Cast-Iron Architecture in America: The Significance of James Bogardus (Norton Books for Architects & Designers)

Book Description

The first book on the life and work of the pioneer of American cast-iron architecture. Nineteenth-century American inventor and entrepreneur James Bogardus was known for his unique grinding mill and other patented devices, but his enduring claim to fame is his cast-iron structures, forerunners of the modern skyscraper. A passionate advocate for iron's strength, economy, suitability for ornamentation, and fire resistance, he invented several new methods of construction; his buildings rose from New York to San Francisco and Havana. Modern interest in Bogardus stems from the historic preservation movement; his four surviving buildings, in New York, are recognized landmarks.

Customer Reviews:

one of a collection of reviews, enquire via e-mail.......1999-01-16

My first encounter with skeleton structures was a plastic building set consisting of interlocking beams, columns, and very thin infill patterns. The concept of modular construction is one that many of us have been raised with, whereas at one time the idea of building with interchangeable lightweight metal units, sized to fit together in a variety of patterns, was a wholly new revelation. Understanding where this link occurs, manifested in the built environment by practical necessity, connects the modernity of International Style into the historic preservation movement.

Several years ago I found myself involved in the business of repainting cast-iron facades in the Soho Cast Iron District in New York City and became intrigued to know more of the history of cast-iron architecture. Until I received this book, which I ordered from Amazon.com, I had to remain satisfied with a crude photocopy of an article by James Marston Fitch describing the mystery of the Laing Stores. The façade of the Laing Stores (erected in 1849 and the second of Bogardus's façade commissions) was dismantled in 1971, carefully stored with the intent of future restoration, and in 1974 were carted off by someone not-in-the-know like so many old steam radiators to be sold for scrap iron. This has engendered a small degree of paranoia with experienced preservationists and it has always been of value to me, as a preservation contractor, to know whereof the sentiment is derived. For whatever reason I have also been wondering for several years what goods were sold in the Laing Stores. This book provides the answer.

James Bogardus (1800-1874) was a nineteenth-century American inventor, machinist, architect, engineer, manufacturer, and builder in a time, unlike our own, where an individual could do almost anything industrious and put a good name to it afterward. His inventions included the eccentric mill, the self-supporting cast iron façade, and, with construction of the McCullough Shot & Lead Company shot tower of nonstructural brick wall panels entirely supported by an iron frame to a height of 217 feet in 1855, he anticipated the skeletal steel-framework of our urban environment. At the time this structure was the tallest in Manhattan.

I find it curious that the modern skyscraper was born of the necessity of the armaments industry. There is something else I had been wondering about -- the function of a shot tower is that lead is passed through a sieve at the top, falls a distance where it becomes spherical, and then plunges into a bath of cold water where it hardens. The necessity of the structure of a shot tower is to be tall, economical to build, and to not allow lead to not be blown around by gusting winds.

Bogardus, in an age where mechanical invention was the new wave, was a practical and ambitious entrepreneurial builder seeking profitable income. It is ironic to consider that if he were alive today he might not have any particular interest to looking into the past or especial concern for preservation of the historic fabric that he was building for us then.

"As for his customers, they probably were not concerned with architectural revolution or looking into the future. They wanted structures that accomplished the task at hand. Bogardus's buildings did so. And that was that."

The above is about as speculative as this book gets -- there is a lot of factual information, dated and attributed thoroughly, that represents a great amount of admirable research. Unlike many books full of facts derived from historical records, this book is readable, the authors have a smooth and patient prose style, and I recommend the reading to anyone with a serious curiosity about cast-iron architecture, particularly if they are the owners of one of these beautiful facades. For those readers not familiar with the streets and buildings of New York City I advise keeping a street map and an AIA guide nearby (duly noted in the bibliography). I read the book on the subway, the dead time between business meetings, and was pleased to recognize a few of the buildings when emerging above ground. The author sticks to the task at hand and does not wander very far into concurrent events, therefore a timeline of American history or a short history of New York City would assist the casual reader in imagining a familiar context. The year 1855 in which Bogardus's first shot tower was built marks the publication of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, and the building of the first oil refinery in Pittsburgh.

Though the majority of Bogardus's work was in New York City he built cast-iron structures in several other locations including Chicago, Philadelphia, Albany, Charleston, Washington DC, Baltimore, San Francisco, Santo Domingo (a lighthouse), and Havana. From 1848 to 1862 Bogardus built 43 structures, with five of them now remaining standing where you can go see them for yourself, four in New York City and one, the Iron Clad Building, in Cooperstown, NY.

