Description
Hodgson, Fred T. A Practical Treatise on the Steel Square and Its Application to Everyday Use. (Frederick J. Drake: Chicago, 1906)
Octavo. Two volumes. Volume 1 (1906), 242 pages with House Plan Supplement Perspective: Views and Floor Plans of Fifty Low and Medium Priced Homes. (a catalog of house plans) bound in plus 5 pages of adverts. Volume 2 (ND), 230 pages with House Plan Supplement: Perspective Views and Floor Plans of Fifty Low and Medium Priced Homes. (a catalog of house plans) bound in plus 3 pages of adverts. Blue-green cloth covered boards with title, author and publisher stamped in black and a steel square stamped in silver encased in a black Art Nouveau frame, and title, author, volume number and publisher stamped in silver on spine (publisher name stamped differently on each volume).
Condition: Volume I: VG, slightly shaken. Surprisingly good for a working man’s manual, Volume II: VG, shows a little more wear than Volume I. Precious owner’s information on FFE. Silver on steel square on front cover of volume II is a bit more worn. Spine ends and extremities worn.
The steel square was introduced into American building construction in the early 19th century and is considered the most versatile and difficult tool in the carpenter’s toolkit to master, as evidenced by two full volumes dedicated to the proper use of it.
