author
T. J. (Theron Josiaha) Palmateer
1875–1955
Best known for practical early-20th-century machine shop manuals, this Stanford engineering instructor wrote clear, hands-on guides for beginners learning lathe and shop work. His books are straightforward, methodical, and still useful as a window into how technical training was taught in his era.
1 Audiobook
Elementary lathe practice : As adapted to the teaching of machine shop practice in technical schools
by T. J. (Theron Josiaha) Palmateer
About the author
Born in 1875, T. J. Palmateer—Theron Josiah Palmateer—was an American mechanical engineering educator associated with Stanford. Stanford’s School of Engineering lists him as a Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Emeritus, and historical Stanford records identify him in connection with the machine shop and faculty collections.
Palmateer wrote instructional books designed for technical-school students and beginners in workshop practice. Confirmed titles include Elementary Lathe Practice (1917), Elementary Machine Shop Practice (1918/1920), and Machine Work: A Shop Manual and Reference Book (1930). These books focus on practical shop operations and step-by-step exercises rather than theory-heavy explanation.
He died in 1955. While detailed biographical information appears to be limited online, the surviving record shows a teacher and author whose work was aimed at making machine-shop training clear, efficient, and accessible.