The scientific method itself would be massively useful. It’s amazing how long it took humanity to get there, and how much it changed things. Even in the 1700s astronomy and astrology were basically both considered equally important fields of study. The queen of England had important advisors who took the alignment of celestial bodies into account when deciding policy.
What I think would be the most useful thing to know how to build isn’t electromechanics, it’s just plain mechanics.
In WWII US warships calculated firing solutions using purely mechanical, analog computers. If you knew how to build a shaft, a gear, a cam and a differential you could do pretty astounding calculations. Even just knowing how to build and use a slide rule would be pretty mind blowing for a lot of people in ancient times. Or you could just be the guy who invented zero.
The scientific method itself would be massively useful. It’s amazing how long it took humanity to get there, and how much it changed things. Even in the 1700s astronomy and astrology were basically both considered equally important fields of study. The queen of England had important advisors who took the alignment of celestial bodies into account when deciding policy.
What I think would be the most useful thing to know how to build isn’t electromechanics, it’s just plain mechanics.
In WWII US warships calculated firing solutions using purely mechanical, analog computers. If you knew how to build a shaft, a gear, a cam and a differential you could do pretty astounding calculations. Even just knowing how to build and use a slide rule would be pretty mind blowing for a lot of people in ancient times. Or you could just be the guy who invented zero.