Mechanical Devices in the Home

by Edith Allen

Price: Free
Language: en
Source: Project Gutenberg

What this book is like

Mechanical Devices in the Home takes listeners through the working parts of an early-twentieth-century household. Edith Allen describes the appliances and systems people used to cook, heat, light, clean, do laundry, manage water, and store food—from wood-burning stoves to early electric motors. It reads like a well-organized manual: direct, detailed, and methodical. The appeal is practical curiosity, discovering how ordinary domestic tasks were engineered during the shift from wood and coal to gas and electricity.

It will suit history fans, tinkerers, and anyone who enjoys learning how things used to work. Listening rather than reading suits this book well, as its short, catalogued sections make it easy to pause and resume. Expect a precise, informative read—like an old encyclopedia article brought to life—rather than a story.

About this book

Book from Project Gutenberg: Mechanical Devices in the Home Cooking stoves: Wood and coal stoves. Gas stoves. Oil stoves. Electric stoves. Alcohol, acetylene, and canned heat. Fireless and steam cookers -- Heating devices: Warm-air furnaces. Hot-water system of heating. Steam-heating systems. Fireplaces and heating stoves. Gas, electric and kerosene heaters -- Lighting devices: Electric lights. Gas light. Kerosene lamps. Alcohol and gasoline lamps -- Cooling devices: Refrigerators. Iceless refrigerators; water coolers. Fans and ventilators -- Water supply and sewage: Pumps and water filters. Pressure tanks; plumbing fixtures. Cesspools, septic tanks and city sewer systems. Water closets -- Laundry equipment: Washing machines. Wringers. Mangles and irons -- House-cleaning equipment: Vacuum cleaners and cleaning tools -- Devices for preparation and conservation of food: Pots, pans and other devices. Parers, seeders, grinders, slicers, etc. Mixers, beaters and churns; coffee pots. Dish-washers, canners and dryers. Separators and emulsifiers -- Sundry devices: Dumbwaiters and other house furnishings. Sewing machines. Automobiles. Lawn mowers; incubators. Typewriters -- Motors, fuels and gas plants: Treadles and water motors. Engines; motors and batteries; fuels. Gas plants -- Measuring devices: Scales for weighing. Devices for measuring volume. Gas, water and electric meters. Thermometers and thermostats. Hydrometers and barometers.