rare digest size softcover 1916 catalog of plumbing and heating supplies, “handy man book” published for hardin-lavin co., chicago, il. contains 224 pages with offset illustrations of fixtures for plumbing, heating, lighting and accessorizing the bathroom. alongside catalog items for sale are instructions for installation and repair work such as “how to drill glass” or “how to stop a leak in a wooden water supply tank”. the first page details the company’s business history, started by John Hardin in chicago in 1876, and incorporated by the buying and manufacturing john j. lavin co., in 1904 to become the hardin-lavin co.. an index and several ‘discount sheets’ with penciled hand-writing can be found at the back. in good condition, some rubbing near edges and a little loose, but binding is intact. the spine is detaching at its extremes to expose the sewn signatures. measures 5 x 8 inches.