Just over a year ago (in 2001) we received a letter from Mr John Wells from Bristol (Membership No 164801) and enclosed were some copies of a magazine Practical Mechanics. They belonged to his late father Mr Francis John Wells who had a subscription with the local newsagent. He was in the printing business, employed as a cutter and obviously had an interest for all things mechanical. We don’t know an awful lot about the publication except that it was issued monthly and that early editions were in black and white. The subjects covered were wide ranging, some being very practical such as making a sink unit whilst others were slightly more specialised - how to make a Geiger Counter. All of the copies we received were priced at 1’3 and each carried the editors name F.J.CAMM

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

I used to read the Practical Mechanics magazine and still have most of my copies from1954 until it ceased publication around 1964. The magazine contained a wide variety of home mechanics projects to build and was edited by F.J.Camm. I t also incorporated a cycling magazine. F.J.Camm was the author or editor of many books on technical and mechanical subjects and I think he died in the 1960s after which the PM magazine was no longer published. The last issue of Practical Mechanics was August 1963 No. 352 Vol. XXX , the first was October 1933. Published by George Newnes Ltd.

Ray Morris

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F.J. Camm (Frederick) died in February 1959. He was a workaholic and was

found dead in his office by a cleaner the following morning. A book was

published about him a few years ago called "F.J.Camm - the Practical Man"

(so called because he founded all the Newnes Practical series - Wireless,

Mechanics, etc), but I believe the book was self-published by the author,

who himself died a couple of years ago.

Hope this helps

Alan Giles

I have a small booklet "presented with Practicle motor & motorcyclist" dated April 1958. &
entitled '50 ways to imprøve the running of your car or motor cycle' Editor F.J. Cram.
Bought it years ago for 25p in a second hand book shop.
Bob Dickson, Denmark 15/07/05

A picture from Elemer from Popular Mechanics 1954 showing what a computer could look like in the year 2004. It doesn't quite look like my laptop !

SEE ALSO

MAG001 Practical Householder

MAG010 Practical Motorist

MAG012 Practical Wireless

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