Clean Sweep! Frank Zamboni's Ice Machine


Book Description

Now in paperback. Meet Frank Zamboni, whose determination and persistence led to his invention of the now-famous Zamboni ice-resurfacing machine. When Frank Zamboni, along with his brother and cousin, opened their own skating rink in 1940 in Paramount, California, it could take an hour and a half for a crew to resurface the ice. They had to level the surface by shaving down the pits and grooves with a tractor, remove the shavings, wash the ice and find a way to give the rink its shining finish. Skaters became exasperated with the wait, so Frank was determined to do something about it. Could he turn a ninety-minute job for five men into a ten-minute task for only one? Working in the shed behind his ice rink, Frank drew designs and built models of machines he hoped would do the job. For nine years, he worked on his invention, each model an improvement on the one before. Finally, in 1949, Frank tested the Model A, which "cleaned the ice in one sweep around the rink." The rest is history.




Frank Zamboni and the Ice-Resurfacing Machine


Book Description

World-changing events unfold before your eyes in these amazing tales of inventions and discovery. Inventors, scientists, and businesspeople shape our world through their will and determination. See their captivating stories come to life with vivid illustrations and easy-to-read text. An additional information section provides key facts and further understanding.




Zamboni Ice Resurfacers


Book Description

Hockey players and figure skaters wouldnÕt be able to perform their best without Zamboni ice resurfacers. The famous ice polisher machines smooth ice by shaving it, washing it, squeegeeing it, and more! In this title, beginning readers will watch Zamboni machines make loops around ice rinks.




Zamboni


Book Description

Enjoy a (slow) spin around the old rink in the only history of the world-famous Zamboni ice resurfacer…now available in an updated edition to celebrate the 70th birthday of these iconic machines! Until 1949, resurfacing an ice rink required an ungainly tractor-pulled shaver followed by three or four workers scooping away the shavings and then spraying and squeegeeing water. The process—including the refreezing—took more than an hour, as skaters or hockey players waited patiently. That all changed when a tireless inventor by the name of Frank J. Zamboni—who also happened to own a skating rink in Southern California—put his mind to creating a quality sheet of ice in a shorter time. The story of the machines the Zamboni Company has produced—now as beloved among sports enthusiasts as ice skates and hockey pucks—is fully told in this fun-filled history of machine-age ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit that forever changed the nature of ice sports. Inside this official illustrated story, created with the cooperation of the Zamboni Company, you'll be greeted by a wealth of visual material from their archives. Explore: The early development of Zamboni ice-resurfacing machines How they work and have evolved over the years The story behind figure-skating legend Sonja Henie's personal Zamboni ice resurfacers Anecdotes from drivers Stories behind paint schemes Colorful tales about Zamboni ice resurfacer drivers And much more Witness the design and workings of the latest models, such as the world's first OEM lithium-ion-powered ice resurfacer, and read fun new Zamboni tales and milestones, like the 12,000th machine delivered and the 2018 formation of Zamboni Europe in Sweden. Entertaining sidebars explore the appeal of Zamboni machines, take you inside Zamboni facilities, examine the company’s other less-well-known machines, and highlight Zamboni machines' television and film "roles." The only book on the subject not geared for young kids, Zamboni: The Coolest Machines on Ice offers sports enthusiasts a fun-filled and informative look at one of the most beloved machines on four wheels!




It's a Snap!


Book Description

George Eastman had a new hobby: photography. The year was 1877, and photography was not as easy as you might think. It cost a lot and the equipment was bulky, but George was about to change all that. What he lacked in formal education, George more than made up for in ingenuity: he invented dry plates, film, and the Brownie camera! The rest is history. For anyone who has ever taken a picture or posed for one, It's a Snap! George Eastman's First Photograph, with its playful, informative text and lively illustrations, is a splendid introduction to biography, to photography, and to the amazing man who had so much to do with putting picture-taking within reach of us all.




All Aboard!


Book Description

Highlights the life and accomplishments of the Canadian-born black American who developed an oil cup that allowed train engines to be oiled while the train was running, as well as many other inventions.




Proud as a Peacock, Brave as a Lion


Book Description

Much has been written about war and remembrance, but very little of it has been for young children. As questions come from a young grandchild, his grandpa talks about how, as a very young man, he was as proud as a peacock in uniform, busy as a beaver on his Atlantic crossing, and brave as a lion charging into battle. Soon, the old man’s room is filled with an imaginary menagerie as the child thinks about different aspects of wartime. But as he pins medals on his grandpa’s blazer and receives his own red poppy in return, the mood becomes more somber. Outside, the crowd gathered for the veterans’ parade grows as quiet as a mouse, while men and women — old and young — march past in the rain. A trumpet plays and Grandpa lays a wreath in memory of his lost friend. Just then, the child imagines an elephant in the mist. “Elephants never forget,” he whispers to his grandpa. “Then let’s be elephants,” says the old man, as he wipes water from his eyes and takes his grandson’s hand. Proud as a Peacock, Brave as a Lion has relevance to a growing number of families, as new waves of soldiers leave home.




The Secret Subway


Book Description

From an acclaimed author and a New York Times Best Illustrated artist comes the fascinating, little-known—and true!—story of New York City’s first subway. New York City in the 1860s was a mess: crowded, disgusting, filled with garbage. You see, way back in 1860, there were no subways, just cobblestone streets. That is, until Alfred Ely Beach had the idea for a fan-powered train that would travel underground. On February 26, 1870, after fifty-eight days of drilling and painting and plastering, Beach unveiled his masterpiece—and throngs of visitors took turns swooshing down the track. The Secret Subway will wow readers, just as Beach’s underground train wowed riders over a century ago. A New York Public Library Best Book for Kids, 2016




Uncle John's Bathroom Reader: Shoots and Scores


Book Description

Updated & expanded—this entry in the bestselling bathroom reader series is full of hockey trivia on the sport’s colorful history, legendary players, and more. The Bathroom Readers’ Institute has added seventy all-new pages to this collection of tales and trivia about the Greatest Game on Ice. You’ll find loads of new articles, plus updated facts throughout. So tighten your laces and grab your stick—it’s Hockey Time! Read about . . . · Octopuses, rubber rats, and other animal ice-capades · What’s up with those hockey haircuts? · The science behind the slap shot · Why are hockey goalies so weird? · And of course—how did Gretzky get so good? Get ready for some end-to-end action!




In the Bag!


Book Description

Tundra's Great Idea Series are early-reader biographies. The third book in the series introduces the fascinating Margaret Knight. Known as Mattie, she was different from most American girls living in 1850. She loved to make things with wood and made the best kites and sleds in town. Her father died when she was only three and by the time she was twelve she was working at the local cotton mill, alongside her two older brothers. One day she saw a worker get injured by a shuttle which had come loose from the giant loom, and the accident inspired her to invent a stop-motion device. It was to be the first of her many inventions. Margaret devoted her life to inventing, and is best known for the clever, practical, paper bag. When she died in 1914 she had ninety inventions to her name and over twenty patents, astounding accomplishments for a woman of her day. Monica Kulling deftly uses easy-to-read language and lots of dialogue to bring an amazing, inspiring woman to life.