On the Economy of Machinery and Manufactures

A landmark analysis of manufacturing practices, first published in 1832, that promoted mechanisation and efficient 'division of labour'.

Charles Babbage (Author)

9781108009102, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 4 March 2010

344 pages
21.6 x 14 x 2 cm, 0.44 kg

In this famous book, first published in 1832, Charles Babbage (1791–1871), the mathematician, philosopher, engineer and inventor who originated the concept of a programmable computer, surveys manufacturing practices and discusses the political, moral and economic factors affecting them. The book met with hostility from the publishing industry on account of Babbage's analysis of the manufacture and sale of books. Babbage describes the many different printing processes of the time, analyses the costs of book production and explains the publication process, before discussing the 'too large' profit margins of booksellers. Babbage succeeded in his aim 'to avoid all technical terms, and to describe in concise language', making this an eminently readable historical account. His analysis and promotion of mechanisation and efficient 'division of labour' (still known as the 'Babbage principle') continue to resonate strongly for modern industrial engineering.

Preface
Introduction
1. Sources of the advantages arriving from machinery and manufactures
2. Accumulating power
3. Regulating power
4. Increase and diminution of velocity
5. Extending time of action of forces
6. Saving time in natural operations
7. Exerting forces too great for human power
8. Registering operations
9. Economy of materials employed
10. Of the identity of the work when it is of the same kind
11. Of copying
12. On the method of observing manufactories
13. On the difference between making and manufacturing
14. On the influence of verification upon price
15. On the influence of durability on price
16. On price, as measured by money
17. Of raw materials
18. Of the division of labour
19. On the division of mental labour
20. On the separate cost of each process in a manufacture
21. On the causes and consequences of large factories
22. On the position of great factories
23. On over-manufacturing
24. Inquiries previous to commencing any manufactory
25. On contriving machinery
26. Proper circumstances for the application of machinery
27. On the duration of machinery
28. On combination amongst masters or workmen against each other
29. On combinations of masters against the public
30. On the effect of taxes
31. On the exportation of machinery
32. On the future prospects of manufactures, as connected with science.

Subject Areas: Publishing industry & book trade [KNTP]