John Gloag on Industrial Design – serie

John Gloag (1896-1981) was a leading modernist commentator and anyone with an interest in early and mid-20th Century design will be familiar with his name. He was well known as an author of almost 60 books on architecture, social history and industrial design. Gloag was a member of an elite design culture that was highly visible throughout the 1930s and 40s. Although an ardent reformist with links to a number of prestigious institutions, including RIBA, the RSA, the DIA and the CoID, Gloag’s contribution to design reform and to an understanding of a national design tradition, has attracted little scholarly interest. This set addresses that by re-issuing 10 of his most well-received books, many of them amply and beautifully illustrated.

Originally published in 1934 this book became recognised as one of the principal standard works on industrial design and industrial architecture. The chapters explain the complete operation, character and background history of industrial art, its relation to architecture, materials, industrial production and retail distribution. It is fully illustrated with line drawings and photographs.

Originally published in 1934 this book became recognised as one of the principal standard works on industrial design and industrial architecture. The chapters explain the complete operation, character and background history of industrial art, its relation to architecture, materials, industrial production and retail distribution. It is fully illustrated with line drawings and photographs.

Originally published in 1943, The Place of Glass in Building is a comprehensive and compact survey of the structural uses of glass in 20th Century architecture. It gives the facts about the physical properties, the possibilities and the limitations of the glass in common use. It also deals with the attributes of specialised and decorative glass and provides detailed descriptions of the principal types which were manufactured in the UK. Intended for architectural students it may also be of interest to architects, for it is a condensed survey of the progress that has been made in this structural and decorative material.

Originally published in 1943, The Place of Glass in Building is a comprehensive and compact survey of the structural uses of glass in 20th Century architecture. It gives the facts about the physical properties, the possibilities and the limitations of the glass in common use. It also deals with the attributes of specialised and decorative glass and provides detailed descriptions of the principal types which were manufactured in the UK. Intended for architectural students it may also be of interest to architects, for it is a condensed survey of the progress that has been made in this structural and decorative material.

Originally published in 1944, The Missing Technician shows how Industrial Design must begin at the very first stages of planning a product. The procedure of a design research committee is outlined – a type of practical co-ordination of the work of industrial designers and production technicians which proved highly effective. The value of materials like aluminium and plastic are emphasized, but equally the importance of glass and cast iron is stressed, especially when handled in new ways that 20th Century techniques made possible.

Originally published in 1944, The Missing Technician shows how Industrial Design must begin at the very first stages of planning a product. The procedure of a design research committee is outlined – a type of practical co-ordination of the work of industrial designers and production technicians which proved highly effective. The value of materials like aluminium and plastic are emphasized, but equally the importance of glass and cast iron is stressed, especially when handled in new ways that 20th Century techniques made possible.

Originally published in 1945, Plastics and Industrial Design is a non-technical work of reference for manufacturers and designers who, after the Second World War were beginning to realize the possibilities that manufacturing with Plastics could bring. The different types of plastics and their uses is discussed, as is their impact on the design of manufactured articles. Whilst the extensive use of plastic may have fallen out of favour in recent years due to environmental concerns, this book reminds us that in their infancy they offered exciting manufacturing possibilities.

Originally published in 1945, Plastics and Industrial Design is a non-technical work of reference for manufacturers and designers who, after the Second World War were beginning to realize the possibilities that manufacturing with Plastics could bring. The different types of plastics and their uses is discussed, as is their impact on the design of manufactured articles. Whilst the extensive use of plastic may have fallen out of favour in recent years due to environmental concerns, this book reminds us that in their infancy they offered exciting manufacturing possibilities.

Originally published in 1946, this book is based on a series of broadcast talks on design. Led by an engineer, an artist and critic of architecture and industrial design, the discussions focussed on the problems that were involved by a general application of design to the environment of contemporary life. It surveys the possibilities of design in modern life and the talks have been rewritten, amplified and revised for the purposes of the book.

Originally published in 1946, this book is based on a series of broadcast talks on design. Led by an engineer, an artist and critic of architecture and industrial design, the discussions focussed on the problems that were involved by a general application of design to the environment of contemporary life. It surveys the possibilities of design in modern life and the talks have been rewritten, amplified and revised for the purposes of the book.

