Books published by Periscope Film LLC

"It has been said, with truth, that an inherent love of things mechanical finds a more or less definitive place in the character of every Englishman..." So begins The MotorCyclist's Handbook, a wonderful text from 1911 that describes in detail the operation of early motorcycles. Created by Charles S. Lake columnist for The Model Engineer magazine, the book was an instant classic. Today it is just as readable and in some fashion in even more enjoyable. Lavishly illustrated, the book includes chapters on engines, including two-stroke and four cylinder, compression, carburetor, ignition, transmission, lubrication, accessories, and so on. Some of the bikes featured include the Rudge, Triumph, Hudson, Indian, Scott, and others, as well as early automobiles. It's a delightful trip back in time for any biker - from the collector to the weekend rider. This easy-to-read reprint of this exceptionally rare book is presented in 8x10 format, sightly larger than the original. Care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the text.

Developed in the late 1850s, the traction engine revolutionized the agriculture industry. James H. Maggard, an authority on steam power, wrote The Traction Engine for the "rough and tumble engineers" tasked with operating these machines in the field. That was not an altogether easy task even for a seasoned professional. Breakdowns, boiler explosions, and injury could result if an operator was inattentive. This reprint of the 1900 edition of the book features expanded chapters on the subject of threshing machines and the new internal combustion engine models. Illustrated throughout, and featuring a highly readable text, this is a wonderful book for anyone who is a fan of steam technology, the museum docent, or anyone who ever wondered "how the heck does that work?"

Henry Ford introduced his Model T in 1908, and changed the face of America. The arrival of the "Tin Lizzie" on city streets also signaled the beginning of the end for a debate that had raged since the beginning of the motor car era. Namely, "What is the best propulsion system for autos: steam, electric, or gasoline?" Originally published in 1915 as an engineering text, The Gasoline Automobile is a classic book that provides rare insights into the early days of the automobile revolution. Within its pages you will find descriptive text supported by numerous rare photos and illustrations. Chapters include: general construction, engines, power plant groups and transmission systems, fuels and carburetor systems, lubrication and cooling, batteries and ignition, magnetos, starting and lighting systems, troubles and remedies, and operation and care. This softcover reprint of the first edition has been slightly reformatted for readability, but care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the text.

A redesign of the U.S. Navy's successful Mark 14 torpedo, the Mark 16 was developed during WWII but not available until early 1945 and never saw combat. The Mark 16's design incorporated the best aspects of the Mark 14, and some features of German torpedoes. During twenty years of the Cold War, the Mark 16 served as the Silent Service's standard anti-ship weapon. The Mark 16 was powered by a Navol hydrogen-peroxide and alcohol engine. The warhead carried 732 pounds of HBX-3 Torpex explosive, making it the most powerful non-nuclear torpedo in the U.S. arsenal. Launched from a depth between 10 and 200 feet, the torpedo had a running depth between 10 and 50 feet. It weighed 3782 poundsin war-shot configuration, and was 246 inches in length and 21 inches in diameter. This handbook was created to train torpedomen about the use, maintenance, and handling of the Mark 16. It provides anunprecedented look at the most deadly conventional weapon in the submarine's arsenal. Originally confidential, this handbook is now consideredobsolete, and no longer classified.

In 1869 Horatio Brooks, a former superintendent of the New York and Erie Railroad, leased the shops at Dunkirk, New York and opened the Brooks Locomotive Works. It quickly became the largest manufacturer in New York State, and in its second year Brooks built 43 new locomotives for customers domestic and foreign. The 1000th engine rolled off the line in 1884.By the time Horatio Brooks died in 1887, his company was nearly at its zenith. Production reached a high of 225 locomotives in 1891, but declined in 1894 to only 90 due to a financial crisis. Brooks was eventually forced to merge with the Schenectady Locomotive Works and several other companies, which emerged under the American Locomotive Company name. The Dunkirk plant produced its last steam locomotive in 1928.

One of the few aircraft to fly in three wars - WWII, Korea and Vietnam - the Douglas A-26 / B-26 Invader gained fame as a light bomber. Designed by engineer Ed Heinemann, the XA-26 prototype first flew in 1942 and flew combat missions beginning in June of 1944. Two versions were produced: a heavily-armed solid nose "B" model and a glass nose "C" model for precision highaltitude bombing. More than 2400 were built, serving with distinction in both the Pacific and European Theaters. Redesignated the B-26 (not to be confused with the B-26 Marauder), Invaders saw combat in Korea and are credited with destroying over 38,000 vehicles and over 4000 locomotives and railway cars. The French flew the aircraft in Indochina, and the USAF and CIA used it during the Vietnam conflict. B-26's also flew in the ill-fated Bay of Pigs Invasion in 1961. Originally printed by the USAAF, this A-26 pilot's manual is chock full of information about one of history's great planes. This affordable facsimile has been reformatted. Care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the text.

Designed during WWII as a long-range fighter, the Hornet represented an evolution of the de Havilland Mosquito and was the fastest piston-powered fighter in Royal Air Force service. Like the Mosquito, the Hornet had a fuselage built largely of balsa and plywood, but boasted laminar flow wings and massive Rolls-Royce V12 engines with 12-foot diameter, four-bladed props. It could achieve a speed of 472 mph at 22,000 feet, had a range of 3,000 miles, and was intended to operate from bases on land and aircraft carriers. It was normally equipped to carry two 1,000 lb. bombs, eight rockets, and fitted with four 20mm nose-mounted cannon. Although it first flew in 1944, the Hornet did not achieve operational status until WWII was over. The plane's real worth was revealed during the Malayan Emergency, when Hornet squadrons flew in the ground attack role against Communist insurgents. During five years in combat, Hornets achieved 4,500 operational sorties. The aircraft was withdrawn from RAF service by mid-1956. The Sea Hornet version served with the fleet from 1947 to 1954, and planes continued to fly with secondary units until 1957. These pilot's notes were standard issue for R.A.F. pilots circa 1947. They contain information about aircraft operation, controls, handling, and emergencies. This reproduction features all of the original text and photos in black and white, and full color covers.