working bike pump?

Mini pumps, you are going to find to get up to the right PSI. Even with the ones with high pressure low pressure switches.
I found a classic zefal http://www.zefal.com/en/traditional-pumps/109-hpx-classic.html by the side of the road biking once and this thing can do anything a floor pump can do. Comes with a frame mount, i usually just slide it in my backpack/messenger bag though.

What PSI do you run?

This might be worth looking at though!
http://www.rei.com/product/779850/lezyne-pressure-drive-mini-pump

I have torn off valves a number of times using small pumps, so the hose is appealing.

Leslie,
The Topeak Road Morph ( http://www.topeak.com/pages/343/news/detail/41 ) is my favorite pump for bike touring. It has a hose with a pressure guage that helps prevent breaking stems off of presta tubes. It also comes with a foot peg that allows stability like a big floor pump. Yes it does have parts made of plastic but I haven't had any durability issues with mine. Since you have an aversion to plastic you might also look at the Lezyne Pressure Drive Mini Pump.
( http://www.rei.com/product/779850/lezyne-pressure-drive-mini-pump ). It's all metal with a cleaver reversable hose system that connects to either Presta or Schraeder vale stems without having to change the head. I carry the Lezyne on my road bike.
Best,
Carl

Lezyne has a pretty good reputation for durability. I also have the Topeak Road Morph and have had no issues with it. I rarely ever use my frame/mini pumps as they are really only built for occasional or emergency use. If you have a good floor pump, decent tires, and top off your pressure before leaving home you should rarely need the frame pump. Maybe you're doing a lot of long distance touring on bad roads.

Topeak Mountain Morph for me.

cool, thanks all.
i'll research the suggested.
one for the road:
the most widely used bike repair/maintenance book/bible– if one exists?
thanks again.
lt

I like this one:

http://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/books/2077/

Between Park Tools maintenance articles on their website and YouTube you can learn anything you need to know for free. If you still want a book check out Lennard Zinn.

I second the Lezyne. Light, durable, reliable
Just a beautiful piece of equipment

I have not had any problems with my Lezyne M alloy drive. Get the M or L, so you can use the optional gauge hose with it, as well as move a reasonable amount of air

I've had my Lezyne for a number of years, still rocks. The plastic holder broke in a crash, I just put it in a butt pack now.