Editing Electrification (section)

===Pre-electric power===
{{Main|Line shaft}}In 1851, [[Charles Babbage]] stated:<blockquote>One of the inventions most important to a class of highly skilled workers (engineers) would be a small motive power - ranging perhaps from the force of from half a man to that of two horses, which might commence as well as cease its action at a moment's notice, require no expense of time for its management and be of modest cost both in original cost and in daily expense.<ref>{{cite book 
|title= Technology Science and History
|last= Cardwell
|first= D. S. L.
|year=1972 |publisher= Heinemann |location=London |page=[https://archive.org/details/technologyscienc0000card/page/163 163] |url=https://archive.org/details/technologyscienc0000card|url-access= registration
}}</ref>
</blockquote>
[[File:Batteuse 1881.jpg|upright=1.15|right|thumb|Threshing machine in 1881.]]
To be efficient steam engines needed to be several hundred horsepower.  Steam engines and boilers also required operators and maintenance.  For these reasons the smallest commercial steam engines were about 2 horsepower. This was above the need for many small shops.  Also, a small steam engine and boiler cost about $7,000 while an old blind horse that could develop 1/2 horsepower cost $20 or less.<ref>Unskilled labor made approximately $1.25 per 10- to 12-hour day. Hunter and Bryant cite a letter from [[Benjamin Henry Latrobe|Benjamin Latrobe]] to [[John Stevens (inventor, born 1749)|John Stevens]] ca. 1814 giving the cost of two old blind horses used to power a mill at $20 and $14.  A good dray horse cost $165.</ref>  Machinery to use horses for power cost $300 or less.{{sfn|Hunter|Bryant|1991|pp=29–30}}

Many power requirements were less than that of a horse.  Shop machines, such as woodworking lathes, were often powered with a one- or two-man crank.  Household sewing machines were powered with a foot treadle; however, factory sewing machines were steam-powered from a [[line shaft]].  Dogs were sometimes used on machines such as a treadmill, which could be adapted to churn butter.{{sfn|Hunter|Bryant|1991|p={{page needed|date=October 2020}}}}

In the late 19th century specially designed ''power buildings'' leased space to small shops.  These building supplied power to the tenants from a steam engine through line shafts.{{sfn|Hunter|Bryant|1991|p={{page needed|date=October 2020}}}}

Electric motors were several times more efficient than small steam engines because central station generation was more efficient than small steam engines and because line shafts and belts had high friction losses.<ref name=Devine83/>{{sfn|Hunter|Bryant|1991|p={{page needed|date=October 2020}}}}

Electric motors were more efficient than human or animal power.  The conversion efficiency for animal feed to work is between 4 and 5% compared to over 30% for electricity generated using coal.<ref name="Ayers-Warr 2002"/><ref name="fraw.org.uk"/>