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paranoid · 03-16-2003, 12:22 PM

Thadius, despite your Roman-sounding nick, you are not exactly right about the history.

http://www.snopes.com/history/american/gauge.htm

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000218.html

BTW, there is an excellent book, called "Ancient inventions" by Peter James and Nick Thorpe. Metal rim and axle is nothing - did you know that in early first century before our era Roman engineer Vitrivius described the working model of a hodometer (odometer), a device "which enables us, while sitting in a carriage on the road... to know how many miles of a journey we have accomplished." Now that's an accomploshment.

Add to this Greek steam engines, Roman fire engines, Aztec chewing gum, Etruscan false teeth, earthquake detectors in China, electric batteries in Iraq, Stone Age brain surgery, Middle Age hand grenades, etc. A fascinating reading.

03-16-2003, 12:22 PM	#2
paranoid May Ter Dee Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 26	Thadius, despite your Roman-sounding nick, you are not exactly right about the history. http://www.snopes.com/history/american/gauge.htm http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000218.html BTW, there is an excellent book, called "Ancient inventions" by Peter James and Nick Thorpe. Metal rim and axle is nothing - did you know that in early first century before our era Roman engineer Vitrivius described the working model of a hodometer (odometer), a device "which enables us, while sitting in a carriage on the road... to know how many miles of a journey we have accomplished." Now that's an accomploshment. Add to this Greek steam engines, Roman fire engines, Aztec chewing gum, Etruscan false teeth, earthquake detectors in China, electric batteries in Iraq, Stone Age brain surgery, Middle Age hand grenades, etc. A fascinating reading.