Authoritative entries on more than 1200 individuals who have made significant
technical contributions to our modern world make up The Biographical Dictionary
of the History of Technology edited by Lance Day and Ian McNeil (Routledge,
£85, ISBN 0 415 06042 7). They include the real McCoy (steam engine
lubricators), Bailey (bridge), Bi Sheng (movable type), Davidson (electric
locomotive), Jobs (home computer), Shockley (transistor), Tagliacozzi (plastic
surgery), Yagi (UHF aerial). It has fascinating information on Zeiss, Zeppelin,
Zizka, Zokk, Zonka, Zuse and Zworkin. It should be in all libraries—or give it
someone you really like.
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