Margot Gayle, a founder of the Friends of Cast Iron Architecture, is an authority on cast-iron architecture and has been a major inspiration behind the historic preservation movement in New York City. She recently celebrated her 90th birthday, and deserves as thoroughly researched a biography as she has provided us for Bogardus.

First printed in APT Communique 1998.

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Everyone's Guide to Oil Painting (Everyone's Guide to)
Philip Berrill
Manufacturer: Ravette Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 1853048321

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Oil Painting (Everyone's Guide to... Series)
Philip Berrill
Manufacturer: PBI Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Painting | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0954132327

Book Description

Julius Caesar has never recovered from his defeat by Vercingetorix. Now, years after, Caesar wants to salve his wounded pride by parading triumphantly with Vercingetorix’s shield. But where can it be? Will Caesar or the Gauls find it first?

Customer Reviews:

Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Julius Caesar is after a bit of a propaganda victory. He wants to be carried like a Gaul, but on Vercingetorix's shield. However, he has no idea where he left it, or that a couple of drunken soldiers in a far outpost lost it in bets and for grog.

It is race for Asterix and Obelix, let alone Dogmatix, to find the shield before the Roman agents.

The best book in the series........2007-07-18

Rene Goscinny, Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield (Dargaud, 1968)

After the conquest of the last of Gaul (except, of course, for the indomitable Gaulish village), Vercingetorix, the chieftain of the Gauls, threw his armor at Caesar's feet. There's been some upstart activity, and Caesar wants the armor to wear when he goes to Gaul to quell the uprising. Except that the Shield of Vercingetorix is missing. Where did it get off to?

This, actually, is one of the best books in the series, if not the best. Goscinny approached the subject matter as a traditional mystery, but threw in many of his own stylings, not to mention a host red (and pickled!) herrings. It's probably a bit of a stretch to say it, but what Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield reminds me of more than anything is sixties French New Wave cinema, but with a more solid structure to it. The more I think about it, the more impressed I am with it. A really, really solid entry in the series. ****

Review of "Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield".......2007-05-07

I ordered this because I read them when I was a kid and loved them. Unfortunately, the portrayal of Africans wasn't something I wanted the young African American I was mentoring to see this portrayal. Sorry!

A suspenseful story with a surprise in the end!.......2005-02-05

Goscinny tells us a unique story from 50 B.C., during which time too, people faced the intimidating problem of losing their weight. Vitalstatistix, our beloved Gaulish chief of the little village we know so well, is going through one such crisis and decides to get professional help in the matter. But professional help requires Vitalstatistix to travel away from the village, and of course, our friends and Vitalstatistix's finest men-Asterix and Obelix accompany him on his quest. Coincidently, they also manage to get involved in foiling yet another of Julius Cesar's plans to mock Gaul! One can't help but wholeheartedly appreciate the ingenuity with which Goscinny has wound together a story that connects a mundane weight loss issue with the daunting task of protecting national pride. What an excellent story, complete with a suspenseful and surprising ending!!! As always, Uderzo has excellently kept up with Goscinny's pen! A must read for all comic book fans.

Great story, but pages fell out........2003-12-11

(...).

As a child, I read all of the "classic" Asterix books in Swedish. As an adult and now living in the U.S., I am reading them again to my children, but this time in English. This is a good classic. As someone pointed out, the pages of some Asterix books, like this one, falls out after only minor wear. It seems like only the old classics do that. However, they are all out of stock by now anyway. Maybe future reprints of the classics will be as good as the new ones (with respect to binding). In general, the old classics have more entertaining stories than the new ones.

Asterix and Obelix live in a village in Gaul that the Romans failed to conquer. The reason for this is that the village druid knows how to make a magic potion that endows the villagers with super human strength. In this book the village chief, becomes sick from eating too much unhealthy food and is sent to recover at a health spa. Asterix and Obelix are accompanying their chief. Obelix the great Gourmet and Gourmand have no plans to diet, however, which makes his presence torturous to the patients. The main storyline is centered on a missing shield, which a defeated Gaulish King threw before (on) the feet of Julius Caesar. Very entertaining, and filled with great puns, as well as skillful wordplay.

I object to the druids name "Getafix". Whoever came up with the English names for the characters did not have kids in mind. The Swedish translation was a lot better concerning this item.

In general I find that, children the age 5-13 really enjoy these books, and so do my children. Adults can enjoy these books as well. The Asterix comic books are a great way to teach children ancient history. Naturally, the adult needs to help with the differentiation between fiction and history. From these books, my kids have learned about the Roman Empire, the ancient Greeks, the Vikings, the Goths, the Phoenicians, ancient Gaul, ancient Egypt, and the ancient Mediterranean world in general.

