Author	al-Jazarฤซ, Ibn al-Razzฤ{129}z. author
Title	The Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices [electronic resource] : (Kitฤ{129}b fฤซ ma 'rifat al-แธฅiyal al-handasiyya) / by Ibn al-Razzฤ{129}z al-Jazarฤซ
Imprint	Dordrecht : Springer Netherlands, 1974
Connect to	http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-2573-7
Descript	311 p. 201 illus. online resource

To judge by the dictum of al-Jaĩ?: (d. A.D. 869), 'Wisdom has descended upon these three: the brain of the Byzantine, the hands of the Chinese, and the tongue of the Arab', in the great age of the

I Introduction -- 1. Al-Jazar? โ{128}{148} his life and environment -- 2. The Manuscripts -- 3. Translation and Illustrations -- 4. Modern works on al-Jazar? -- 5. Islamic technology up to al-Jazar? -- The Ban? M?sร  -- โ{128}{152}Archimedes' -- Al-Khuw?rizm? -- Ri?w?n -- 6. Arabic translations of earlier works -- II The Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices Al-Jazar?'s complete work translated into English, together with reproductions of all the original illustrations Al-Jazar?'s Introduction -- Category I โ{128}{148} Clocks -- 1 The castle water-clock -- 2 The water-clock of the drummers -- 3 The water-clock of the boat -- 4 The elephant water-clock -- 5 The beaker water-clock -- 6 The water-clock of the peacocks -- 7 The candle-clock of the swordsman -- 8 The candle-clock of the scribe -- 9 The monkey candle-clock -- 10 The candle-clock of the doors -- Category II โ{128}{148} Vessels and figures suitable for drinking sessions -- 1 A goblet which arbitrates at drinking parties -- 2 A goblet which arbitrates at drinking parties -- 3 An arbiter for drinking parties (the castle wine dispenser) -- 4 A boat which is placed on a pool during a drinking party -- 5 A pitcher for dispensing different liquids -- 6 The figure of a boon-companion who drinks the king's leavings -- 7 A standing slave holding a fish and a goblet -- 8 A man holding a goblet and a bottle -- 9 A dais upon which are two shaykhs, each holding a goblet and a bottle -- 10 A slave-girl who emerges from a cupboard at intervals, holding a glass which contains wine -- Category III โ{128}{148} Pitchers, basins and other things (for handwashing and phlebotomy) -- 1 A pitcher from which hot water, cold water and mixed water is poured -- 2 A pitcher which dispenses water for the king to perform his ritual ablutions -- 3 A slave who pours water over the king's hands -- 4 A peacock which discharges water from its beak -- 5 The basin of the monk, from which can be told the quantity of blood which falls into it -- 6 The basin of the two scribes for blood-letting -- 7 The basin of the reckoner for blood-letting -- 8 The basin of the castle from which the amount of blood collected therein can be ascertained -- 9 The basin of the peacock for washing the hands -- 10 The basin of the slave -- Category IV โ{128}{148} Fountains and perpetual flutes -- 1 Fountain of the two tipping-buckets -- 2 Two fountains and two tipping-buckets, with four outlets -- 3 Fountain of the two floats -- 4 Two fountains of the two floats -- 5 The fountain of the bowl -- 6 Fountain of the two tipping-buckets (with valves) -- 7 Instrument for perpetual flute, with two spheres -- 8 Instrument for perpetual flute, with two tipping-buckets -- 9 Instrument for perpetual flute, with a balance -- 10 Instrument for perpetual flute with two floats -- Category V โ{128}{148} Machines for raising water -- 1 A machine for raising water from a pool to a higher place by an animal who turns a lever-arm -- 2 A machine for raising water from a pool or a well by an animal who rotates it -- 3 A machine for raising water by means of an endless chain of pots -- 4 A machine for raising water from a pool (by means of a flumed swape operated by a crank driven, through gears, by an animal) -- 5 Pump driven by a water-wheel -- Category VI โ{128}{148} Miscellaneous -- 1 A door of cast brass for the king's palace at ?mid -- 2 A protractor -- 3 A lock for locking a chest by means of 12 letters of the alphabet -- 4 Four bolts on the back of a door -- 5 A boat clock -- Category I Chapter 1 -- 2 -- 3 -- 4 -- 5 -- 6 -- 7 -- 8 -- 9 -- 10 -- II 1 & 2 -- 3 -- 4 -- 5 -- 6 -- 7 -- 8 -- 9 -- 10 -- III 1 -- 2 -- 3 -- 4 -- Category III Chapter 5 -- 6 -- 7 -- 8 -- 9 -- 10 -- IV 1 -- 2 -- 3 -- 4 -- 5 -- 6 -- 7โ{128}{147}10 -- V 1 -- 2 -- 3 -- 4 -- 5 -- VI 1 -- 2 -- 3 -- 4 -- 5 -- Category I Clocks -- Categories II and III Vessels and Measuring Basins -- Category IV Fountains and Perpetual Flutes -- Category V Water Lifting Devices -- Category VI Miscellaneous -- 1 The Palace Door; Casting techniques -- 2 The protractor -- Chapters 3 and 4 The locks -- 5 The boat clock -- Individual Components -- 1. Wheels, axles and bearings -- 2. Water Equipment -- 3. Vessels and their fittings -- 4. Miscellaneous parts and fittings; materials -- 5. Weights and measures -- Conclusion (Including an assessment of al-Jazar?'s achievement and a discussion of his methods of presentation)