2 ms·

This was not just for clocks. There were pneumatic network in Paris "distributing compressed air at a relatively low pressure of 5-6 bar over a network of (eve

by _int3_ 4y ago

This was not just for clocks. There were pneumatic network in Paris "distributing compressed air at a relatively low pressure of 5-6 bar over a network of (eventually) more than 900 km of mains, serving more than 10,000 customers." That run the industry and lasted over 100 years until 1994.

rob74 4y ago
Also interesting (especially that it lasted until 1994), but the system from this article was just for clocks - I don't think power tools could use power which was only delivered for 20 seconds and then off for 40 seconds. If you translate that to computing, one system supplied the Vcc, the other supplied the (very slow) clock. No data lines unfortunately :)
kweks 4y ago
These were two distinct networks, the other network was run by the PTT : https://fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poste_pneumatique_de_Paris https://fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poste_pneumatique_de_Paris It was kept in operation until 2004 for government services!
- _int3_ 4y ago
  "Citywide compressed air energy systems have been built since 1870.[23] Cities such as Paris, France; Birmingham, England; Dresden, Rixdorf and Offenbach, Germany and Buenos Aires, Argentina installed such systems. Victor Popp constructed the first systems to power clocks by sending a pulse of air every minute to change their pointer arms. They quickly evolved to deliver power to homes and industries.[24] As of 1896, the Paris system had 2.2 MW of generation distributed at 550 kPa in 50 km of air pipes for motors in light and heavy industry. Usage was measured by cubic meters.[23] The systems were the main source of house-delivered energy in those days and also powered the machines of dentists, seamstresses, printing facilities and bakeries." [1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compressed-air_energy_storage https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compressed-air_energy_storage

by _int3_ 4y ago

rob74 4y ago

Also interesting (especially that it lasted until 1994), but the system from this article was just for clocks - I don't think power tools could use power which was only delivered for 20 seconds and then off for 40 seconds. If you translate that to computing, one system supplied the Vcc, the other supplied the (very slow) clock. No data lines unfortunately :)

kweks 4y ago

These were two distinct networks, the other network was run by the PTT : https://fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poste_pneumatique_de_Paris https://fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poste_pneumatique_de_Paris It was kept in operation until 2004 for government services!

_int3_ 4y ago
"Citywide compressed air energy systems have been built since 1870.[23] Cities such as Paris, France; Birmingham, England; Dresden, Rixdorf and Offenbach, Germany and Buenos Aires, Argentina installed such systems. Victor Popp constructed the first systems to power clocks by sending a pulse of air every minute to change their pointer arms. They quickly evolved to deliver power to homes and industries.[24] As of 1896, the Paris system had 2.2 MW of generation distributed at 550 kPa in 50 km of air pipes for motors in light and heavy industry. Usage was measured by cubic meters.[23] The systems were the main source of house-delivered energy in those days and also powered the machines of dentists, seamstresses, printing facilities and bakeries." [1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compressed-air_energy_storage https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compressed-air_energy_storage