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Thread: Steam - the power of the future?
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09-22-2011, 09:16 PM #1
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09-22-2011, 10:17 PM #2
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Thanked: 46Well ... you could use a windmill to pump water into a large elevated tank and then use that head of water to drive a water wheel, draining into another large tank underneath so as to not waste water. I don't know how large the tanks would have to be but I'd expect the term "rather" may be appropriate.
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09-24-2011, 07:31 PM #3
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Thanked: 14haha yeah :P they'd have to be quite large to provide power for a prolonged period of time.
best option here is to retire and take your time doing things :P
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09-24-2011, 09:07 PM #4
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Thanked: 66Does anyone know how it was done 200 years ago?
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09-24-2011, 09:16 PM #5
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09-24-2011, 09:56 PM #6
You're correct, however man learned many years ago to harness the power of the wind, water, animal and human power! This post is about making a 'power supply'. I believe that it was an Amish woman who was using a foot powered sewing machine and looked out the window and observed the men using a large cross cut saw cutting through a log and came up with a human powered wood saw.
While I'm a little off topic here my Great Grandfathers homestead still stands, but is abandoned. the Root Cellar is constructed of 2' by2' by2' 'Davis Red Rock' the rock was removed from the quarry in the spring while it was saturated with water. This allowed the rock to be sawed into precise squares. The stone was soft enough to be decorated with garden rack marks! after the stone had dried, it would stay that way. This same stone is still in place at the old homestead and is also still the foundation of the Garfield County Courthouse in Pomeroy Washington USA.
All of the work was done by men using horses, levers, pulleys, sleds, etc
I guess you could say that all of that effort did indeed take a lot of elbow grease!Our house is as Neil left it- an Aladdin’s cave of 'stuff'.
Kim X
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09-25-2011, 01:47 AM #7
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Thanked: 94Back in ye olden days they used:
- Dogs powered treadmills (seriously)
- water
- steam
- elbow grease/treadles (like you can see on the antique sewing machines)
Don't know if they had people powered treadmills for cutlery works as treadmills were used as punishment for convicts.
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09-25-2011, 06:17 AM #8
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09-25-2011, 07:26 AM #9
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09-25-2011, 03:56 PM
#10
I'm constantly amazed how these YouTube videographers just happen to be on the spot and facing in the right direction when something interesting happens.