January 12, 2010

Happy 108th - Popular Mechanics

From Wired:
Jan. 11, 1902: Popular Mechanics Sets Out to Make Mechanics Popular
1902: Henry Haven Windsor, son of a preacher man, publishes the first issue of Popular Mechanics. The publication quickly helps pull our technocultural future into the public orbit, showcasing an inspiring arsenal of scientists and cultural heavyweights along the way.

Born in Iowa in 1859, Windsor attended Grinnell College and eventually landed in Chicago, publishing three trade magazines — Street Railway Review, Brick and Rural Free Delivery News. But it was Popular Mechanics that would fulfill his early mission — “Written So You Can Understand It” — with lasting success.

Windsor’s plan to deliver scientific and mechanical developments with straightforward language and helpful illustrations capitalized on a century hurtling with exponential speed toward stunning technical achievement. From its inception to its current iteration, the magazine has broken news of everything from the dirigible, wireless telegraph and cars to television, nukes and iPhones.
My Mom's Dad had copies of Popular Mech. dating back to the 1930s and it was a joy to visit there as a kid in the 1950's and to read them and to know KNOW that I would have jet-packs and flying cars. Posted by DaveH at January 12, 2010 12:27 AM | TrackBack
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