Table Of ContentThe Book of Knowledge
of Ingenious
Mechanical Devices
The Book of Knowledge
of Ingenious
Mechanical Devices
( Kitiib ji ma <rifat al-hiyal al-handasiyya)
by
Ibn al-Razzaz aI-Jazar!
Translated and annotated
by
Donald R. Hill
Chartered Engineer, B.Sc., M.Litt., Ph.D.
D. Reidel Publishing Company
Dordrecht-Holland / Boston-U.S.A.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 72-92529
ISBN-13: 978-94-010-2575-1 e-ISBN-13: 978-94-010-2573-7
DOl: 10.1007/978-94-010-2573-7
Published by D. Reidel Publishing Company
P.O. Box 17, Dordrecht, Holland
Sold and distributed in the U.S.A., Canada, and Mexico by
D. Reidel Publishing Company, Inc.
306 Dartmouth Street, Boston, Mass. 02116, U.S.A.
All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 1974 by D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1974
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by print, photoprint, microfilm,
or any other means, without written permission from the publisher
To my dear wife Pat whose constant encouragement
and support
made this undertaking
possible
CONTENTS
Foreword by Professor Lynn White Jr. XIII
Preface and Acknowledgements xv
List of Illustrations XVII
PART I
Introduction
1. Al-JazarI - his life and environment 3
2. The Manuscripts 3
3. Translation and Illustrations 6
4. Modem works on al-JazarI 7
5. Islamic technology up to al-JazarI 8
The Banu Musa 9
'Archimedes' 10
Al-KhuwarizmI 10
Ridwan 11
6. Arabic translations of earlier works 11
PART II
The Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices
AI-Jazarl's complete work translated into English,
together with reproductions of all the original illustrations
Al-JazarI's Introduction 15
CATEGORY I - Clocks 17
Chapter 1 The castle water-clock 17
Section 1 Introduction; its appearance and method of working 17
Section 2 The water reservoir 20
Section 3 Construction of the flow regulator 21
Section 4 Installation of the instruments 23
Section 5 Division of the circle for the outflow of water 24
Section 6 On the place in which the apparatus is installed and the functioning
of its instruments 26
Section 7 On the means for imparting motion to all the things mentioned so
n
~
Section 8 On the means for imparting movements to the hands of the drum-
mers and the cymbalist, and the sound for the trumpeters 32
Section 9 Construction of the spheres of the zodiac, the sun, and the moon 35
Section lOOn the place where the spheres are erected, and their functioning 40
Chapter 2 The water-clock of the drummers 42
Section 1 Its outside appearance and operation 42
Section 2 ,On the water-instruments, and the functioning of the bucket which
fills and empties every hour 44
Section 3 Operation of the time-recording devices 44
Section 4 On the construction of the men 46
Section 5 On the means for imparting motion to the hands of the drummers
and cymbalists, and the instrument from which the sound of the
trumpeters issues 46
Chapter 3 The water-clock of the boat 51
Section 1 On its outside appearance and functioning 51
Section 2 On the construction of the boat, the dome, the stanchions and the
serpent, the castle and the cupola 53
Section 3 On the construction of the equipment which is inside the trough 54
Section 4 On the construction of the scribe and what is connected to him 55
VIII CONTENTS
Section 5 On the construction of the falcon, the place for the balls in the castle,
and the channel for discharging each ball into the falcon's head 56
Section 6 On the connection of the chain on the float to the emplacement of
the balls, the fixing of the mouthpiece to the hole in the float. The
completion of the water-clock and its method of operation 56
Chapter 4 The elephant water-clock 58
Section 1 Its outside appearance 58
Section 2 On what is seen from the working of this clock 59
Section 3 Construction of the elephant and the dais 60
Section 4 On what is fitted inside the elephant, and its method of operation 60
Section 5 On the construction of the dome above the floor of the dais, the
platform above the dome, the scribe above the platform and his
movement 61
Section 6 On the construction of the mahout and that which moves his hands 62
Section 7 On the construction of the four pillars 62
Section 8 On the construction of the castle 63
Section 9 On the construction of the channel in which the balls move 63
Section 10 Construction of the trough into which the balls fall 64
Section 11 Construction of the ring, which is half white and half black, and
which covers the apertures; construction of its movement; con
struction of the wheel upon which the bird on the castle's dome
rotates; completion of the channel for the balls 65
Section 12 Construction of the balcony and the man sitting thereon 67
Section 13 Construction of the two serpents upon an axle 68
Section 14 Construction of the instrument which whistles 68
Section 15 On the construction of the two vases on the shoulders of the ele-
phant, the hanging cymbal, and the preparation of the water-clock 69
Chapter 5 The beaker water-clock 71
Section 1 Its outside appearance and function 71
Section 2 Construction of the lid for the beaker, and the movement for the
scribe 71
Section 3 Construction of the scribe 72
