*This book is in the ABBA library*
Pounding Out the Profits is an examination of the history of the power hammer from the mid-1800's through the mid-1900's. It is immediately apparent that the book is a labor of love, and that Freund has taken his time researching his topic exhaustively. It is as complete an examination of a specialized industry's development as I have ever seen.
The book is beautifully illustrated, often with enough detail to be of interest to the reader intent on conceiving designs. Indeed, my favorite part of the book was the discussions of specific problems solved by the various designs, inspiring my sense of ingenuity. The book also provides great detail on the companies and customers of the various hammer styles, and creates a good picture of this small segment of the industrial economy.
I confess some disappointment at the lack of treatment of either the precursors to the power hammer (water trip hammers or more ancient solutions), and at the lack of study of power hammer technique and what it meant to the styles of the period. However, this is entirely a personal disappointment and not a criticism of the author's work. Pounding Out the Profits is very clear in its scope and delivers what it sets out to do perfectly. For what it is, it is authoritative, so while I rate the book a 6 or 7 on personal interest, I give it a 10 on how well it fulfills its purpose.
I think the primary appeal will be to the blacksmith looking to admire the ingenuity of his forbears, the metalworker seeking inspiration for mechanical solutions to specific problems, or most of all, the industrial historian. This may not be the machine that won the west, but it's a vital part of the history of American metalworking, and here it finally gets its due.
