WILLIAM D. HALFPENNY (died 1755)

Halfpenny "borrowed" some published designs of doorways and windows from Inigo Jones and Palladio, such as this "Ionick" order, adding his tables of dimensions for achieving the same designs at various scales. He was one of the first to popularize the manual for craftsmen in England in the 1720s. This 1736 volume of Practical Architecture was the 5th edition of the title, a testament to its enduring influence.

1. "The Ionick [sic] Order." Practical Architecture or a Sure Guide to the True Working according to the Rules of that Science: Representing the Five Orders, ... Taken from Inigo Jones & other Celebrated Architects... 5th ed. [London]: Printed for & sold by Tho. Bowles printseller, 1736.

WILLIAM PAIN (1730-1790)

Pain, a British carpenter, first published his books in London; in the 1790s he brought out editions printed in America. Pain's guides offered greatly expanded construction data, including a price list for materials and labor, interior detailing, and floor plans. In addition to designs for residences he included greenhouses, shop fronts, bridges, and stables.

2. Roof Trusses, plate XV. The Carpenter's Pocket Directory, containing the Best Methods of Framing Timber Buildings of all Figures and Dimensions... with Explanations, Forming the Most Complete and Useful Work of the Kind yet Published. London: J. Taylor, 1803 [p.1 of 2].
3. Roof Trusses, plate XV. The Carpenter's Pocket Directory, containing the Best Methods of Framing Timber Buildings of all Figures and Dimensions... with Explanations, Forming the Most Complete and Useful Work of the Kind yet Published. London: J. Taylor, 1803 [p.2 of 2].
4. "List of Prices, for Material and Labor, and Labor Only..." The Practical House Carpenter; or, Youth's Instructor: Containing a Great Variety of Useful Designs in Carpentry and Architecture... The Whole Illustrated, and made Perfectly Easy, by One Hundred and Forty-eight Copper-plates, with Explanations to Each. 6th ed. Philadelphia: Printed by Thomas Dobson, 1797.
5. "A Modern Composed Capital and Entablature," plate XXVIII. Practical Builder, or, Workman's General Assistant ... Rules of Carpentry. 7th ed. London: J. Taylor, 1804.

BATTY LANGLEY (1696-1751)

Batty Langley's own designs for his books were intended to present simplified design principles and easily applied rules, for both the craftsman and the apprentice. His goal was to provide "useful knowledge" as stated in his introduction: "It is useful Knowledge only, that makes one Man more valuable than another..."

6. The Builders Jewel or the Youth's Instructor, and Workmen's Remembrancer: explaining Short and Easy Rules ... for Drawing and Working ... the Whole Illustrated with upwards of 200 Examples ... 2nd ed. London: Printed for T. Langley, 1741.