Series Title: The Power Handbooks

This handbook is intended to furnish the reader with practical help for the every-day handling of shafting, pulleys and belting. These are allied in the operation of plants and it is a pretty generally conceded fact that all three are much neglected by many operators.

A close perusal of these pages will enable the reader to determine the best course to pursue in the most common instances and in various troubles, and in all articles there are suggestions for similar cases which may arise.

For instance, the need of belt dressing as a preservative, now generally conceded by most authorities, is fully covered in Chapter XI and the result of a test made by disinterested parties to find the degree of efficiency of four of the best known dressings is given. The results are of importance to all belt users.

A portion of the book is also given to rope transmission which is in more general use to-day than ever before, and in this connection some advice is offered by experts as to the selection and care of the rope. Rope splices and how to make them will also prove valuable to many engineers.

The author wishes to make acknowledgment to various contributors to Power whose articles are used herein, and to some special contributors, from whose articles small portions have been taken. Acknowledgment is also made to Stanley H. Moore, the author of "Mechanical Engineering and Machine Shop Practice" for the section on splicing.