Smithsonian Institution - United States National Museum - Bulletin 240

This volume gathers a series of meticulously researched papers from the Smithsonian’s Museum of History and Technology, each exploring a distinct chapter in the story of American science and engineering. The collection brings together original articles that once appeared separately, offering listeners a cohesive look at the museum’s scholarly work from the mid‑20th century.

Among the featured studies are the 1893 Duryea automobile, with vivid details of its early trials and recent restoration; an examination of the Borghesi astronomical clock and its craftsmanship; and analyses of pioneering projects such as Wendel Bollman’s bridge engineering and the earliest electromagnetic instruments. The papers also delve into the evolution of screw‑thread cutting, the history of phosphorus, tunnel construction techniques, and the development of gravity pendulums, providing a rich portrait of how everyday technologies emerged and matured.