Caution needs to be taken after reading old text books. Old text books are text that where modern in their time. They have used old tools, and old methods that today is dangerous and deadly.
Take this old knife making book from the 1970's. In this book it talks about making a forge. In this forge they used asbestos for the top cover over the forge. Asbestos is toxic, and causes illnesses such as cancer.
If you read on older text to learn how to do something. Then you need to read up on the things they are using. It could be they used something that is so bad, that it is against the law to use. We have learned what the bad things are the hard way, so when you can learn the easy way.
I like to read old books on Google
books. In those full view books I have found texts on building ships and boats. They built them ways not done today, and it is very interesting to learn it. There is a lot of great information in older text. Things that you will not find in newer material. Some, but not all that information disappeared for a reason.
There are books on Google that talk about using acid chemicals to make things. There are recipes that show you how to make glue and develop film. These old tutorials use acid, and they mix them together with other things. They created a lot of unknown gases and fumes doing those old projects.
There was some very skilled people in the past that wrote their methods down in books. But some of it can be bad for you if not done correctly. Something I noticed in these old texts that are missing are phrases like, "Make sure you are ventilated." And also phrases similar to, "Where gloves, and goggles." You can tell they did not get sued for mistakes made by other people in their day.
Writers of the past did not know the dangers like asbestos. I believe if they did they would have said so. They might not have done the things they talk about either. If they had known they might not have written it, and they might not have practiced using them. It could be their ignorance has helped shape our technology today.
It's great to read and learn old techniques and methods. I just give the suggestion that with reading these old texts, you should read new texts on the materials.
