Technology

Bulletin de la Société d'Encouragement pour l'Industrie Nationale. Vingt-Sixiéme Annèe (No. CCLXXX.) Octobre 1827. Imprimirie de Madame Huzard.  A single issue: "Arts Méchaniques" and "Arts Chimiques," 10" x 8", disbound. [339-] 378 pp., 3 folding plates. Edges uncut, a very few brown spots, overall a Very Good copy.  $25.

The Société d'Encouragement pour l'Industrie Nationale was founded in 1801 by Chaptal, Thénard and Dumas, and functioned to spread public knowledge of useful advances. This issue of the Bulletin contains three articles on mechanical inventions: (1) An account of an optical glass polishing machine invented by M. Legey, (2) A description of a mill to grind materials for ceramic piping, and (3), a description of a machine for cutting bricks, tiles, and pottery. Each is illustrated by a folding plate. The chemical section has two reports on the tanning of hides in Russia, and is followed by a special report on how the prize competitions offered by the Society are to be distributed. Finally, there are tables listing the prizes awarded in 1827 and a comparison of the prizes awarded by area of technology for the years 1823-1827. In all, the work contains a remarkable set of insights into early 19th century technology in France!