Book Conservation
I see mobile knife sharpeners, generally outside of North America. Like this man, most have ingenious, homemade mechanisms rigged up on bicycles or mopeds to both provide transportation and power the grinding wheels. I’m a bit envious because seems like nice life, riding around, getting exercise and grinding knives en plein air! Looks like a nice acute bevel he is forming on the knife below.
This test was taken from Popular Science, December 1942. There were many puzzles like this one during 1940’s when mechanical aptitude was considered key in winning World War Two. Because this one features something that looks a lot like a book press, I thought some might be interested. You might have to turn your monitor upside down to read the answers.
I often find the zombies with headphones on in museums rather annoying. But I’m even more glad this idea below never took off. I found this in Popular Science, April 1931. Although this report pitches the idea as making it more convenient for museum visitors, most likely it is also a form of using automation for cutting staff costs.
Peachey Conservation 