Hand Powered Apple Peelers

May 10, 2011 by kris de decker Filed Under: Hand tools, Human power, Obsolete technology, Random

hand powered apple peeler

Hand powered apple peelers can peel, core and cut apples with amazing speed and precision. They were available in a surprisingly large variety.

The 18th and 19th century saw a growing need for apples as a winter staple for both food and drink. Apples needed to be processed for winter storage. Paring, coring, and cutting enough apples for winter was difficult and time consuming.

Farmers used their creative skills to make wooden machines that made the process quick and efficient. Industrialization and the use of iron during the 19th century witnessed an explosion of patented creativity. More than 100 patents were granted from 1850 to 1890. Apple peelers were also used as a kitchen device.

There is a full website dedicated to hand powered apple peelers, explaining in detail the use, history and workings of the devices and showing many pictures and videos.

Solar Powered Laser Cutter

April 22, 2011 by kris de decker Filed Under: Solar

Solar powered laser cutter “This project explores the potential of harnessing sunlight directly to produce objects. The Sun Cutter is a low-tech, low-energy version of a laser cutter. It uses pure sunlight, focused by a ball lens, to repeatedly cut programmed shapes in up to 0.4mm thick plywood as well as paper and card.”

The Sun Cutter.

More projects from the RCA Design products Department.

Related: The bright future of solar powered factories.

Micro-Livestock: Little Known Small Animals with a Promising Economic Future

April 22, 2011 by kris de decker Filed Under: Animal power, Farming, Meat, Random

micro livestockMathew Lippincott sends in this link to a 1991 book on micro-livestock, including currently domesticated and potential future domestication candidates among large mammals, rodents, insects, birds, and lizards: “Micro-livestock: little known small animals with a promising economic future“.

The Revival of the Craftsman

April 19, 2011 by kris de decker Filed Under: Blogs, Craftsmanship

Craftsman Extensive and beautifully illustrated interviews with a new generation of craftsmen: Grain & Gram: the new gentleman’s journal.

Pictured: Blair Sligar, who builds furniture and sculptures from salvaged and local materials.

Via Clockworker & Dude Craft.

 

Handy Farm Devices & How to Make Them (1912 Book)

April 18, 2011 by kris de decker Filed Under: Books & Reference, DIY, Farming, Random

handy farm devices and how to make them

“Handy farm devices and how to make them“, Rolfe Cobleigh, 1912.

Oil Dependency & Alternative Fuels in 1909

April 12, 2011 by kris de decker Filed Under: Biofuel, History, Random, Travel

“The fuel chiefly employed for motors (to the abundant supply of which the rapid rise of the automobile industry may be said to be largely due) is petrol. The motor industry, which is fast becoming one of the world’s greatest industries, is thus dependent upon the supply of a fuel which to all appearance must, according to the present trend of progress, fail in the near future to be equal to the demand. The Motor Union of Great Britain and Ireland became somewhat alarmed at the serious rise in the price of petrol, and in September 1906 it was suggested that a special Committee should be appointed to fully discuss this important subject.”

alternative fuel in 1908“In July 1907 the official report of the Committee was issued, and through the courtesy of the secretary of the Motor Union the following extracts are taken: The Committee have carefully considered the various substitutes for petrol which have been brought before them, and have unanimously arrived at the conclusion that the main efforts of the Motor Union should be in the direction of encouraging in every way the use and development of a substance, such as alcohol, produced from vegetation.”

“Alcohol offers a complete and satisfactory substitute for petrol so far as its properties are concerned, and hence probably the most important recommendation of the Committee is that connected with the production on a large scale of alcohol for the purposes of a fuel. It may be noted that the argument added to all others, but which to many in this country would probably appear the most important of all, is the fact that it would form a home industry, especially if produced from some substance, such as peat, potatoes, or beet, which would place the country in an independent position with regard to foreign supplies, a consideration which, it should be noted, is leading the Governments of France and Germany, particularly the latter, to give every encouragement to the use of alcohol as a fuel.”

Quoted from “Commercial peat: its uses and possibilities“, Frederick T. Gissing, 1909. Picture: the 1909 Alco Six Race Car.