Medieval technology that its potential was fully achieved. Artesian well (1126) A thin rod with a hard iron cutting edge is placed in the bore hole and repeatedly struck with a hammer, underground water pressure forces the water up the hole without pumping. Artesian wells are named after the town of Artois in France, where the first one was drilled by Carthusian monks in 1126. Central heating through underfloor channels (9th century) In the early medieval Alpine upland, a simpler central heating system where heat travelled through underfloor channels from the furnace room replaced the Roman hypocaust at some places. In Reichenau
A Drop in the Gray was compared to The Fixx and was described as "tight and polished". A heavy touring schedule saw the band enhance its reputation as a solid live act. In 1984 A Drop in the Gray recorded their first album, "Certain Sculptures", for Geffen Records. The album was well received and found the band an audience not only in the US but Europe. In 1985 drummer Marti Frederiksen left the band to be replaced by Harry Rushakoff, who later joined Concrete Blonde. Following internal re-shuffling and management issues Geffen Records dropped the group in 1986. The band continued to write and perform