In article ,
Tom Gardner wrote:
I'm reading an interesting novel about the island of Nantucket getting
transported back in time to 1200 BC. (Island in the sea of time) The
residence have to gear their technology back quite a bit, understandably.
One of the first things they do is organize the hobby machinists into an
industry to produce necessities and trade goods.

The main hobby machinist was patterned after a real hobby
machinist, who at that time lived on Nantucket. (He actually just moved
to Maine in the last year.)

Machine shop heroes! One
big problem looming is the finite supply of tool steel and cutting tools.
How would someone with such limited resources make small quantities of
serviceable tool steel cutting tools? They have plenty of mild steel from
boats and cars.

They also have as a resource a sail-powered Coast Guard training
ship, which proves to be an invaluable resource, and the massive forests
on the mainland to serve as materials for building more sailing ships.

I won't bother to give away too much, as the story continues
beyond that single book.

In any case -- it is a wonderful read for anyone in this
newsgroup.

Enjoy,
DoN.
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