Astragal Press books on antique tools and more



   
 

 






 

 

 





Early Farming

In a style that will capture the interest of adult and teen readers, Barbed Wire reveals the surprisingly critical role the invention of barbed wire played in the settling of America. From the legal battles over barbed wire patents to the brutal fencing wars that erupted on the frontier and the ultimate end of the open range, author Joanne Liu tells the fascinating story of how a simple twist of wire transformed a country's landscape and ushered in a new way of life.

208 pages, Paperback, B&W, 6" x 9", © 2009
Order Number: VAP300...........$14.00

Barbs, Prongs, Points, Prickers, & Stickers was designed to provide a well-organized identifying, classifying, and cataloguing system for the many designs and variations of barded wire. Nearly one thousand drawings and three indexes to patents, inventors, and manufacturers provide an immediate means of identification.

418 pages, Paperback, B&W, 5" x 7.5", © 1970
Order Number: VAP350...........$26.95

First published in 1881, this volume of Barns and Outbuildings presents dozens of practical examples of barns and outbuildings, both large and small, complete with illustrations, floor plans, and building instructions. The designs include, among others, a western cattle barn with covered cattle stalls and feeding apparatus; a portable pigpen with self-closing doors; a corn house and self-feeding corn crib; icehouses; springhouses; granaries; doghouses; and pigeon houses.

235 pages, Paperback, B&W, 4.5" x 7", © 2008
Order Number: VAP112............$14.95

Barns: A Close-Up Look includes over ninety architectural plans that feature the wooden frame joinery used to construct the barns. Readers will find unique architectural structures as well as barns that played a critical role in several different Civil War battles.

128 pages, Paperback, Full Color, 11" x 8.5", © 2011
Order Number: VAP320..........$19.95

 

For anyone who is trying to keep up with the extremely rapid developments in the biodiesel industry, the second edition of Biodiesel: Growing a New Energy Economy is an invaluable aid. The breathtaking speed with which biodiesel has gained acceptance in the marketplace in the past few years has been exceeded only by the proliferation of biodiesel production facilities around the United States--and the world--only to confront new social and environmental challenges and criticisms.

400 pages, Paperback, B&W, 6" x 9.25", © 2008
Order Number: CG96-7.........$19.95

The Challenge of the Prairie tells the story of the prairie and how is one of the great gifts to humankind. Because of the fertile and wide-open lands pioneers were able to build a civilization and a culture, which has fed millions to this day. This book presents the challenges faced by the first settlers along the Red River of Northern Minnesota. Though the homestead was free, failure was more common than success and the price paid in toil, sweat, tears, and broken bodies was great.

376 Pages, Paperback, B&W, 6" x 9", © 1970
Order Number: DRA3450...........$20.95

Originally published in 1922, Farm Mechanics is a detailed but easy-to-understand manual outlining all the important aspects of working the land. The guide is broken up into sections that cover every aspect of farm work, from woodworking and cement-laying to farm machinery repair. Informative and easy to understand, with close to five hundred illustrations and photographs, Farm Mechanics is both a historical reference for those interested in the history of agriculture and a commonsense tool that outlines essential agricultural skills.

432 pages, Paperback, B&W, 6" x 9", © 2012
Order Number: VAP361...........$12.95

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