author
Raymond F. (Raymond Francis) Yates
b. 1895
A lifelong tinkerer and clear-eyed explainer, this American writer turned engineering, radio, invention, and hands-on making into books that invited curious readers to try things for themselves. His work ranges from early radio guides to practical hobby and craft manuals, with a style that makes technical subjects feel approachable.
1 Audiobook
Boys' Book of Model Boats
by Raymond F. (Raymond Francis) Yates
About the author
Born in Lockport, New York, on September 1, 1895, Raymond Francis Yates became known as a prolific American writer, engineer, and inventor. Records from regional archives describe him as a lifelong resident of Lockport, and note that he began publishing remarkably young, with his first article appearing in Scientific American when he was still a teenager.
Yates wrote widely on science, technology, crafts, and practical hobbies. Library catalogs and public-domain records link him to titles on radio, model making, invention, furniture restoration, rockets, and electronics, showing how broad his interests were. He also worked in science publishing, including editorial roles connected with Everyday Engineering and Popular Science Monthly.
What makes his books stand out is their encouraging, hands-on spirit. Whether he was writing for hobbyists, young experimenters, or general readers, he had a gift for turning complicated ideas into something lively and usable. He died on September 23, 1966, but his books still capture the optimism of an era when science and making things by hand felt full of possibility.