The Boy Mechanic. 200 Classic Things to Build

Editorial Review

It’s vintage boyhood and a miscellany of marvelous ideas: from kites and toboggans to workbenches and birdhouses, this collection of projects from Popular Mechanics’ issues of long ago captures all the appeal of American ingenuity at the start of the last century.

With the rawest of materials, a minimum of technology, and a maximum of ingenuity, men and boys in the early 1900s dedicated themselves to crafting wonderful items, both practical and fanciful. It was a highly valued skill that revealed the measure of a man, and Popular Mechanics honored it and led the way in instructing these handy creators. Take a look back at those simpler, good old days—and at what we may have lost in our high-tech era—through these engaging projects, all published in the magazine during the first two decades of the 20th century. The range is simply amazing, and bound to appeal to woodworkers who love classic ideas. They include tools, like T-squares and sawhorses; an animal-proof gate latch and a birdhouse made from an old straw hat; household gadgets and handcrafted furniture; camping gear (including a screen door for a tent); and toys and games. And many of these appealing trellises, decoys, puzzles, and tents are quite doable today. Inveterate do-it-yourselfers will be astonished at the resourcefulness required to build a stove for a canoe and even a houseboat.

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Customer Reviews

For reading, not building.

2007-02-04
Interesting example of the material available to boys in an earlier era, but if you're a much older boy looking for nostalgic things to build, this book does not produce usable plans. There are much better books available.

Kids used to do this stuff?!

2006-07-01
This is a wonderful look back into the pages of Popular Mechanics Magazine as it was in the early 1900s. It consists of reprints of how-to articles for boys. (Back then, girls just didn't read Popular Mechanics or get their hands dirty building furniture.)

The striking thing is the difference between what was considered appropriate and realistic entertainment for kids then and what is now. For example, today a kid who wants to build a model train layout has an enormous range of often enormously expensive equipment from which to choose. Then, a kid would literally build the train layout; that is, he would wind the motor, machine the track, etc.

I have have mixed feelings about whether that was a better day for kids, but it sure was a different day, and this book is a look back to it.

childhood memories

2008-04-27
As a kid my dad gave am Popular Mechanics compilation from the 30's. They had projects that were amazing and challenging. My dad and I a ball building stuff out of this old book. This is the same sort of book.

Nice book, but not too useable

2007-08-31
This is an interesting read if you enjoy old books and are a do-it-yourself type person, but it's not good if you are hoping for some old type projects to do. The articles don't seem to be quite detailed enough to actually build most of the items and a lot of the projects are simply lame. No "boy mechanic" would be interested in doing a lot of these today. I guess some people were more easily entertained back then.

Great reference

2007-07-13
I found a lot of interesting things in this book. I think it is a great reference for any parent that has boys and enjoys spending time with them with projects that capture their attention and curiosity.

The Boy Mechanic: 200 Classic Things to Build

2007-05-07
My hubby requested this book for his 55th birthday and really enjoys it.As soon as he's done with his current remodeling project,he'll probably start on a project from this book.

Boy Mechanic

2007-03-08
I wished I had this book when I was a boy. I believe this book will excite anyones imagination young and old. It is well written and worth the money to buy and the time to read.