Old-style new appliances
I wonder if I can get a few webcams up and watching over the next few days. Because, as you’ve guessed, the new dog has come with a set of habits that are his own, and I’m too old to try guessing how he spent the day based on things that have changed around the house.
Some things are easy to guess. When the curtains on four different windows have been “disturbed”, he’s been checking out the neighbours. When the kitchen table has been “cleared”, he’s been checking out the possibilities. When he leaves a pile of “stinky” in the basement… I’ll leave that one to your imagination.
This evening, we’re learning about the state of the art appliances available; a century ago. Electrical ovens, bacon grillers, exercise horses and the like, but all constructed in state of the art steel, brass and bronze. No plastics need apply. Of course, the documentary deals with a famous ship, but the technology would have had relevance in the better homes. A precursor of our own space race gains. Tang and ballpoint pens?
Some things have changed, but only a little. In 1912, electrical generators were coal fired. In 2012, depending on your jurisdiction, ditto. Dirty, smoky, polluting coal. I know, that’s not the official line, but I’ve lived in a home with a coal furnace, and black had better be your accenting colour of choice.
One small difference between then and now. A hundred years ago, you could still find lots of qualified help to align the dining table silver AND stoke the furnaces.
