author
John Howard Cromwell
1857–1937
Best known for clear, practical books on lettering, mechanical design, and everyday business know-how, this late 19th- and early 20th-century writer focused on teaching useful skills. His works were aimed at readers who wanted straightforward guidance they could put to work right away.
1 Audiobook
A system of easy lettering
by John Howard Cromwell
About the author
John Howard Cromwell was an American author born in 1857 and died in 1937. Surviving catalog records show a career built around practical instruction rather than literary celebrity, with books intended for machinists, designers, business readers, and self-improvers.
His published works include A Treatise on Toothed Gearing (1883), A Treatise on Belts and Pulleys (1885), A System of Easy Lettering (first published in the 1890s, with later editions), and The American Business Woman (around 1899–1900). Taken together, they suggest a writer deeply interested in making technical and professional knowledge easier to understand.
Cromwell’s books still stand out for their practical spirit. Whether he was explaining mechanical principles, teaching lettering, or offering business guidance, he wrote for readers who wanted usable information in plain form.