Alex Moulton's Autobiography - Alex Moulton: from Bristol to Bradford-on-Avon - is now available for purchase from Alex Moulton Books.
In this new book, Dr. Alex Moulton recounts, in his own words, his lifetime in engineering. The whole story – from building steam cars as a teenager, and working under Roy Fedden at Bristol Aeroplane, through the development of rubber suspension systems that led to collaboration with BMC, Dunlop and Sir Alec Issigonis in the creation of Hydrolastic and Hydragas, to the revolutionary Moulton bicycle that, together with the Mini, became an icon of the swinging sixties – is told in Dr. Moulton’s characteristic direct style.
The book promises
Hundreds of illustrations – sketches, photographs and calculations, many in colour – accompany the text as this fascinating memoir unfolds, giving the reader an insight into the mind of one of Britain’s most innovative engineers. For those who know little of Dr. Moulton’s work, this is a comprehensive account; and for those who have prior knowledge this book contains a wealth of previously unpublished details and illustrations.
Hmm, that cover looks like the book I saw in the window of the kookshop in BoA. I didn’t realise it was an auto-biography.
I see they are taking Paypal for it. That’s good.
Chris,
yes, the cover looks like a new edition
from “A lifetime in”….
Was my first mind too.
Hello,
It is Alex’s memoir and a completely new book. It came out at the beginning of this month.
We are putting the introduction on the site too as the feedback has been that people want a bit more info. on the site.
Many thanks,
Jenny
Its an excellent read – I’m sure there’s many more stories to be told – volume 2 perhaps?
Further to the book launch, Alex will be in Birmingham Feb 17 at BIAD -“Aspects of Design” series. In conversation with David Duffield.
http://www.bcu.ac.uk/news/243
Just finished this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is the best of Alex’s engineering archives and must have taken a great deal of time to put together. The development of hydrolastic suspension with Alec Issigonis in particular is quite un-putdownable. There are hundreds of fascinating design sketches and proper engineering drawings, most that have not been in the public domain before. These show the genesis and development of each of Alex’s main lines of work. I think that the classic Moulton bicycle was not so difficult for him but the hydrolastic and hydragas were really complex and significant, and will surely re-emerge at some stage. Lots of fun stuff about steam cars and boats. Revealing insights about the relationship with Raleigh and BMC. Not a conventional auto-biography but in fact, better. This is the exploration and exposition of an engineering method, driven by experiment, logic and relentless innovation. Highly recommended.