This section is from the book "Scientific American Reference Book. A Manual for the Office, Household and Shop", by Albert A. Hopkins, A. Russell Bond. Also available from Amazon: Scientific American Reference Book.
Duration of work = l day of 8 to 10 hours.
Description of Work | Mean Effect in Lbs. | Velocity in Feet per Minute. | Lbs. Raised 1 Foot High per Minute. |
Lifting weights by hand breast high . | 40 | 25 | 1,000 |
Raising water from a well by a bucket | 30 | 35 | 1,050 |
Lifting a weight by a rope and overhead tackle...... | 40 | 30 | 1,200 |
Working a hand pump........... | 30 | 60 | 1,800 |
Drawing a canal boat............ | 12 | 160 | 1,920 |
Working a ship's capstan......... | 25 | 100 | 2,500 |
Turning the crank of | 15 | 200 | 3,000 |
Rowing a boat..... | 40 | 80 | 3,200 |
The efforts in the above table, although extending over 8 or 10 hours, exclusive of mealtimes, per day, are not altogether continuous, but include the usual intervals of rest or diminished exertion peculiar to each class of work.
 
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