Machines and Signs

This volume addresses the cultural, technical and ethical motivations of the history of drawing of machines and its developments step by step. First it treats drawings without any technical character; then the Renaissance with its new forms of drawing; the 18th century, with orthographic projections, immediately used by industry; the 19th century, including the applications of drawing in industry; and the 20th century, with the standardization institutions and the use of the computer. The role of historical drawings and archives in modern design is also examined.
This book is of value to all those who are interested in technical drawing, either from an artistic, from a design, or from an engineering point of view.

From the reviews:
"This volume has a primarily historic format, tracing the development of drawing, illustration, and diagrams from antiquity to the present. ... Each chapter carefully notes the cultural context in which the technology, engineering, and science of the time were embedded. ... This superbly illustrated and historically important work will be a valuable addition to history of science, engineering, or drawing/design collections. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above." (R. M. Davis, Choice, Vol. 51 (2), October, 2013)

This book explores cultural, technical and ethical aspects of drawing of machines, from the Renaissance through 18th century orthographic projections, the 19th century and drawing in industry and the 20th century advent of standardization and computers.