The theory and practice of steam engineering in Britain and France, 1800-1850

Abstract

A characterization of the different patterns of technological development of France and Britain in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century which has been frequently put forward considers French engineers and scientists involved in the formulation and discovery of theoretical and general principles, whereas their British counterparts were mainly working using “rules of thumbs” and other similar forms of empirical know-how. At least, prima facie, the case of steam engineering seems to fit this broad characterization rather well. In this paper we provide a reconsideration of the different nature of French and British practices in steam engineering. Our study shows, that the different economic circumstances prevailing in Britain and France (in particular the price of coal) led the two countries to embark to different paths of accumulation of “useful knowledge” in the field of steam engineering.