minimum RAM for a sarge intall

[Doofus <doofus@bulldoghome.com>]

After trying to install small command-line system over the net onto an 
old tosh laptop with 16MB of RAM and a 2GB drive, the installer tells me 
a minimum of 22MB is required. I'm guessing this is for the new 
installer itself to function properly. Is there any alternative method 
to get a minimal system installed?

Apologies for this simple question but again I've been unable to find 
the answer at debian.org - unless of course the absence of any details 
about low RAM systems means I'm out of luck.

Thanks.