Chapter 6 The water-clock of the peacocks 75
Section 1 Description of the exterior of the clock and its operation 75
Section 2 On the construction of the water apparatus 76
Section 3 On the construction of the peacock and the movement which causes
him to make a display every half hour 76
Section 4 On the construction of the two chicks 78
Section 5 On the construction of the peahen 79
Section 6 On the construction of the roundels 80
Chapter 7 The candle-clock of the swordsman 83
Section 1 Introduction; its appearance and working principle 83
Section 2 On the construction of the channel which carries the balls and of the
falcon 84
Section 3 On the construction of the bracket, of the slave, and of the move-
ment for the sword-hand 85
Chapter 8 The candle-clock of the scribe 87
Section 1 Its outside appearance and functioning 87
Section 2 On the construction of the sheath, the weight, and the place for
the balls 87
Section 3 On the construction of the scribe 88
Chapter 9 The monkey candle-clock 90
Section I Description of the outside of the clock and its functioning 90
Section 2 On the construction of the monkey's keeper and the post and the
lifting. mechanism 90
Cha_pter 10 The candle-clock of the doors 92
Section I Its outside appearance and functioning 92
Section 2 On the construction of the doors and the figures which emerge from
the doors 92
CATEGORY II - Vessels and figures suitable for drinking sessions 95
Chapter 1 A goblet which arbitrates at drinking parties 95
CONTENTS IX
Section 1 Description of the goblet and its functioning 95
Section 2 Construction of the goblet and its mechanisms 95
Chapter 2 A goblet which arbitrates at drinking parties 98
Chapter 3 An arbiter for drinking parties (the castle wine dispenser) 99
Section 1 Its outside appearance and functioning 99
Section 2 On the construction of the dais and the columns on it; the slave-girl,
her hand, the bottle and the goblet 100
Section 3 Construction of the shells of the two castles, the dancer, the man in
the second castle, the horseman and the horse 101
Section 4 Construction of the wine reservoir and its float, which moves the
standing man; and the door leaves; construction of the tipping
bucket into which the wine discharges; of the mechanisms for the
horse and rider, the dancer, and the hands of the slave-girls 102
Section 5 On the construction of the flute and the production of the sound
from the sleeve of the flute-player 105
Chapter 4 A boat which is placed on a pool during a drinking party 107
Section 1 Its outside appearance and functioning 107
Section 2 Construction of the boat and the water-instruments fitted in the
boat for producing the movements of the slave-girls' hands and the
sound of the flute 108
Section 3 Construction of the slave-girls on top of the platform, and the move-
ments for their hands 108
Chapter 5 A pitcher for dispensing different liquids 110
Section 1 Its outside appearance and functioning 110
Section 2 Construction of the pitcher 111
Section 3 Construction of the valve 113
Chapter 6 The figure of a boon-companion who drinks the king's leavings 115
Section 1 Its outside appearance and purpose 115
Section 2 Construction of the boon-companion 115
Chapter 7 A standing slave holding a fish and a goblet 118
Section 1 Its outside appearance and functioning 118
Section 2 On the construction of the figure 118
Section 3 Construction of the slave's hands and their mechanism, of the fish,
and of the palm of the slave's hand 119
Chapter 8 A man holding a goblet and a bottle 120
Section 1 Its outside appearance and functioning 120
Section 2 Construction of the left hand holding the bottle, of the wine reser-
voir and the tipping-bucket 120
Chapter 9 A dais upon which are two shaykhs, each holding a goblet and a bottle 122
Section 1 Its outside appearance and functioning 122
Section 2 Construction of the reservoir for the water, and its discharge 122
Chapter 10 A slave-girl who emerges from a cupboard at intervals, holding a glass which
contains wine 125
Section 1 Its outside appearance and functioning 125
Section 2 On the construction of the slave-girl's hand and its mechanism,
the wine reservoir, the tipping-bucket and its trough 125
CATEGORY III - Pitchers, basins and other things (for handwashing and phlebotomy) 127
Chapter 1 A pitcher from which hot water, cold water and mixed water is poured 127
Section 1 Its outside appearance and functioning 127
Section 2 Construction of the deflector which discharges water into the two
chambers; completion of the pitcher 128
Chapter 2 A pitcher which dispenses water for the king to perform his ritual ablutions 130
Section 1 Its outside appearance and functioning 130
Section 2 On the construction of the pitcher's cover 131
Chapter 3 A slave who pours water over the king's hands 133
Section 1 Its outside appearance and functioning 133
Section 2 On the construction of the reservoir for the water, its outlet, and the
left hand 133
Chapter 4 A peacock which discharges water from its beak 136
Chapter 5 The basin of the monk, from whIch can be told the quantity of blood which
falls into it 137
x CONTENTS
Section 1 Its outside appearance and functioning 137
