Gutenberg Articles

Appearance

Excerpt ​

Excerpt from The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section X, Y, and Z, by Project Gutenberg

Tur"bine (?), n. A form of steam engine analogous in construction and action to the water turbine. There are practically only two distinct kinds, and they are typified in the de Laval and the Parsons and Curtis turbines. The de Laval turbine is an impulse turbine, in which steam impinges upon revolving blades from a flared nozzle. The flare of the nozzle causes expansion of the steam, and hence changes its pressure energy into kinetic energy. An enormous velocity (30,000 revolutions per minute in the 5 H. P. size) is requisite for high efficiency, and the machine has therefore to be geared down to be of practical use. Some recent development of this type include turbines formed of several de Laval elements compounded as in the ordinary expansion engine. The Parsons turbine is an impulse-and-reaction turbine, usually of the axial type. The steam is constrained to pass successively through alternate rows of fixed and moving blades, being expanded down to a condenser pressure of about 1 lb. per square inch absolute. The Curtis turbine is somewhat simpler than the Parsons, and consists of elements each of which has at least two rows of moving blades and one row of stationary. The bucket velocity is lowered by fractional velocity reduction. Both the Parsons and Curtis turbines are suitable for driving dynamos and steamships directly. In efficiency, lightness, and bulk for a given power, they compare favorably with reciprocating engines.

Turbo*gen"er*ator (?), n. [See Turbine, and Generator.] An electric generator or dynamo which is combined on one frame with a turbomotor, by which it is driven.

Tur"key-trot` (?), n. An eccentric ragtime dance, danced with the feet well apart and with a characteristic rise on the ball of the foot, followed by a drop upon the heel. The original form, owning to the positions assumed by the dancers, is offensively suggestive. Similar dances are the bunny hug and grizzly bear, so called in allusion to the movements and the positions assumed by the partners in dancing.

Explanation ​

This excerpt from The Gutenberg Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary (a digitized version of the 1913 Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary) provides definitions for three terms: "turbine," "turbogenerator," and "turkey-trot." While the text is ostensibly a dictionary entry, it offers a fascinating snapshot of early 20th-century technological, industrial, and cultural developments. Below is a detailed breakdown of the excerpt, focusing on its content, themes, literary devices (where applicable), historical context, and significance, with an emphasis on close reading.

1. "Turbine" – Industrial Innovation and Scientific Precision ​

Content Summary: ​

The entry defines a turbine as a type of steam engine that functions similarly to a water turbine but uses steam instead of water. It categorizes turbines into two primary types, exemplified by three models:

  • De Laval turbine: An impulse turbine where high-pressure steam expands through a flared nozzle, converting pressure energy into kinetic energy. The steam strikes revolving blades at extremely high speeds (e.g., 30,000 RPM for a 5-horsepower model), requiring gear reduction for practical use. Later versions compound multiple de Laval elements for efficiency.
  • Parsons turbine: An impulse-and-reaction turbine with alternating fixed and moving blades, expanding steam to near-vacuum conditions (~1 lb/sq in). It is axial (steam flows parallel to the shaft) and suitable for direct-drive applications like dynamos and steamships.
  • Curtis turbine: A simplified version of the Parsons, with at least two rows of moving blades and one stationary row, reducing bucket velocity through fractional velocity reduction.

The entry concludes by comparing turbines favorably to reciprocating engines in efficiency, lightness, and compactness for a given power output.

Themes & Context: ​

  • Industrial Revolution & Energy Transition: The early 20th century saw a shift from reciprocating steam engines (like those in locomotives) to rotary turbines, which were more efficient for large-scale power generation (e.g., electricity, maritime propulsion). This reflects the electrification of society and the rise of modern engineering.
  • Scientific Precision & Standardization: The dictionary’s technical language (e.g., "kinetic energy," "condenser pressure," "axial type") mirrors the era’s emphasis on scientific rigor and the professionalization of engineering. Terms like "horsepower" (H.P.) and "RPM" were becoming standardized.
  • Innovation vs. Practicality: The de Laval turbine’s extreme speeds (30,000 RPM) highlight the trade-offs in engineering—high efficiency required complex gearing, while the Parsons and Curtis designs were more adaptable for direct use.

Literary Devices & Style: ​

While not "literary" in the traditional sense, the entry employs:

  • Classification & Taxonomy: The turbines are neatly categorized (impulse vs. reaction, de Laval vs. Parsons vs. Curtis), reflecting the Enlightenment-era tradition of systematic knowledge.
  • Comparative Language: Phrases like "compare favorably with reciprocating engines" use implicit contrast to emphasize turbines’ advantages.
  • Technical Jargon: Words like "nozzle flare," "bucket velocity," and "condenser pressure" assume a specialized readership, reinforcing the dictionary’s role as a reference for professionals.

