This is easily my favorite magazine

I wish this magazine came out more often (as another reviewer said). It would be fascinating for anyone with the slightest interest in the history of technology and engineering. Recent articles have covered vaccuum tubes, their history, and why some are still used now, and nuclear power and how that industry stalled in America. I remember reading another article in the mid-'90s about a guy in New York City who shoveled coal for a public school furnace. He explained his job and how hard it was to buy a coal shovel (the hardware store people couldn't believe it). A few years later they followed up with a note that all public schools in NYC had been converted from coal, and that the coal-shoveler's job was MUCH easier maintaining the new furnace. Stories on iron bridges and how Necco wafers are made (with the same machine for 100 years or so) and how buttons are made from seashells and how paper clips are made and how a Hollywood actress designed a frequency-jumping weapons guidance system and all sorts of others are included. Lots of cool articles about how everyday (and not-so-common) technologies went from ideas in someone's mind to products that are ready for use.

History of technology for the layman.

Of all the magazines I currently subscribe to, I have had this one the longest. Short, concise articles on everyday items are written for the layman and really open up the history of technology to the reader. I just wish I would have kept all the issues from the start of my subscription.

Needs to come out more often!

I read every issue cover to cover, information on a variety of technology related subjects. All the articles are well researched and informative. Unfortunately it only comes four times a year! Think Wired Magazine meets Smithsonian Magazine. Should appeal to engineers of all types especially.

A sampling of past articles:
'When Bridges fail and the inexact science of preventing it'
'The making of the Mouse: Its evolution from a deoderant ball in a butter dish into a tool you use every day'

'Birth of the Electron Microscope'
'The Radial Revolution: Inventing the tire that changed the way we drive'
'Kevlar: A mighty fiber and the woman who invented it'
'Creative Destruction: Your old cars high tech last moments'
'Eyes in the Skies: A picture history of spy photography'
'Making Teflon Stick: Discovering it was easy. Turning it into a successful product was anything but.'