Section 2 On the construction of the apparatus which conducts the blood
from the basin,and that which turns the monk 137
Chapter 6 The basin of the two scribes for blood-letting 140
Section 1 Its outside appearance and functioning 140
Section 2 The mechanisms for the scribes 141
Chapter 7 The basin of the reckoner for blood-letting 143
Section 1 Its outside appearance and functioning 143
Section 2 On the construction of the fort, the man, the mechanism for his
right hand, and for the indication of the divisions 143
Chapter 8 The basin of the castle from which the amount of blood collected therein can
be ascertained 146
Section 1 The outside appearance of the basin, its contents, and its function-
ing 1~
Section 2 Construction of the six pillars and the castle on top of them 146
Chapter 9 The basin of the peacock for washing the hands 149
Section 1 Its outside appearance and functioning 149
Section 2 Construction of the basin, the four pillars, the castle on top of them
with the two doors in its front, and the two slaves 149
Section 3 Construction of the basin 150
Section 4 Construction of the peacock and what is connected to it 150
Chapter 10 The basin of the slave 153
Section 1 Its outside appearance and functioning, and the construction of the
dais and the slave 153
Section 2 Construction of the basin and its contents 154
CATEGORY IV - Fountains and perpetual flutes 157
Introduction, on fountains 157
Chapter 1 Fountain of the two tipping-buckets 157
Section 1 Description of its construction 157
Section 2 Its operation 158
Chapter 2 Two fountains and two tipping-buckets, with four outlets 159
Chapter 3 Fountain of the two floats 160
Section 1 Construction of main equipment 160
Section 2 Valve lifting and closing mechanisms 160
Chapter 4 Two fountains of the two floats 162
Chapter 5 The fountain of the bowl 164
Section 1 Construction of the fountain 164
Section 2 Construction (continued); operation 164
Chapter 6 Fountain of the two tipping-buckets (with valves) 166
Section 1 Construction of the fountain 166
Section 2 Construction of the cylinder like a balance for opening and closing
the valves 167
Section 3 Construction of the outlet for the water into the funnel, and of the
two tipping-buckets into which the water falls 167
Chapter 7 Instrument for perpetual flute, with two spheres 170
Chapter 8 Instrument for perpetual flute, with two tipping-buckets 172
Chapter 9 Instrument for perpetual flute, with a balance 174
Chapter 10 Instrument for perpetual flute with two floats 176
CATEGORY V - Machinesfor raising water 179
Chapter 1 A machine for raising water from a pool to a higher place by an animal who
turns a lever-arm 179
Chapter 2 A machine forraising water from a pool or a well by an animal who rotates it 180
Chapter 3 A machine for raising water by means of an endless chain of pots 182
Section 1 Description of the pool and its contents 182
Section 2 Its construction 182
Chapter 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) 184
Chapter 5 Pump driven by a water-wheel 186
Section 1 Description of first version; description of second version, in-
cluding internals of pump-box 186
CONTENTS XI
Section 2 Construction of cylinders, valves, suction and delivery pipes 187
Section 3 Construction of paddle-wheel and cogwheel; assembly of the
machine and its operation 188
CATEGORY VI - Miscellaneous 191
Chapter 1 A door of cast brass for the king's palace at Amid 191
Section 1 Its outside appearance 191
Section 2 Construction of the lattice-work 192
Section 3 Manufacture of the border from brass and red copper 194
Chapter 2 A protractor 196
Section 1 On the purpose of the instrument and its construction 196
Section 2 Use of the instrument for determining centre-points 197
Section 3 Use of the instrument for setting out different angles 197
Chapter 3 A lock for locking a chest by means of 12 letters of the alphabet 199
Section 1 The combination locks 199
Section 2 Mechanisms inside the lid; the latch 200
Chapter 4 Four bolts on the back of a door 202
Section 1 The appearance of the bolts and their functioning 202
Section 2 Manufacture of the pulley (cogwheel) which opens and closes the
bolts 202
Chapter 5 A boat clock 204
Concluding passage to the Oxford Graves 27 manuscript 206
PARTIII
Notes
Transliteration of Arabic letters; numerical equivalents of Arabic letters 240
Explanatory Notes, chapter by chapter 241
Category I Chapter 1 Page 241 Category III Chapter 5 Page' 260
2 246 6 261
3 247 7 261
4 247 8 262
5 250 9 262
6 251 10 262
7 252 IV 263
8 253 2 263
9 254 3 263
10 254 4 263
II 1&2 255 5 263
3 255 6 264
4 256 7-10 264
5 256 V 265
6 257 2 265
7 257 3 265
8 257 4 265
9 257 5 266
10 258 VI 1 267
III 1 259 2 268
2 260 3 268
3 260 4 270
4 260 5 270
General Notes - including a brief survey of the historical background to al-Jazari's devices
and their component parts 271
Category I Clocks 271
Categories II and III Vessels and Measuring Basins 272
Category IV Fountains and Perpetual Flutes 272
Category V Water Lifting Devices 273
Category VI Miscellaneous 274
Chapter 1 The Palace Door; Casting techniques 274
Chapter 2 The protractor . 274
Chapters 3 and 4 The locks 274
