Historic Millwork: A Guide to Restoring and Re-creating Doors, Windows, and Moldings of the Late Nineteenth through Mid-Twentieth Centuries

Rating:
Summary: A Perfect Companion For Any Carpenter
Review: It looks like carpentry is finally getting due respect if books like this are being published. As an aficionado of architecture and millwork, I've often wondered why we have largely ignored the rich history of carpentry in this country. While many eighteenth and nineteenth-century pattern books have been re-printed, few new books have been devoted to the history of our craft. This is a fine collection of inspiring material from late nineteenth and early twentieth-century millwork catalogues combined with a rich narrative that will add to anyone's understanding and appreciation of woodwork.

Rating:
Summary: A Perfect Companion For Any Carpenter
Review: It looks like carpentry is finally getting due respect if books like this are being published. As an aficionado of architecture and millwork, I've often wondered why we have largely ignored the rich history of carpentry in this country. While many eighteenth and nineteenth-century pattern books have been re-printed, few new books have been devoted to the history of our craft. This is a fine collection of inspiring material from late nineteenth and early twentieth-century millwork catalogues combined with a rich narrative that will add to anyone's understanding and appreciation of woodwork.

Rating:
Summary: Over Priced & Better References
Review: This book is quite overpriced relative to similar books. Better titles are available from Dover (Universal Millwork Catalog), Lee Valley (Home Interiors of the 1920s), Linden Publishing (Modern Practical Joinery), Fredionia (Modern Carpentry) that cover the information and provide more information at about 1/3 to 1/4 the price for each book. It looks like that many examples are out of these books commonly available. Furthermore, this book has relatively few examples for each catagory. Before you spend the money on this book, check it out from your library or have them get it through interlibrary loan along with the other books mentioned.

Rating:
Summary: Over Priced & Better References
Review: This is a wonderful book detailing how millwork evolved from the 1870s until about 1940. It provides a good overview, and is more of a history without getting really in depth. It could just as easily have been titled "An History of Millwork from 1870 to 1940". There are some molding cross sections and quite a few pages out of catalogs of the time. However there could be many more. On the other hand there are many reprinted catalogs available. If I were doing period work, I would consult this book but definitely have old catalogs on hand to have a large selection of details to pick from. Both the architect and the carpenter can find some use in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Good book, but overpriced
Review: This is a wonderful book detailing how millwork evolved from the 1870s until about 1940. It provides a good overview, and is more of a history without getting really in depth. It could just as easily have been titled "An History of Millwork from 1870 to 1940". There are some molding cross sections and quite a few pages out of catalogs of the time. However there could be many more. On the other hand there are many reprinted catalogs available. If I were doing period work, I would consult this book but definitely have old catalogs on hand to have a large selection of details to pick from. Both the architect and the carpenter can find some use in this book.