The Cyclocarder by Fibershed-contributor Katharina Jolda is a wonderful update to the article on pedal powered machines. The Cyclocarder can turn your backyard, community center, or farm into a human powered wool processing station.
Pedal Powered Wool Carding Machine
February 9, 2012 by Filed Under: Human power, Pedal power, Pedal powered machines, Random
When Low-Tech Goes IKEA
November 13, 2011 by Filed Under: Access to information, DIY, Human power, Language, Pedal power, Pedal powered machines, Random
What happens when two industrial design students from Sweden end up in Kenya creating a pedal powered machine for small-scale farmers who are often illiterate and speak more than 60 languages? You get a do-it-yourself design that seems to have come out of the IKEA factories – pictoral manuals included.
“Made in Kenya”, the bachelor project of Niklas Kull and Gabriella Rubin, is a textbook example of low-tech made accessible to everybody, regardless of their native tongue and language skills.
Barge Haulers on the Volga (1870-1873)
October 7, 2011 by Filed Under: Barge haulers, Boats, Cargo, Human power, Paintings, Shipping, Travel
“Barge haulers on the Volga“, a late 19th century painting by Ilja Repin.
Human Power Empirically Explored
May 30, 2011 by Filed Under: Human power
“Harvesting energy from the users’ muscular power to convert this into electricity is a relatively unknown way to power consumer products. It nevertheless offers surprising opportunities for product designers; human-powered products function independently from regular power infrastructure, are convenient and can be environmentally and economically beneficial.”
“This work provides insight into the knowledge required to design human-powered energy systems in consumer products from a scientific perspective. It shows the developments of human-powered products from the first introduction of the BayGen Freeplay radio in 1995 till current products and provides an overview and analysis of 211 human-powered products currently on the market.”
“Although human power is generally perceived as beneficial for the environment, this thesis shows that achieving environmental benefit is only feasible when the environmental impact of additional materials in the energy conversion system is well balanced with the energy demands of the products functionality.”
“Human Power Empirically Explored” (PDF, 12MB), Arjen Jansen, 2011.
Pedal Powered Machines
May 30, 2011 by Filed Under: Bicycles, Bikes, Human power, Pedal power, Pedal powered machines, Random
Hand Powered Apple Peelers
May 10, 2011 by Filed Under: Hand tools, Human power, Obsolete technology, Random
Hand powered apple peelers can peel, core and cut apples with amazing speed and precision. They were available in a surprisingly large variety.
The 18th and 19th century saw a growing need for apples as a winter staple for both food and drink. Apples needed to be processed for winter storage. Paring, coring, and cutting enough apples for winter was difficult and time consuming.
Farmers used their creative skills to make wooden machines that made the process quick and efficient. Industrialization and the use of iron during the 19th century witnessed an explosion of patented creativity. More than 100 patents were granted from 1850 to 1890. Apple peelers were also used as a kitchen device.
There is a full website dedicated to hand powered apple peelers, explaining in detail the use, history and workings of the devices and showing many pictures and videos.