Originally published in 1946, when Britain was facing a post-war housing crisis, this book dealt with the issue of the factory-produced house in being part of the solution for housing people in an affordable manner and a short time-scale. The book, aimed at both lay-people and technicians discusses aspects of pre-fabricated housing such as comfort, standardisation and aesthetics. The book is illustrated with 48pp of black and white plates.

Originally published in 1946, when Britain was facing a post-war housing crisis, this book dealt with the issue of the factory-produced house in being part of the solution for housing people in an affordable manner and a short time-scale. The book, aimed at both lay-people and technicians discusses aspects of pre-fabricated housing such as comfort, standardisation and aesthetics. The book is illustrated with 48pp of black and white plates.

Originally published in 1948, A History of Cast Iron in Architecture is a comprehensive history of the part that has been played by cast iron in architecture and the allied arts in Britain. Any history of the rise and development of the iron-founding industry becomes virtually a history of the First Industrial Revolution. Examining the use of cast iron by builders and architects from late medieval times to the middle of the 20th Century the authors have also recorded a miniature history of British Industry. The introduction throws light on the early developments of iron-founding. The main sections of the book describe the rise and expansion of the cast-iron industry and its gradually increasing significance in architecture from 1650 to 1945. There are over 500 illustrations.

Originally published in 1948, A History of Cast Iron in Architecture is a comprehensive history of the part that has been played by cast iron in architecture and the allied arts in Britain. Any history of the rise and development of the iron-founding industry becomes virtually a history of the First Industrial Revolution. Examining the use of cast iron by builders and architects from late medieval times to the middle of the 20th Century the authors have also recorded a miniature history of British Industry. The introduction throws light on the early developments of iron-founding. The main sections of the book describe the rise and expansion of the cast-iron industry and its gradually increasing significance in architecture from 1650 to 1945. There are over 500 illustrations.

Originally published in 1958, A Guide to Western Architecture charts the origins of the system of architectural design that was perfected in Greece, follows its development under the Roman Empire and describes the achievements of the Byzantine architects. Passing through Romanesque to Gothic, the contributions made by Mediaeval builders to structure and design are recorded, and then the impact of the Renaissance on architecture, and its characteristic development in the different European countries. The transplanting of Renaissance ideas to the New World is covered, and finally the origins and nature of the new Western architecture occupy the last section of the book. The Appendix includes a list of the principal architects, and brief notes on their work, from the 5th century B. C. to the end of the Renaissance.

Originally published in 1958, A Guide to Western Architecture charts the origins of the system of architectural design that was perfected in Greece, follows its development under the Roman Empire and describes the achievements of the Byzantine architects. Passing through Romanesque to Gothic, the contributions made by Mediaeval builders to structure and design are recorded, and then the impact of the Renaissance on architecture, and its characteristic development in the different European countries. The transplanting of Renaissance ideas to the New World is covered, and finally the origins and nature of the new Western architecture occupy the last section of the book. The Appendix includes a list of the principal architects, and brief notes on their work, from the 5th century B. C. to the end of the Renaissance.

Originally published in 1964, The Englishman’s Chair is a history of English chairs, written as a continuous story from the 15th to the 20th Century and because of the revealing powers inherent in chair-making and design, it is also an unconventional footnote to English social history. The changes in taste, and fashion, the increase of skill, the introduction of new materials and the long battle between dignity and comfort are discussed, as is the impact that modern industrial designers have had on chair design.

Originally published in 1964, The Englishman’s Chair is a history of English chairs, written as a continuous story from the 15th to the 20th Century and because of the revealing powers inherent in chair-making and design, it is also an unconventional footnote to English social history. The changes in taste, and fashion, the increase of skill, the introduction of new materials and the long battle between dignity and comfort are discussed, as is the impact that modern industrial designers have had on chair design.

Originally published in 1952 but enlarged and revised in 1969, this dictionary became a standard authoritative work of reference. It contains 2,612 entries and over 1,000 illustrations, reproduced from contemporary sources and from drawings by Ronald Escott, Marcelle Barton and Maureen Stafford. The work is divided into 6 sections: the first and second concern the description and design of furniture, the third contains the entries, the fourth gives a list of furniture makers in Britain and North America, section five records books and periodicals on furniture and design and the concluding section sets out in tabular form the periods with the materials used, and types of craftsmen employed from 1100 to 1950.