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At the time rural domestic light was provided by kerosene lamps. The kerosene was sold in four-gallon(?) tins by general stores. Gasoline was initially sold in

At the time rural domestic light was provided by kerosene lamps. The kerosene was sold in four-gallon(?) tins by general stores. Gasoline was initially sold in the same way, as another product just like kerosene at your local general store. Familiarity is another thing that would have pushed people towards gasoline rather than electric. As well as the easy replication of the distribution network, by the same suppliers. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerosene_lamp https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerosene_lamp

drewcoo 3y ago
Electricity was not just unfamiliar to people. It was not understood. It was magic, possibly not just good magic. That was a time before electrical engineering as mature field really existed. The situation parallels software today. It didn't help that Edison was electrocuting animals across the country to frighten people about AC in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topsy_(elephant) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topsy_(elephant) The mysterious workings of electrical gadgets were also the inspiration for Rube Goldberg's cartoons. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/story-behind-rube-goldbergs-complicated-contraptions-180968928/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/story-behind-rube-gol... That was the electrical zeitgest a little over a century ago.
- fmj 3y ago
  Did you even read the article you linked to? > The story of Topsy fell into obscurity for the next 70 years but has become more prominent in popular culture, partly because the film of the event still exists. In popular culture, Thompson and Dundy's killing of Topsy has switched attribution, with claims it was an anti-alternating current demonstration organized by Thomas A. Edison during the war of the currents. Edison was never at Luna Park and the electrocution of Topsy took place ten years after the war of currents.

drewcoo 3y ago

Electricity was not just unfamiliar to people. It was not understood. It was magic, possibly not just good magic. That was a time before electrical engineering as mature field really existed. The situation parallels software today. It didn't help that Edison was electrocuting animals across the country to frighten people about AC in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topsy_(elephant) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topsy_(elephant) The mysterious workings of electrical gadgets were also the inspiration for Rube Goldberg's cartoons. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/story-behind-rube-goldbergs-complicated-contraptions-180968928/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/story-behind-rube-gol... That was the electrical zeitgest a little over a century ago.

fmj 3y ago
Did you even read the article you linked to? > The story of Topsy fell into obscurity for the next 70 years but has become more prominent in popular culture, partly because the film of the event still exists. In popular culture, Thompson and Dundy's killing of Topsy has switched attribution, with claims it was an anti-alternating current demonstration organized by Thomas A. Edison during the war of the currents. Edison was never at Luna Park and the electrocution of Topsy took place ten years after the war of currents.