My ten year old started loving these books at the age of eight and he cannot get enough of them. My six year old started liking them at the age of five. Even though many Asterix puns may be a little bit above his head, my younger son still loves these stories.

In my opinion the best Asterix albums are: Asterix and the Normans; Asterix in Corsica; Obelix and company; Asterix the Gladiator; Asterix the Legionary; Asterix and Cleopatra; Asterix and the Goths; Asterix in Belgium; Asterix and the big fight; and Asterix all around Gaul. The last title is a translation from Swedish and might be wrong.

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Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield
Goscinny
Manufacturer: Dargaud Publishing International, LTD.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Asterix | Humorous | Series | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 2205069101

Product Description

A further adventure of Asterix, warrior of Gaul.

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Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield

Manufacturer: Dargaud Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

All French Books | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 0024972703

Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield (Classic Asterix Hardbacks)

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Asterix in Arvenia
Simply grand!

Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield (Classic Asterix Hardbacks)
"Goscinny" , and "Uderzo"
Manufacturer: Hodder Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0340213949

Customer Reviews:

Asterix in Arvenia.......2002-06-20

Yet another rollicking Asterix adventure, taking place in the provinces of Gaul . When Chief Vitalstatistix takes ill, Druid Getafix suggests that he go to a health spa at Aqua Calidae in the Arvenian countryside.
While leaving Vitalstatistix at the spa, our friends decide to tour the Arvenian countryside, and in the process, deal a humiliating blow to Julius Caesar's special envoy, Tribune Noxius Vapus.
When Vapus goes to Rome to report his defeat to Caesar, he is ordered to find the famous shield of Gaullish national hero, Vercingetorix.
The result: a race against time with Asterix and Obelix searching for the shield and the Romans searching for the shield, as well as our heroes.
Once more Asterix and Obelix get up to some fantastic escapades and as always, this adventure is filled with wit, puns and double puns, including a reference to Lug the Gd of Business and Industry.

Simply grand!.......2001-03-05

I highly recommend this book. It's classic Asterix, with all the puns and slapstick you'd expect in an adventure with the hot-tempered warrior and his menhir-carrying pal. It's good as an addition to your Asterix collection or even to start one. Enjoy!

Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield (Une Aventure D'Asterix)

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Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield (Une Aventure D'Asterix)
"Goscinny" , and "Uderzo"
Manufacturer: Dargaud,Paris
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Children's Books | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

All French Books | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 2205002686

Asterix: El Escudo Arverno (Spanish edition of Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield)

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Asterix: El Escudo Arverno (Spanish edition of Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield)
Goscinny
Manufacturer: Grijalbo Mondadori, S.A.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

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ASTERIX AND THE CHIEFTAIN'S SHIELD
Goscinny & Uderzo
Manufacturer: Hodder Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield
Goscinny and Uderzo
Manufacturer: Dargaud Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield
Rene, Illustrated by Uderzo De Goscinny
Manufacturer: London: Hodder Dargaud, 1981
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield
Goscinny [texte]
Manufacturer: Hodder & Stoughton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Book Description

In these timely essays, Nobel prizewinning economist James Tobin shows how Keynesian economics offers corrective treatment for the economic ailments we have faced under the Ford, Carter, and Reagan administrations.

Essays in the first part of the book focus on theory and policy in Keynesian economics, particularly on the modern anti-Keynesian movements of the 1970s and 1980s. Tobin's writings on the events, controversies, doctrines, and policies of the Reagan era make up the book's second section, Essays in part three continue to discuss the Reagan revolution, focusing on fiscal policies and presenting some general macroeconomic principles that can be invoked to remedy the situation; those in part four are concerned more specifically with the conduct of monetary policy. A fifth section addresses inflation stagflation, and unemployment, recommending income policies that Tobin believes must become a "permanent tool of macroeconomic policy." The book concludes with several essays on various aspects of political economy, including a timely reminder that economic policies should serve ethical values.

James Tobin, who received the Nobel prize in economics in 1981, is Sterling Professor of Economics at Yale.

Policies for Prosperity: Essays in a Keynesian Mode

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Policies for Prosperity: Essays in a Keynesian Mode
James Tobin
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000MUBLA6

Book Description

This common-sense, practical book provides 10 sound ideas for improving leadership skills, managerial effectiveness, communication skills and personal relationships. It is perfect for managers who are looking to develop and empower their employees. Can be used in training departments, workshops and seminars. Uses exercises, case stories and self-tests to help readers apply the essentials of leadership and evaluate their progress. Readers can use the Leadership Strategic Model to analyze and strengthen their weak areas. For any type of business, religious organization, volunteer group or governmental agency or anyone who is looking for an excellent self-improvement guide.

