Posted by Ed Kiser on August 17, 2000 at 16:51:17 from MIAMA030-0593.splitrock.net:
In Reply to: Re: Picts and Martyrs - oddities index posted by Bruce A Clarke on August 15, 2000 at 07:32:33:
I did a computer search on each of the five stories with Beckfoot
in it (SA SD WH PP PM) looking for "elect" and found referenced to
electric torches and to the use of a battery to power Dick's pigeon-
operated alarm bell, but found no reference to any electric power
being used anywhere except for the telephone, which does not imply
the presence of any electric lights for use within the house. The
presence of candles used in the house (PM) seems to suggest that
there was no electric lights. If electric lighting was available,
it would seem odd for them to continue to use candles, considering
the danger of a flame compared to the fire hazards of electricity,
assuming of course proper fusing is used.
In my father's time (he served in WWI), at the house where he grew up,
there was a spillway waterwheel turned by water from a stream dammed
up for that purpose. The waterwheel operated a 32 volt DELCO generator
which powered lights in the house. In the evening, when lighting was
being needed, someone went out to the back porch and pulled a rope
that went out across the back pasture to a door in the spillway, opening
it so the water would start to flow across the waterwheel, bringing up
the power. When everyone was ready to go to bed, and the lighting
was not needed, someone would go back to the back porch and let go the
rope so the door would drop back shut, thus allowing for the small
lake to build back up ready to be used the next evening. This
was in North Carolina way back in the 'teens.
Cannot speak for what power sources were available in UK for the
thirties. Don't think the REA reached that far. (REA - Rural
Electrification Association - in the USA in the 30's brought elec
power to the rural areas of the country.)
More power to you all...
Ed Kiser