Comments on: The Gadgets of the Future From the Electrical Shows of Yesterday http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2013/01/the-gadgets-of-the-future-from-the-electrical-shows-of-yesterday/ A history of the future that never was Fri, 17 May 2013 21:40:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: Alex http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2013/01/the-gadgets-of-the-future-from-the-electrical-shows-of-yesterday/#comment-2075 Alex Fri, 29 Mar 2013 22:01:40 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=6855#comment-2075 wow great information.. you shared with us. wow great information.. you shared with us.

]]> By: Lewis http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2013/01/the-gadgets-of-the-future-from-the-electrical-shows-of-yesterday/#comment-1635 Lewis Fri, 18 Jan 2013 01:48:01 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=6855#comment-1635 One problem76 with the WWI confiscation is that Japan was an ally then, not an enemy. One problem76 with the WWI confiscation is that Japan was an ally then, not an enemy.

]]> By: David Doolittle http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2013/01/the-gadgets-of-the-future-from-the-electrical-shows-of-yesterday/#comment-1622 David Doolittle Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:42:17 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=6855#comment-1622 "During World War I the nation and most of it’s high-tech"... Editor: Please notice that this sentence uses a contraction for IT IS, when the possessive is called for with no apostrophe. This cancer on our language is creeping across every corner of country. I am chagrined to see this got past you and into this fine, intelligent magazine read by educated people. “During World War I the nation and most of it’s high-tech”… Editor: Please notice that this sentence uses a contraction for IT IS, when the possessive is called for with no apostrophe. This cancer on our language is creeping across every corner of country. I am chagrined to see this got past you and into this fine, intelligent magazine read by educated people.

]]> By: DaveM http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2013/01/the-gadgets-of-the-future-from-the-electrical-shows-of-yesterday/#comment-1621 DaveM Mon, 14 Jan 2013 23:43:25 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=6855#comment-1621 I'm surprised at how accurate some of the "predictions" are as far as home appliances are concerned. In 1919, very few farms had electricity, though some had generators ("light plants") and wind generators for charging radio batteries, etc. would become popular within a short time (Zenith offered one for I believe $17.50 with the purchase of a Zenith radio). Several evaporative refrigerators (notably the Icy Ball) which did not require electricity were on the market for some years, even after the REA brought power lines into rural areas during the 1930s. There were also engine-driven washers and other items (including I believe a vacuum pump for milking machines). Maytag engines were a mainstay among go-cart builders once upon a time and a surprising number are still in running condition. There were electric cars on the market in 1919 as well. Surprised to see only an "electric truck" mentioned. I’m surprised at how accurate some of the “predictions” are as far as home appliances are concerned. In 1919, very few farms had electricity, though some had generators (“light plants”) and wind generators for charging radio batteries, etc. would become popular within a short time (Zenith offered one for I believe $17.50 with the purchase of a Zenith radio).

Several evaporative refrigerators (notably the Icy Ball) which did not require electricity were on the market for some years, even after the REA brought power lines into rural areas during the 1930s. There were also engine-driven washers and other items (including I believe a vacuum pump for milking machines). Maytag engines were a mainstay among go-cart builders once upon a time and a surprising number are still in running condition.

There were electric cars on the market in 1919 as well. Surprised to see only an “electric truck” mentioned.

]]> By: RS http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2013/01/the-gadgets-of-the-future-from-the-electrical-shows-of-yesterday/#comment-1619 RS Mon, 14 Jan 2013 23:29:27 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=6855#comment-1619 I was a radio club meeting last year when a member of the US Gov't Homeland Security backed ARES emergency radio service said this was correct. Licensed hams of US birth we told to shut down their rigs and SOME those of families linked to Germany, Italy and Japan had their rigs (even receivers) confiscated or modified to receive short range broadcast bands only. He said many people joined the WW2 precursor to ARES to be part of those who could still use their equipment. I was a radio club meeting last year when a member of the US Gov’t Homeland Security backed ARES emergency radio service said this was correct. Licensed hams of US birth we told to shut down their rigs and SOME those of families linked to Germany, Italy and Japan had their rigs (even receivers) confiscated or modified to receive short range broadcast bands only.

He said many people joined the WW2 precursor to ARES to be part of those who could still use their equipment.

]]> By: jeffk http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2013/01/the-gadgets-of-the-future-from-the-electrical-shows-of-yesterday/#comment-1615 jeffk Sun, 13 Jan 2013 18:45:40 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=6855#comment-1615 I'm surprised by the claim that radios were confiscated from the public in the U.S.A. Can anyone support that with a reference? I know it was done in Nazi-occupied areas, but in the States, amateurs were directed to cease operations and dismantle their stations. They were able to resume after the war by reassembling their stations. Were other members of the public treated differently? I’m surprised by the claim that radios were confiscated from the public in the U.S.A. Can anyone support that with a reference? I know it was done in Nazi-occupied areas, but in the States, amateurs were directed to cease operations and dismantle their stations. They were able to resume after the war by reassembling their stations. Were other members of the public treated differently?

]]> By: Sam Adams http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2013/01/the-gadgets-of-the-future-from-the-electrical-shows-of-yesterday/#comment-1604 Sam Adams Thu, 10 Jan 2013 17:37:43 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=6855#comment-1604 <i>The two consistently largest electrical shows in the U.S. were in Chicago and New York. Chicago’s annual show opened on January 15, 1906, when less than 8 percent of U.S. households had electricity. By 1929, about 85 percent of American homes <b>(if you exclude farm dwellings)</b>...</i> And in 1929 what percentage of U.S. homes were "farm dwellings?" Pretty sizable as I recall which makes that 85% figure not nearly as large as it would first seem. The two consistently largest electrical shows in the U.S. were in Chicago and New York. Chicago’s annual show opened on January 15, 1906, when less than 8 percent of U.S. households had electricity. By 1929, about 85 percent of American homes (if you exclude farm dwellings)…

And in 1929 what percentage of U.S. homes were “farm dwellings?” Pretty sizable as I recall which makes that 85% figure not nearly as large as it would first seem.

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