I often have a similar perspective when looking at old technology like this Andrew. Often times I come to the conclusion that although it looks like operating it would be grueling, it was still probably better than doing the same amount of work by hand.
Reminds me of the scene in "The Green Mile," where the prison paddy wagon rolls in and a guard makes mention of it 'breaking a spring pack." Then John Coffey (played by the late actor Michael Clarke Duncan) steps out, and the wagon springs back up!
I remember reading about him in grade school as the world's tallest man. Google "Robert Wadlow". He was 8' 11" tall.