Kinematics of Mechanisms from the Time of Watt

Before computer-aided design, before finite element analysis, there was James Watt and his intuitive grasp of motion. Ferguson captures a pivotal moment in engineering history: the birth of kinematics as a discipline, when Watt's steam engine innovations demanded entirely new ways of thinking about linkages, motion, and mechanism design. The book traces the evolution from empirical craftsmanship to analytical engineering, showing how Watt's parallel motion and other iconic linkages emerged from practical problems rather than pure theory. What elevates this volume beyond mere antiquarian interest is its argument that historical understanding isn't mere nostalgia. The intuitive wisdom embedded in these early mechanisms offers modern engineers something their calculations often cannot: a feel for how parts actually move together in the world. For anyone designing machinery today, this book reveals the foundations beneath your CAD software.