Leadership: Essential Steps Every Manager Needs to Know (NetEffect Series)

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Leadership: Essential Steps Every Manager Needs to Know (NetEffect Series)
Elwood N.O'Neil, Sharon Lund Chapman
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OHI0BU

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Starting Your Own Business & Making It A Success
John O. Alaba
Manufacturer: P F S Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
New Business Enterprises | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 096646740X

Book Description

La obra presenta toda la informacion que necesitas saber, presentada de la manera mas eficaz, facil y practica para superar todos tus temores y dominar los resortes necesarios para captar la atencion de la audiencia.

Book Description

When first published in 1978, this book was immediately recognized as a useful and interesting source of information on U.S. naval and maritime flag officers. That reputation remains today, although copies have become hard to find in recent years, even in secondhand bookstores. Now with the publication of this reprint, a new generation of readers drawn to naval history can enjoy the 215 biographies presented. All of the top fleet and task force commanders, naval strategists, fighters, reformers, inventors, and legendary heroes in American naval history are covered, from the revolutionary John Paul Jones (who made flag rank only in the Russian navy) to the dynamic though controversial Hyman G. Rickover.

Book Description

Except for the twentieth century, the period from the late Middle Ages through the sixteenth century witnessed the most significant developments in the history of the world. From the expulsion of the Muslims from Spain, through the flowering of the Renaissance, the religious strife of the Reformation, and the attempts by great empires to conquer their own continent and expand into the New World, the enormous political, religious, and social change took place on every continent of the globe are examined. These events and their impact have been carefully described and analyzed in this useful student resource. The events covered are: the Reconquista in Spain, the Renaissance, the Hundred Years' War, the Ming Dynasty Comes to Power, the Age of European Expansion Begins, the Development of Movable Type, the Fall of Constantinople, the Conquest of the New World, the Protestant Reformation, and the Spanish Armada. An introductory essay provides factual material about the event in a clear, concise, and chronological manner that makes complex history understandable. An interpretive essay, written by a recognized authority in the field, explores the short-term and long-term ramifications of the event. Each chapter concludes with a helpful annotated bibliography of further reading. A glossary, timeline of events, and table of ruling houses and dynasties across the globe provide additional reference value. Events That Changed the World Through the Sixteenth Century is an ideal addition to the high school, community college, and undergraduate reference shelf, as well as excellent supplementary reading for social studies and world history courses.

Events That Changed the World Through the Sixteenth Century: (The Greenwood Press Events That Changed the World Series)

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Events That Changed the World Through the Sixteenth Century: (The Greenwood Press Events That Changed the World Series)
John E. Findling
Manufacturer: Greenwood Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTR5KU

Book Description

Where-to site guide to 100 of the best birding areas in Utah including detailed descriptions.

Customer Reviews:

Great resource for birders and outdoor enthusiasts........1998-07-09

Birding Utah provides a comprehensive resource for finding birds in Utah. The extensive information provided should prove extremely useful for novice to expert birders, as well as any outdoor enthusiast.

The book includes 5 chapters and an extensive appendix of birding and travel information sources. It is scientifically accurate and well written in a casual style. Chapter One details the basics of planning a successful birding trip, which should be most useful to novice birders. The second chapter describes Utah's biological environment from a broad-scale description of topography and climate to a finer resolution of habitats. Reading this chapter should give you an intimate feeling of the biological organization and spatial qualities of the state. The majority of the book is devoted to chapter 3, a description of 112 potential birding sites grouped according to region. The sites range from potential day trips to longer overnight excursions. The amount of detail that is provided for each site makes this book much more than a birding guide, but a travel guide for nature around the state. Included for each site are a list of habitats, birds, best times to bird, suggestions on where birds may be seen, directions to the site, general area information, a map, potential hazards, nearest facilities, and camping locations. It is obvious that each site has been researched by the author. The fourth chapter is a listing of birds that occur within the state; and associated habitat type, the regional distribution, and seasonal occurrence within the state. In chapter 5, the author has selected 50 "sought after" birds and details where and when the birds are likely to be found, and the chances for viewing one of these species. This chapter is unique to this birding guide because it also includes fine-scaled distribution maps based on current habitat types.

My only criticism with the book is the manner in which it has been bound. For a field guide that is likely to get a significant amo! unt of use outdoors, I wonder if the binding will hold up very long. A more substantial binding would have been of great value.

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