A hundred years ago, Americans could use typewriters, the telegraph and primitive telephones. Today, Americans have computers, the Internet, cell phones, satellite television and radio, DVDs, iPods, email and instant messaging.
A hundred years ago, Americans could have personal vehicles powered by internal combustion engines running on gasoline. Today, Americans can have personal vehicles powered by internal combustion engines running on gasoline.
You see the problem?
Clifford May actually understates the irony of the situation consumers face.
One-hundred years ago America motorists had the choice of gasoline, electric or steam-powered cars; each with their own advantages and drawbacks. In 1906, it was far from clear that gasoline-powered cars were the solution.
Many ladies had battery-powered landelets who's short-range offset their practicality and comvenience for around-town driving. A chauffeur was not required to prime and crank the balky gasoline-engine, nor spend 20-40 minutes firing-up a gasoline or kerosene-burning steamer. A lady could drive herself and her friends, and with out the noxious fumes, noise or vibrations of a gasoline car...all at a moments-notice.
For sheer-power, steam-cars had the advantage; it was a proven technology and was considered by many as more-reliable than gasoline, and was much quieter and smoother-running. And steam-cars were generally faster and had more hill-climbing power than most cars. Ask Jay Leno, he has the unofficial record for "oldest car"-speeding ticket; 76-mph on the LA freeway in his 1906 Stanley Steamer roadster. The Taft White House preferred White steam-powered touring cars over gasoline ones for Presidential-use.
It was not until Kettering's development of the battery-powered electric starter for Cadillac that gasoline-power finally overshadowed the other options at the time. It's not that the choices haven't changed in 100-years, it's that they have narrowed
