Handy Farm Devices and How to Make Them

This reprint book has MANY titles so lookout for the author's name. Then avoid. Nothing to see here. It's a "collection" of "ideas" from other sources. Kinda like "1001 ways to do XYZ" or "50 neat tricks you never knew about" kinda stuff. Read the preface, it says as much. I'll trade this at the local book store if they'll take it. While it sounds good the author clearly never used any of these. I'd recommend finding a scanned copy online that's in the public domain before you buy.

My interest in this book comes from a growing concern about Peak Oil. When energy is no longer cheap or plentiful, how will we adapt? One way to approach this question is to look ahead and see how technologies such as solar and wind energy can help. Turns out, however, that the feasibility of these technologies is also dependent to a large degree upon plentiful, cheap oil. So, in addition to looking ahead, it's probably a good idea to look to the past. How did people of a few generations back manage such simple tasks as refrigeration (for example), without relying upon constant availability of electricity and fossil fuel?This book is a good resource for those who want to investigate this question. It offers many examples of very practical implements, most of which can be built with simple tools, some basic skills, and hard work. "Hard work" may be the most operant item in that list, and throughout the book are sprinkled brief aphorisms encouraging one to embrace the work ethic: "the manly part is to do with might and main what you can (Emerson)"; "keep your shop and your shop will keep you"; "Taste the joy that springs from labor (Longfellow)".Good illustrations; spare, to-the-point writing st

Many practical devices which can be easily made. Perfect for the prepper who wants to be prepared for a worst case, "all my prepped materials are gone" scenario. Knowledge is the one stock which cannot be robbed, and can continually be replenished.

This paper copy lacks virtually all of the illustrations. Text alone is insufficient for a book like this. There are free electronic copies available online that include the illustrations. Get one of them and forget this one.

not sure which version the other reviews are talking about—this is a fine, cheap reproduction of the book complete with all the illustrations. Sure, it’s of dubious DIY value, but it entertains my kindergartener.

So many devices, and mostly enough info to duplicate them. It gave me lots of ideas to build what I need even if I don't do it exactly like the book suggests.Very inspirational. YOU can do it too!

Handy little book. I love using bits and pieces to make things instead of buying new all the time. I like being able to put things together and enjoy the process of it. Tried and true designs that work for a reason. They might not be as fast or pretty as new products, but they get the job done. Well written with good directions, although some places do rely on a certain set of skills/knowledge already being known.

This printed edition mentions illustrations to refer to build many of these items. The original author must have felt this was necessary when this book was first printed years ago. This reprint has none making too many of these device impractical to build.

I also think this old-fashioned book is worth a place on the bookshelf of a serious homestead. It is worth dipping into occasionally to remind you that you don't have to buy expensive things, and that simple home-made gadgets may be better than bought items. Although the author suggests tens of uses for barrel hoops, here in rural Portugal there are plenty of those! No old piano crates, though. The point is that the book prompts you with other people's ideas (well over a hundred of them) so you can move on to find better solutions for your own small-farm problems. It gives you confidence to tackle jobs like pulling out tree roots with a 35HP small tractor. Its not a how-to-do-it book but a try-thinking-this-way book.

Have had a good look through and ear marked a few projects to have a go at.

As described and arrived within specified time.

I purchased "Handy Farm Devices . . ." based on the Amazon recommendation, and my own interest in all things "tinkering". Perhaps my 65 years have jaded me, and perhaps I was still basking in the afterglow of Carla Emery's "Encyclopedia of Country Living" (ECL). TheECL is a fabulous book on so many levels, while the Handy Farm Devices barely suffices on one. The only value I can see in it is as a bit of archaeological evidence of past practices. I quickly scanned it looking for relavence and value and found none.

Endlessly useful book, covers any and all sorts of useful things for the small farm or homestead. Saves me a lot of reinventing wheels. Really useful for people even just wanting to reduce their dependancy on fossil fuels or electricity.