The Archdruid Report discusses some early applications of solar energy by Augustin Mouchot (late 1800s) and Frank Schuman (early 1900s). An overview of historical experiments and applications of solar energy can be found here and here.
Harnessing the Sun: the History of Solar Energy
A Manual for the Transport of Sick and Wounded by Pack Animals
March 10, 2010 by Filed Under: Animal power, Horses, Pack animals, Pack horses, Random
Cardboard Box Bass
March 10, 2010 by Filed Under: Cardboard, Musical Instruments
“The ‘Bogdon Box Bass’ represents a reduction of technology and the simplification of needs. By demonstrating that a quality sound can be achieved by using unconventional material components at an extremely low cost, a cardboard bass guitar places the least demand on resource technology and encourages people to shift their preconceptions about the ‘typical novice instrument’.
Cardboard is not a traditional product material, however the introduction of innovative bonding, cutting and structural techniques has provided the opportunity to consider this lightweight and recyclable material in a more creative fashion. Works with or without an amplifier.”
Available as a do-it-yourself kit or fully assembled at Bogdon Music (no free plans). More information on the construction of the instrument here. Related: Shovelman & One string guitar.
Libraries
March 10, 2010 by Filed Under: Consumption
“Even more useful than the books or activities, though, is the principle behind libraries, that we and our neighbours can pool our resources and hold things in common that all of us occasionally need. Most of the Western World, however, adopted this principle for books and then stopped, never extending it to other obvious areas of life. In fact, the trend of the last few decades has been the opposite – people bought more and more of their own private stocks of anything, no matter how expensive or little-used: a row of ten family homes might have ten rakes, ten chainsaws, ten barbecue pits and ten Dora the Explorer videos, each of which is used for only a few hours a year.” Read.
Best Curta Pictures Ever
March 1, 2010 by Filed Under: Computers, Obsolete technology
Curta pictures (thank you, Richard). More information on the device (previously): “Computing without electricity“.
Dutch Book Bindings (12th – 21st Century)
February 27, 2010 by Filed Under: Books
Book bindings of the Royal National Library of The Netherlands. Via BibliOdyssey, where you can find a selection.
