sitelights
07-20-2003, 03:01 PM
This is a much better book than the 2003 edition titled "Indoor & Outdoor Lighting Solutions" that I reviewed last week. The book titled "How to Design & Install Outdoor Lighting", was written by William H.W.Wilson, and first published in March 1984 by Ortho Books which was then a subsidiary of Chevron Chemical Company and I hereby acknowledge their expired copyright. The Library of Congress Card Number is 83-62652 and the ISBN is 0-89721-026-3. This book is out-of-print but still available from many sources used. I paid $6.95 in June 1984 at a garden center; the price sticker is still on the back of my original copy. Of the dozen or so copies I purchased over the years to give away to avid clients this is my only copy left. It may be of interest that Loran's "Nightscaping" (r) seminars back in the mid-80s had a copy of this book punched and placed into their course materials in a 3-ring binder. Come to think of it, I may still have that binder stashed somewhere. I am not a fan of "Nightscaping" (r) products or their mission.
Physically both books are similar in size, stock and binding: about 8" X 11", coated paper with a cardstock laminated cover, soft-bound and glued. Here the similarity ends and in terms of text they only share the "&" in their titles. A page count results in the following: 88 pages of text, a 6 page Appendix and a 2 page Index. There is a "U.S. Measure and Metric Conversion Chart" on the bottom half of the last page (an artifact from the days of the failed attempt to get America to go metric). Of the 96 pages of text 8.5 pages are exclusively about line (120v) voltage and 6.5 pages exclusively about low (12v) voltage; the approximately 91 remaining pages are applicable to both. Contrast this with the page analysis for the 2003 book contained in my 07.15.03 review on this site. This book is entirely about outdoor lighting while only about 10% of the 2003 book is devoted to outdoor lighting.
There are 4 sections: "The Garden at Night"(10 p.), "Tools and Techniques"(30 p.), "Planning Your Lighting"(30 p.) and "Installation and Maintenance"(14 p.) the page count difference is due to some full page photographs. This book, with the exception of 14 thumbnail lighting diagrams, is illustrated entirely with photographs only one of which I find objectionable. This single goofy image is contained in a full page sidebar titled "The Use of Color in Outdoor Lighting" which should be ignored. The passage of 20 years has not dated the images but the photograph of an array of lamps has no bi-pin lamps either MR or J type since the book pre-dates their introduction to low voltage outdoor lighting.
This book is entirely readable and contains good information for the outdoor lighting enthusiast; the same cannot be said for the 2003 book which is not worth its bargain price of $12.00 (or less). The lucky seeker may find a dusty but new copy of the 1984 amongst the other Ortho books racked in a garden supply center.
This book is a fine addition to anyone's outdoor lighting library. All the material about design and planning is clear, concise and well-organized and the absence of newer lamp types does not diminish the value of the text in any way. Today's reader has the advantage of knowing that there is a very broad selection of wattages and beam patterns that add economy and precision to the realm of outdoor lighting. This book is the best value of all the available books on the topic.
Image of the original cover is attached below.
Physically both books are similar in size, stock and binding: about 8" X 11", coated paper with a cardstock laminated cover, soft-bound and glued. Here the similarity ends and in terms of text they only share the "&" in their titles. A page count results in the following: 88 pages of text, a 6 page Appendix and a 2 page Index. There is a "U.S. Measure and Metric Conversion Chart" on the bottom half of the last page (an artifact from the days of the failed attempt to get America to go metric). Of the 96 pages of text 8.5 pages are exclusively about line (120v) voltage and 6.5 pages exclusively about low (12v) voltage; the approximately 91 remaining pages are applicable to both. Contrast this with the page analysis for the 2003 book contained in my 07.15.03 review on this site. This book is entirely about outdoor lighting while only about 10% of the 2003 book is devoted to outdoor lighting.
There are 4 sections: "The Garden at Night"(10 p.), "Tools and Techniques"(30 p.), "Planning Your Lighting"(30 p.) and "Installation and Maintenance"(14 p.) the page count difference is due to some full page photographs. This book, with the exception of 14 thumbnail lighting diagrams, is illustrated entirely with photographs only one of which I find objectionable. This single goofy image is contained in a full page sidebar titled "The Use of Color in Outdoor Lighting" which should be ignored. The passage of 20 years has not dated the images but the photograph of an array of lamps has no bi-pin lamps either MR or J type since the book pre-dates their introduction to low voltage outdoor lighting.
This book is entirely readable and contains good information for the outdoor lighting enthusiast; the same cannot be said for the 2003 book which is not worth its bargain price of $12.00 (or less). The lucky seeker may find a dusty but new copy of the 1984 amongst the other Ortho books racked in a garden supply center.
This book is a fine addition to anyone's outdoor lighting library. All the material about design and planning is clear, concise and well-organized and the absence of newer lamp types does not diminish the value of the text in any way. Today's reader has the advantage of knowing that there is a very broad selection of wattages and beam patterns that add economy and precision to the realm of outdoor lighting. This book is the best value of all the available books on the topic.
Image of the original cover is attached below.