dpb wrote in :

On 08/14/2015 7:28 PM, Electric Comet wrote:

power in this sense is not animal powered

Well, that's pretty limiting definition in terms of historical
precedence but water was certainly around quite early as a power
source.

I think the trick here is going to be defining what's a tool
more than what's power, but certainly you're right that
water powered mills for grinding grains have been around for
a very long time.

As another contender, I'll offer the spring-pole lathe,
altho that's arguably animal (human) powered.

John