Doodles, Drafts and Designs

February 11, 2008 6:08 PM

Doodles, Drafts and Designs: Industrial Drawings from the Smithsonian. Including crayon tests, the original telescoping shopping cart and more. [via the horse's neck]
posted by mediareport (7 comments total)

If you have to take your eyes of the 'enemy' to ascertain the right 'knob', you need to either stop using this as a sex guide, or get more practice.
posted by ZaneJ. at 6:22 PM on February 11, 2008

Awesome link! I wish there were more books about this kind of thing (and don't even tell me about that bore Petroski). I read one a couple years ago that was about the history of engineering drawing, but I have no idea what the title was (not Petroski).

It's a little astounding that a Tupperware container could need 21 labeled arrows.
posted by DU at 7:15 PM on February 11, 2008

Also, a "telescoping" cart would be one that grew or shrank, presumably to fit the contents. Which would be awesome, but is not what the link is showing (despite what the Smithsonian or even the invetor says). What is being depicted here is "nesting" carts.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have some dust particles to catalog.
posted by DU at 7:23 PM on February 11, 2008

Great find, thank you.
posted by Rumple at 1:00 AM on February 12, 2008

This is awesome. Thanks!
posted by honest knave at 4:23 AM on February 12, 2008

It's a little astounding that a Tupperware container could need 21 labeled arrows.

Have you seen the bra? :)
posted by mediareport at 7:14 AM on February 12, 2008

I don't begrudge the bra a single one of those arrows. It has one of the most important, revered jobs in the world.
posted by DU at 11:52 AM on February 12, 2008