Beyond the historic steam and mechanical equipment displayed throughout the Steam Museum, our collection includes remarkable examples of late-19th- and early-20th-century technical literature.

Published in 1905, Steam Boilers: Their Construction, Care and Operation with Questions and Answers was written by Calvin F. Swingle. A prolific technical author of his time, Swingle published numerous books about boilers, locomotives, machining, and other areas of mechanical engineering.

Swingle described this book as a “complete modern treatise” on the construction, operation, and maintenance of different types of steam boilers. Through detailed explanations and illustrations, it covers boiler materials and construction, efficiency and safety principles, routine care and maintenance, and recommended startup and shutdown procedures.

As steam technology evolved, Swingle and publisher Frederick J. Drake & Company released updated editions of the book. The Steam Museum is proud to preserve and display this early publication, offering visitors a glimpse into how boiler professionals learned their trade more than a century ago.