Things to Make: DIY Woodwork, Furniture, and Machines for Any Home

by Archibald Williams

Originally published in the early 1900's, this fantastic, detailed volume contains wonderful projects for the do-it-yourselfer in any family -- including step-by-step directions, diagrams, and plans for construction.

Whether you simply want to travel back into the mind of a young boy at the beginning of the twentieth century, or want to try your hand at some interesting projects in carpentry, machinery, kites and many other areas, have fun.

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From the introduction: The making for oneself of toys and other objects of a more or less useful character has certain advantages over buying them. In the case of the more elaborate and costly articles, it may enable one to possess things which otherwise would be unobtainable. Secondly, a home-made article may give a satisfaction more lasting than is conferred by a bought one, though it may be less beautiful to look upon. Thirdly, the mere making should be a pleasure, and must be an education in itself.

To encourage readers to "use their hands" the following chapters have been written. The subjects chosen provide ample scope for the exercise of ingenuity and patience; but in making my selection I have kept before me the fact that a well-equipped workshop falls to the lot of but a few of the boys who are anxious to develop into amateur craftsmen.

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Table of Contents:


I. SAWING TRESTLE 7
II. A JOINER'S BENCH 13
III. A HANDY BOOKSTAND 23
IV. A HOUSE LADDER 27
V. A DEVELOPING SINK 33
VI. A POULTRY HOUSE AND RUN 39
VII. A SHED FOR YOUR BICYCLE 49
VIII. A TARGET APPARATUS FOR RIFLE SHOOTING 65
IX. CABINET-MAKING 68
X. TELEGRAPHIC APPARATUS 83
XI. A RECIPROCATING ELECTRIC MOTOR 95
XII. AN ELECTRIC ALARM CLOCK 103
XIII. A MODEL ELECTRIC RAILWAY 109
XIV. A SIMPLE RECIPROCATING ENGINE 127
XV. A HORIZONTAL SLIDE-VALVE ENGINE 136
XVI. MODEL STEAM TURBINES 165
XVII. STEAM TOPS 187
XVIII. MODEL BOILERS 195
XIX. QUICK-BOILING KETTLES 224
XX. A HOT-AIR ENGINE 232
XXI. A WATER MOTOR 247
XXII. MODEL PUMPS 255
XXIII. KITES 267
XXIV. PAPER GLIDERS 290
XXV. A SELF-LAUNCHING MODEL AEROPLANE 296
XXVI. APPARATUS FOR SIMPLE SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS 311
XXVII. A RAIN GAUGE 327
XXVIII. WIND VANES WITH DIALS 334
XXIX. A STRENGTH-TESTING MACHINE 345
XXX. LUNG-TESTING APPARATUS 353
XXXI. HOME-MADE HARMONOGRAPHS 364
XXXII. A SELF-SUPPLYING MATCHBOX 389
XXXIII. A WOODEN WORKBOX 394
XXXIV. WRESTLING PUPPETS 398
XXXV. DOUBLE BELLOWS 402
XXXVI. A HOME-MADE PANTOGRAPH 405
XXXVII. A SILHOUETTE DRAWING MACHINE 410
XXXVIII. A SIGNALLING LAMP 415
XXXIX. A MINIATURE GASWORKS 421

234 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 11, 2005

About the author

Archibald Williams (1871–1934) was English technical journalist and Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

He was living at 82 Mattock Lane , Ealing , London and was a well-known author of boys' books ', including the popular "How it Works" series. The net vaue of his estate was £4686, gross, £ 4743 net. He died in Ealing.

Note: Williams was born in the Faringdon district that spans the boundaries of the counties of Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire in the September (fourth) quarter of 1871 and died in Ealing in the September (fourth) quarter of 1934. As no exact date of birth and death is known, the first date of the fourth quarter is used to complete the field in both cases.