Customer Rating: 
Summary: Required reading for scientists, engineers, inventors ... well, everyone, really.
Comment: The articles will blow your mind. Did you know the catalytic converter *had not been invented* when the Clean Air Act was enacted? It's an everyday fact of life now, and we take for granted that we can drive cars everywhere and still be able to breathe. But Congress took a leap of faith, and some hardworking Edison-types out in the auto industry found an incredibly practical solution to a problem that many thought could not be solved in a cost-effective way.
I just saw a trailer for the 2008 movie, Flash of Genius, about the guy who invented the intermittent windshield wiper. As a species, we're so good at assimilating stuff like that. Then taking it for granted. And thinking it must have always existed. Or that the idea is obvious. "Heck, *I* could have done that." But we'd all still be living by the seashore and eating raw fish if some hardworking folks hadn't pushed, pulled, dragged us forward, one invention at a time.
This magazine tells their stories. Get it, and see behind the curtain!
This was recommended to me years ago by a friend and I gave it a try. I have learned the most amazing things from this magazine. It only comes out 4 times a year. It's a little skinny thing. There are no ads, though. The publisher took a hiatus for about a year, but apparently it's back.
Customer Rating:
Summary: One of the best
Comment: In our slick and dumbed down society Invention & Technology is one of the few bright spots for the few that know about it.
Summer 2007 was the last time it was issued, HOWEVER American Heritage has found a new publisher. This means AH's parent company Forbes, Inc has sold it I guess? On the phone with AH I was told they plan to start up publication again this summer, of 2008. I just hope the unique spartan 'no fuss' retro pre-60's format will not be changed too much, additionally with the continuation of no advertisements. The extensive research that goes into each expertly written article along with the 'really cool' historical photos is much appreciated by the magazine's fans.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A must have if you love technology of all kinds - Only the curious should subscribe!
Comment: This magazine has a very loyal following for good reason. It is one of the best technology magazines in print or online. I have every issue since the first one published in 1985 to Present. You will not go wrong.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Love this magazine!
Comment: Ever wonder how things we use every day were first conceived, designed, built, and marketed? Each time it arrives you'll get a good five or ten well-written stories about them. I've been subscribing for years and this is the magazine I look forward to receiving the most. It's also the only magazine that I hang on to my back issues for.
This is also the only magazine with a "Letters to the Editor" section that I actually bother to read. You see, as well-researched as each article is, there are always readers who will add a more interesting tidbits to the story via this section.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The Inventive History of Technology
Comment: This magazine is devoted to American inventions and technology that have affected our lives. In essence, this magazine is a historical magazine about American technology. Within each issue are multiple articles about a historical invention. The articles can either focus on the technology or focus on an individual who has been a key contributor to the advancement of that technology. Typically, each issue also has an interview with an inventor or inventors whose contributions have materially affected our lives or society.
The scope of the magazine is broad. There have been articles on the Trans-Canada highway. Another recent issue had an excellent article on tunnel boring machines. In yet another article the development of refinery cracking was described in the context of the development of higher performance engines. The contribution of high octane gasoline to the winning of the air war was mentioned, an interesting piece of trivia of which I was previously unaware.
The scope of the magazine is beyond the physical sciences. Biology and the development of medical technology are also covered. While the magazine is written at a level that an educated non-expert can understand, some of the biology related articles challenge my attention.
This magazine is an excellent source of technological history. However, while the technical jargon used is that appropriate to a technology, this magazine is not light reading for those unfamiliar with a specific field. As an example, I had to read portions of the article on refinery cracking a couple of times to understand the general description of how the cracking process works. Therefore, while I highly recommend this magazine to anyone with an interest in the history of technology, realize that for some readers, for example elementary school students, this magazine could present a reading challenge.
Most articles also provide pictures or other artwork. Frequently this artwork is unavailable from any other magazine source because there are so few magazines that deal with technological history. The quality of the images varies because many of the pictures have not been well-preserved, but in many cases they are the only pictures available.
This magazine frequently mentions the Inventor's Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio, which is sponsored by the United States Patent & Trademark Office. A number of articles have covered inductees to the Inventor's Hall of Fame, showing that while the articles are historical in nature, they are also currently relevant.
There are a large number of magazines that are either about technology, or have had articles about technology. There are a large number of trade magazines that cover technology. Sometimes these magazines even have articles about the history of an invention. However, the "American Heritage of Invention & Technology" is the only magazine of which I am aware the covers the history of invention and technology. While the focus of the articles is American technology, it is inevitable that the relationship of foreign invention is covered occasionally as well when that technology was important in the development of American technology. I consider this magazine to be excellent for anyone with an interest in historical technology, and is an excellent complement to other historical magazines.
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