The Bookwheel, invented in 1588 by Italian engineer Agostino Ramelli, was a heavy, 600-pound wooden rotating bookcase that let scholars easily use up to eight open books at once. It had a clever gear system to keep the books upright as the wheel turned by hand, saving time for readers who didn’t have to fetch books from shelves. Featured in Ramelli’s book of machines, it was a creative Renaissance tool for studying, though it’s uncertain how many were actually made.
Sorry Agostino, but a lazy susan would’ve been easier! But not as cool looking I’ll admit.
Mar 8th, 2025 / 8:37 pm
A classic case of too many tabs open. I love it.
Mar 10th, 2025 / 8:11 am
Wow, this is fascinating! The Book wheel is like a Renaissance-era multitasking tool for scholars. Imagine how useful this would have been for researchers back then—no need to flip through multiple books manually. I wonder how practical it would be today in a modern library or office. Have you ever seen one in person?
Mar 11th, 2025 / 1:38 am
You know, it wouldn’t have to weigh 600 pounds. That might be why it didn’t catch on more.
Mar 16th, 2025 / 11:02 am