Dave Tweed wrote:
> Yes, the turbine is indeed operational, and you can see it. In fact,
> I was there just a few weeks ago. The automatic speed control is an
> interesting study.

I only saw it a few years ago before it was operational.  What impressed me
about it was how much was made of wood, not metal.  There was even mention
of a particular type of (South American ?) wood that contained enough oil
naturally to provide lubrication.

I don't remember whether the turbine itself was wood or metal, but I
definitely remember some gears being wood.  Most of the transmission system
was belt-based with large wooden spindles.  To be a mechanical engineer bac=
k
then, you must have had to be intimately familiar with the properties of
many wood species.

I wonder how much of today's electrical engineering knowledge will be
considered outdated or a lost art 100 years from now.


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