Significance: ​

  • Historical: Turbines were critical to the Second Industrial Revolution, enabling large-scale electricity generation (e.g., in power plants) and maritime travel (e.g., steamships like the Titanic, which used Parsons turbines).
  • Cultural: The entry reflects the optimism of the Machine Age, where technology was seen as a force for progress. The comparison to reciprocating engines suggests a break from the past toward more advanced systems.

2. "Turbogenerator" – The Marriage of Mechanics and Electricity ​

Content Summary: ​

A turbogenerator is defined as an electric generator (dynamo) combined with a turbine on a single frame, driven by the turbine’s mechanical energy.

Themes & Context: ​

  • Electrification: The late 19th/early 20th century saw the centralization of power generation, with turbogenerators becoming the backbone of electric grids. Companies like General Electric and Westinghouse were pioneering these systems.
  • Modular Design: The "single frame" concept reflects engineering efficiency—integrating the turbine and generator reduced space and improved performance.

Literary Devices & Style: ​

  • Etymological Clue: The definition references "See Turbine, and Generator," showing how compound terms were formed in technical language.
  • Conciseness: Unlike the "turbine" entry, this is terse, suggesting the term was either newer or less varied in application.

Significance: ​

  • Infrastructure Impact: Turbogenerators were essential for urban electrification, powering everything from streetcars to factories. The definition captures a pivotal moment in energy history.
  • Symbol of Modernity: The turbogenerator embodies the fusion of steam power and electricity, two defining technologies of the era.

3. "Turkey-trot" – Dance, Morality, and Social Change ​

Content Summary: ​

The turkey-trot is described as an eccentric ragtime dance characterized by:

  • A wide stance (feet apart).
  • A distinctive movement: rising on the ball of the foot, then dropping onto the heel.
  • Offensive suggestiveness: The original form’s positions were considered vulgar or sexually provocative.
  • Related dances: The bunny hug and grizzly bear, named for their animal-inspired movements and close partner positions.

Themes & Context: ​

  • Ragtime & Jazz Age: The turkey-trot emerged in the early 1910s, part of the ragtime dance craze that preceded the Jazz Age. It was popular in ballrooms and vaudeville, but its physicality shocked conservative observers.
  • Moral Panic: The entry’s mention of "offensively suggestive" movements reflects Victorian-era anxieties about public decency and the breaking of social norms. Dances like the turkey-trot were often banned in polite society.
  • Youth Culture & Rebellion: These dances were embraced by young people as a form of self-expression and defiance against older generations’ strictures.
  • Animal Imagery: The names (bunny hug, grizzly bear) suggest a playful, almost primal energy, contrasting with the formal waltzes of the 19th century.

Literary Devices & Style: ​

  • Descriptive Language: Phrases like "feet well apart" and "characteristic rise on the ball of the foot" paint a vivid, almost kinesthetic picture.
  • Moral Judgment: The term "offensively suggestive" is subjective, revealing the dictionary’s cultural bias—it’s not just defining the dance but evaluating it.
  • Analogy: The comparison to animals (bunny, bear) uses metaphor to convey the dances’ wild, uninhibited nature.

Significance: ​

  • Cultural Shift: The turkey-trot symbolizes the loosening of social mores before the Roaring Twenties. It foreshadows the flapper era, where dances like the Charleston would push boundaries further.
  • Class & Race Dynamics: Ragtime and early jazz dances often borrowed from African American vernacular culture, and their mainstream adoption sparked racial and class tensions.
  • Dictionary as Cultural Artifact: The entry shows how dictionaries don’t just record language—they reflect societal attitudes. The disapproving tone toward the turkey-trot contrasts with the neutral, technical tone of the turbine entries, highlighting the subjectivity in "objective" references.

Overarching Analysis: Contrasts and Connections ​

  1. Technology vs. Culture:

    • The turbine and turbogenerator entries represent progress, precision, and industry—the machine age’s triumph.
    • The turkey-trot represents human expression, rebellion, and moral controversy—the social upheaval accompanying technological change.
    • Together, they illustrate the duality of the early 20th century: a time of both mechanical advancement and cultural transformation.

  2. Language as a Mirror:

    • The clinical, detached prose for turbines vs. the judgmental tone for the turkey-trot reveals how dictionaries encode values. Science is neutral; culture is contested.

  3. Modernity’s Tensions:

    • The speed of turbines (30,000 RPM) and the speed of dance trends (ragtime’s rapid spread) both reflect the accelerating pace of modern life.
    • Yet, while turbines were celebrated, the turkey-trot was criticized—showing how not all change was embraced equally.

Conclusion: Why This Excerpt Matters ​

This dictionary entry is more than a set of definitions—it’s a microcosm of the early 1900s, capturing:

  • The mechanical ingenuity that powered the modern world.
  • The cultural clashes between tradition and innovation.
  • The role of language in shaping (and reflecting) society’s priorities.

From the engineer’s turbine to the dancer’s turkey-trot, the text reveals how humanity was simultaneously building the future and debating its moral boundaries. In this way, even a dry dictionary entry becomes a rich historical document.