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Aladdin lamps are nice, but they're early 20th century in origin. The incandescent mantle was just being developed for gas lighting in the 1880's and weren't common until the 1890's. Kerosene lamps using them came a bit later. In the 1880's it would of been ordinary flat wick lamps, a few central draft (non-mantle using) lamps were being made. The kerosene student lamps too of course, which were loosely based on the earlier Argand lamps. Historical lighting can set me off writing a long post sometimes I'm afraid...
Basically, living with electric lighting and gadgets messes up our bodies in some ways. I've read research in the past that linked light pollution to increased cancer risk.
I think just going out to walk every day helps reset your internal clock. You don't need a jet to have jet lag. Flying around in a car all day and night will do it too.
I'm a big fan of history and have written a few books on historic architecture, but I couldn't go back to the 1880s. I could be keen on the 1920s, though.
Back in the day, people who had a dental abscess either died or killed themselves. My teeth need modern dental care!!
I'm a big fan of history and have written a few books on historic architecture, but I couldn't go back to the 1880s. I could be keen on the 1920s, though.
Back in the day, people who had a dental abscess either died or killed themselves. My teeth need modern dental care!!
You have made the best counter-argument about returning to life as it was more than three or four decades in the past. Modern medical and dental care can avoid such horrible pain as well as horrible disabilities such as blindness from glaucoma. But we can pick and choose. Those who wish to live off-grid and cook on their wood stoves (etc., etc.) can still go into town to a modern dentist when and if the need arises. That would be the "best" of both worlds for those who enjoy being off-grid.
By the way, dentistry has advanced by leaps and bounds since the 1920's.
You have made the best counter-argument about returning to life as it was more than three or four decades in the past. Modern medical and dental care can avoid such horrible pain as well as horrible disabilities such as blindness from glaucoma. But we can pick and choose. Those who wish to live off-grid and cook on their wood stoves (etc., etc.) can still go into town to a modern dentist when and if the need arises. That would be the "best" of both worlds for those who enjoy being off-grid.
However, such a person would not truly be living the 1800s lifestyle. They would be cheating by taking the risk out of their endeavour. Quite a few well-to-do folks "retreat off grid" when in reality it means they built an off-grid beautiful mansion on secluded acreage with all the modern amenities - it's just that they had the money to build a 4,000 sqft lodge with multiple pellet and wood stoves and an oversized $50,000 solar system. In fact, this is what most of the green book authors and designers and consultants promote. Their books and advice is not geared to the poor bastard with no health insurance, scrounging for the used solar panel and the old wood-stove - there is no money to be made on such a poor sod.
That's like the "homesteader" going back to the land who finances his independence by living off mineral and gas leases on other parcels of land he owns elsewhere ("the famous going back to the land by raping some other land" method).
At the end of the day, nothing wrong with the above type of a "homesteader", I would still take someone rich who is off-grid and at least not using any energy resources for their mansion over someone who is a stupid and mindless consumer who thinks that the oil supply is infinite and who cares...
You have made the best counter-argument about returning to life as it was more than three or four decades in the past. Modern medical and dental care can avoid such horrible pain as well as horrible disabilities such as blindness from glaucoma. But we can pick and choose. Those who wish to live off-grid and cook on their wood stoves (etc., etc.) can still go into town to a modern dentist when and if the need arises. That would be the "best" of both worlds for those who enjoy being off-grid.
By the way, dentistry has advanced by leaps and bounds since the 1920's.
like loading people's mouths with mercury, great progress.
I doubt people systematically died of things like tooth abscess. A pair of pliers, a bottle of cheap whiskey and some salt can go a long way is treating dental ailments.
the health benefits of modern life and medicine may very well be vastly overstated. Life expectancy was low back then mainly due to higher rates of violent deaths, but degenerative illnesses like we have nowadays were almost certainly a lot less prevalent, and yes some people lived strong and healthy into their 70's. Throughout history people often had very strong teeth due to low/no sugar in their diet. Food may have been scarce at times but soils were also much richer in minerals before they were drained of nutrients by modern agriculture. Fresh wild fruits and vegetables also provide much more antioxidant than their farmed counterparts.
Not saying everything was rosy back in the days, but let's not pretend we have life all figured out.
like loading people's mouths with mercury, great progress.
I doubt people systematically died of things like tooth abscess. A pair of pliers, a bottle of cheap whiskey and some salt can go a long way is treating dental ailments.
the health benefits of modern life and medicine may very well be vastly overstated. Life expectancy was low back then mainly due to higher rates of violent deaths, but degenerative illnesses like we have nowadays were almost certainly a lot less prevalent, and yes some people lived strong and healthy into their 70's. Throughout history people often had very strong teeth due to low/no sugar in their diet. Food may have been scarce at times but soils were also much richer in minerals before they were drained of nutrients by modern agriculture. Fresh wild fruits and vegetables also provide much more antioxidant than their farmed counterparts.
Not saying everything was rosy back in the days, but let's not pretend we have life all figured out.
A pair of pliers and a bottle of whiskey will take a tooth out but will not cure an infection if it has set in. People did die from these things as well as the common cold that got complicated.
The main benefits of modern age came first with sanitation and then modern medicine added to that.
You are correct about the modern food processes and sugar and all that. But understand that today it is thought that everyone and everything should survive. Modern agriculture methods evolved to a) make profit and b) feed so many people who do not farm in an efficient and scalable way. You can choose to grow your own and build a chemical free home etc. But it is not easy...
There was no income tax; there were no gun laws. The frontier was disappearing, but it was still there. If a man had nothing but a horse, saddle, and gun he could build an empire. Government in this country was small; the only blemish albeit a terrible one was the Northern invasion and conquest of the CSA. There was no welfare, mandatory schooling, or laws against child labor; families decided these things. But there were colleges and universities. People loved learning and knowledge. Except for the most depraved, feminine virtue was praised. A man who outraged a woman more often than not paid a terrible price.
Half of the bolded are historically inaccurate: women being praised and not abused, ordinary people having acess to learning and knowledge- they didn't go to school remember.
The other half are of great benefit to our country: mandatory schooling, child labor laws and support for the disadvantaged.
It was a GREAT time if you were a WASP adult male with above average salary and knew how to read.
This thresher was purchased in 1888 and can still do the job with a variety of power sources. The thresher greatly reduced the need for farm laborers. Farmers made more money and the laborers were available for other work.
As readers of this forum, and particularly this thread, know, many hobbyists have built miniature steam tractors based upon older designs. These hobbyists and the businesses who serve them should have little trouble building either miniature or even full size threshers to use with them. Thankfully, industrial belts are still available.
I suggest that those unfamiliar with threshers read the appended wikipedia article before watching the video. I'm including the second and third articles as a bonus for all of the stalwart men and women who have supported me on this thread and those who wish to partake of this lifestyle.
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