Practical Mechanics for Boys

James Slough Zerbe

James Slough Zerbe was an American inventor, early aircraft builder, mechanical engineer, electrical engineer, and author. He designed planes with multiple wings, including the Zerbe Sextuplane and the Zerbe Air Sedan. Zerbe wrote a series of instructional books for boys on subjects like carpentry, automobiles, electricity, and "aeroplanes"; and also wrote an adventure and travel books. He lived in Ohio, New York City, and later California.