people living in the "traction era" refer to technology used before the "60 Minute War" as old tech. technology used throughout the four "Mortal Engines" books are less advanced than that of old tech, and therefore the people of the traction era have no idea how much of the scavenged old tech is operated.
list of old tech mentioned in the books (not complete, please add missing old tech):
- the "seedy" (CD) = Tom Natsworthy finds this when scanvenging salthook with Thaddeus Valentine.it is later taken by the mayor of the traction city "speedwell"
- "MEDUSA" = a large weapon used in the "60 minute war" by the Americans. it was rebuilt by Magnus Crome in St Pauls Cathedral to destroy all the traction cities that stood in London's way. this weapon self-destructed due to an energy overload.
- literally EVERYTHING in the London museum.