This book reminds me of the DK Eyewitness books in that it simply explains a tool and shows you with various line drawings and also photographs. Not a lot of explanation for each tool, but a good quick reference. The tools in the book are not necessarily period pieces, but they are derived from period tools. I think this is a good beginner reference book, of course because of the price (less than 10 bucks), and especially because it shows things well in the photographs.