“The peculiar hold which the Grimshaw ‘Practical Catechisms’ have on the constituency for which they are intended is due to these facts: They answer at once any question about any kind of a pump or a steam engine that the author could think of or had ever had asked him; are absolutely scientifically correct; practically useful; written in a clear, plain, popular style; up to date; free from hard words and mathematical formulas. Each question is asked by itself and answered in full by itself, thus saving the reader the necessity of wading through a whole book when he only wants to know one thing, but wants to know that right away. The books are plainly printed, liberally illustrated, of a convenient size for the pocket, bound strongly to stand use, and in dark cloth not to show the dirt; are on hard paper to stand thumbing; handy for instant reference; liberally indexed and cross indexed; and explanations are concise, yet very complete. Their author is a favorite writer for the scientific papers; is known to be careful, competent, original, practical, abreast of the times, and able to tell what he knows. They can be drawn on for examination questions by examining engineers who are handling candidates for license, and by examination committees testing candidates for admission to engineering societies. They can be used to coach for examinations by those about to be examined for license, or for admission to engineering societies. They enable competent engineers to improve themselves; help green men out of scrapes without mortification or exposure; prevent accidents and hasten repairs; enable an employer to test a candidate for a job, thus preventing his being imposed upon; and can be used to settle disputes between engineers, as to the topics of which they treat. They describe the construction and operation of every kind of pump; tell how to set up, connect, adjust and start every principal pump in the market, supposing all the parts to have been separated and laid on the floor. Most of the matter is copyrighted, and can be found nowhere else. In case of any trouble, they save delay in sending for, or writing to, the maker or agent of the engine or pump. They are marvelously cheap and have long been needed. If there are any practical questions in the lines of which they treat which is not answered in the latest editions, the author answers such questions free by mail, and embodies such question and answer in subsequent editions or volumes. The advantages of this feature, which is original with the author of these popular books, and (up to date) exclusive, cannot be overestimated.” THE [Illustration: BUYERS REFERENCE]