‘The Modern Atlas’ : compressed air and cities c. 1850–1930

Dikec, Mustafa and Lopez-Galviz, Carlos Andres (2016) ‘The Modern Atlas’ : compressed air and cities c. 1850–1930. Journal of Historical Geography, 53. pp. 11-27. ISSN 0305-7488

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Abstract

This article provides an overview of pneumatic technologies in nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Western cities. As urban centres continued to grow and expand in the nineteenth century, networks of compressed air were introduced to provide public utilities and private services in a variety of domains, ranging from postal services to beauty parlours. Previously used in mining and large construction works, pneumatic technologies seemed to rival electricity towards the end of the nineteenth century in the provision of urban utilities. Eventually, however, these technologies did not prove flexible enough to keep up with rapid urban population growth and the expansion of cities themselves, nor were they able to become glorious symbols of urban modernity. Through an overview of compressed air applications as used in urban centres, particularly Paris and London, the article provides an insight into the relationship between technological networks and urban modernities from the perspective of this relatively neglected urban network and technology.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Journal of Historical Geography
Additional Information:
This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal of Historical Geography. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal of Historical Geography, 53, 2016 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhg.2016.03.003
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1200/1202
Subjects:
?? compressed airtechnologynetworksurban modernityparislondonhistoryurban studiesarchaeologygeography, planning and developmentdiscipline-based research ??
ID Code:
79233
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
29 Apr 2016 08:14
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
31 Jan 2024 00:28