The Story of a Stanley Steamer, by George Woodbury is an engaging tale of one person's journey to acquire and restore a steam powered car built in 1916. The book was written in 1950 in a gentle narrative style. It is not a technical book, although it covers aspects of how a steam car is put together, and provides a great comment on the passing of skills as technology moves on. We are now three generations - arguably four or five now - away from those who actually built Stanley steam cars, but there are new generations of enthusiasts keen to keep these unusual cars on the road. The book is a timely reminder, in this age of increasing environmental awareness, that steam cars produce no pollution, because the external combustion process burns completely, as against the relatively inefficient internal combustion engine. Woodbury is a real character - one who by his own admission bites off more than he can chew and chews like heck. The result is a triumph of tenacity and determination over doubt and difficulty. He has no special qualifications, just a passion for an unusual machine, and a really engaging conversational writing style.
