JD> If the old technology was better, we'd still be using it. That
 JD> holds for our favorite topic, HomePower, too. Many years ago,
 JD> the farms all had Delco Light Plants, and the farmers couldn't
 JD> wait to junk them when factory electricity became available.
 JD> Darn few people with oil or gas available heat with wood.
 RJ> What the heck is a "delco light plant"?
If my dim old memory serves, it was a windmill driven DC generator.  I 
believe they were rated for 32VDC.  They were made by - guess who?  That 
accounts for their popular name ("light plant" used to refer to any generator 
in this part of the country).  They provided better light than kerosine 
lanterns but not by much.  They didn't have enough "oomph" to run any kind of 
electrical appliance but, then, there weren't that many electrical appliances 
around back then (1920-1940 era).
When I was growing up, one of my great grandfathers still had the remains of 
one sitting in the yard.  I remember it mostly because I got my bottom 
blistered several times for trying to climb the tower. :-)
Regards.  Cloyce.
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