In the 16th century printed books were heavy and unwieldy. Italian military engineer Agostino Ramelli found a solution to this problem in 1588. The book wheel was a bookcase designed like a small Ferris wheel that was turned by hand or by a foot pedal, moving the books in a north to south fashion.
Ramelli described his creation:
This is a beautiful and ingenious machine, very useful and convenient for anyone who takes pleasure in study, especially those who are indisposed and tormented by gout. For with this machine a man can see and turn through a large number of books without moving from one spot. Moreover, it has another fine convenience in that it occupies very little space in the place where it is set, as anyone of intelligence can clearly see from the drawing.
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