Engineering Reminiscencesby Charles T. Porter. John Wiley and Sons, 1985. Paperback reprint of the 1908 edition, 335 pp. Condition: Very good. Although his name is not so well known today, the proudly American Charles Talbot Porter played a key role in the development of the steam engine. He it was whodeveloped the high-speed engine with the Allen cutoff, and he it was whomanufactured the Porter-Allen engine, among many other signal achievements in the field of engineering. A picture of him adorns the cover of this handsome reprint. He has a splendid beard. So do many of the other gentlemen whose images are littered through the book. Those who dont have equally splendid moustaches. That was de rigueur in the mid- to late nineteenth century. But of course, its the prose that really delights. The heights and the depths of emotion in the life of a working engineer at this time are vividly chronicled by Mr. Porter. Flashes of humour occur from time to time as well. He certain