers who are handling candidates for
license, and by examination committees testing candidates for
admission to engineering societies. They can be used to coach for
examinations by those about to be examined for license, or for
admission to engineering societies. They enable competent engineers
to improve themselves; help green men out of scrapes without
mortification or exposure; prevent accidents and hasten repairs;
enable an employer to test a candidate for a job, thus preventing
his being imposed upon; and can be used to settle disputes between
engineers, as to the topics of which they treat. They describe the
construction and operation of every kind of pump; tell how to set
up, connect, adjust and start every principal pump in the market,
supposing all the parts to have been separated and laid on the floor.
Most of the matter is copyrighted, and can be found nowhere else.
In case of any trouble, they save delay in sending for, or writing
to, the maker or agent of the engine or pump. They are marvelously
cheap and have long been needed. If there are any practical questions
in the lines of which they treat which is not answered in the
latest editions, the author answers such questions free by mail,
and embodies such question and answer in subsequent editions or
volumes. The advantages of this feature, which is original with the
author of these popular books, and (up to date) exclusive, cannot be
overestimated.”