Old tech manuals

Craft & Design

Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. His free weekly-ish maker tips newsletter can be found at garstipsandtools.com.

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November 14th, 2008 2

[Pictured above, top to bottom: 1946 The Fleet Type Submarine manual, manual for the 1988 SR-71 Blackbird Environmental Control Systems, 1942 B-17F Flying Fortress Pilot Familiarization Manual]

We’re hard at work on the next issue of MAKE, Volume 17, which will have a special “Lost Knowledge” section. For that, I’ve been on the hunt for interesting lost and out-of-favor technologies and techno-artifacts. In this search, I stumbled on this Wired photo essay (also in the latest print issue) of “Classic Instruction Manuals.” I also discovered that someone has started an online Product Manual Archive. Let’s hope he keeps it up. There are only a handful of entries to date.

A Photo Essay of Classic Instruction Manuals
The Product Manual Archive

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Old tech manuals

By Gareth Branwyn