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What readers are saying about Automotive Milestones...
"If you are just looking for a general understanding of the automobile, looking for inspiration in support of a new idea, or just want a concise history of automotive milestones, this book is a must read."
—Parker Ackley, Antique Automobile Enthusiast
"Automotive Milestomes is a clear presentation of the internal workings of the automobile over the years...you will enjoy reading this book."
—William J. Crochetiere, Professor Emeritus, Tufts University
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Overview
This is a general-interest trade book that describes the development of automotive technology and engineering from the start of the industry before 1900 to the present day. It explains how various systems and elements in the automobile work in layman's terms, without resorting to mathematics, and highlights the key milestones in the historical development of automotive technology. All photos and illustrations are in full color.
The intended audience is older teens to adults of any age who are interested in cars and may be involved with them as a hobby. Sometimes referred to as “gearheads ” or “motorheads,” they form a huge market. Over the years, many of the author’s engineering students were in this category, and he often would meet with on-campus car clubs to explain the internal workings of automobiles, being careful to damp down or eliminate any complicated mathematics—just as he does in this book.
The other books that cover this subject are either “hard-engineering oriented”— such as publications from the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) — or just compendiums of dates without much explanation at all of how the changes in technology actually work, which is the aim of this book.
Robert L. Norton, P. E. is author of two of the most successful college textbooks in mechanical engineering. They have sold many tens of thousands of copies. He has 50 years of teaching experience at Northeastern, Tufts, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he is the Milton Prince Higgins II Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering. Additionally, he has published many technical papers and holds 13 U.S. patents. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. For Norton, preparing this book has been a labor of love. Intent on using original sources as much as possible, he visited museums and collections and read numerous patents and original technical papers. He took many of the photos for this book and verified many facts by personally examining the actual vehicles.
"Automotive Milestones, by Robert L. Norton, is about all the mechanisms that are needed in an automobile and how they work. The book consists of eight main chapters, each one covering a major mechanical system of the automobile plus a summary chapter and appendices. There are numerous photographs and illustrations used throughout the book to support the concepts discussed.
The author has thoroughly researched the subject and leaves the reader with a new appreciation of what has been tried over the nearly 250 years of automobile history. The book is logically organized and clearly explained in a way that only a person with in-depth knowledge could do.
Automotive Milestones provides the cornerstones of a thorough understanding of automobile technology. If you are just looking for a general understanding of the automobile, looking for inspiration in support of a new idea, or just want a concise history of automotive milestones, this book is a must read."
—Parker Ackley, Antique Automobile Enthusiast
"Did you ever wonder?...
It took more than 100 years to develop the modern automobile. This book presents a very readable and informative description of this evolution.
The author, Robert Norton, is an engineer with many years of experience in the design of machinery. Automotive Milestomes is a clear presentation of the internal workings of the automobile over the years.
No matter whether you are a seasoned car buff or just curious to learn more about the history of cars, you will enjoy reading this book."
—William J. Crochetiere, Professor Emeritus, Tufts University