Article ID: CBB001180624

The Theory and the Practice of Steam Engineering in Britain and in France, 1800-1850 (2010)

unapi

A characterization of the different patterns of technological development of France and Britain in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century which has been frequently put forward considers French engineers and scientists involved in the formulation and discovery of theoretical and general principles, whereas their British counterparts were mainly working using “rules of thumbs” and other similar forms of empirical know-how. At least, prima facie, the case of steam engineering seems to fit this broad characterization rather well. In this paper we provide a reconsideration of the different nature of French and British practices in steam engineering. Our study shows, that the different economic circumstances prevailing in Britain and France (in particular the price of coal) led the two countries to embark to different paths of accumulation of “useful knowledge” in the field of steam engineering.

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Description A characterization of the different patterns of technological development of France and Britain in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century which has been frequently put forward considers French engineers and scientists involved in the formulation and discovery of theoretical and general principles, whereas their British counterparts were mainly working using “rules of thumbs” and other similar forms of empirical know-how. At least, prima facie, the case of steam engineering seems to fit this broad characterization rather well. In this paper we provide a reconsideration of the different nature of French and British practices in steam engineering. Our study shows, that the different economic circumstances prevailing in Britain and France (in particular the price of coal) led the two countries to embark to different paths of accumulation of “useful knowledge” in the field of steam engineering. (Abstract from: http://dht.revues.org/1439)


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Authors & Contributors
Nuvolari, Alessandro
Hardwick, David
Russell, Ben
Gray, Steven
Williams, David Malcolm
Verspagen, Bart
Concepts
Steam engines; steam turbines
Technology
Engineering
Inventors and invention
Steamboats
Industrial revolution
Time Periods
19th century
18th century
20th century, early
20th century
Places
Great Britain
Coalpit Heath
Birmingham (England)
Baghdad (Iraq)
Scotland
Russia
Institutions
South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group
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