Famous Inventions of the Industrial Revolution And why they are important

Industrial Revolution Time of unprecedented invention and innovation in Europe and America. Lasted from mid-1700’s -1900 in Europe and from about 1840’s – 1910’s in America. Created enormous economic growth as well as terrible pollution and social problems.

James Watt STEAM ENGINE YEAR: 1775 Steam power can move very heavy weights. It can drive wheels and shafts in mills. MOVES WORK TO FACTORIES It can turn propellers in ships and wheels on trains and cars…

Eli Whitney Cotton Gin, Interchangeable Musket Parts 1793,1798 Cotton Gin automated cotton picking process Interchangeable parts streamlined and improved manufacturing.

Robert Fulton Steamboat Service on Hudson River YEAR: 1807 Service improved communication. Showed that ships with steam engines were feasible. Paved the way for larger, sea-going ships.

Robert Stephenson Forerunner of modern locomotives. Used steam power. Went about 30 miles per hour, which was groundbreaking for its time. Invented Steam Locomotive Year 1826-29

Samuel F. B. Morse Invented Telegraph YEAR: 1836 Made instantaneous, long range communication possible. System of wires stretched hundreds of miles. “More Code” was a special language used

Transcontinental Telegraph

Elias Howe Invented Sewing Machine YEAR: 1844 Enabled textiles to be manufactured quickly. Led to a boom in the textile industry. Improved quality and lowered price of clothing.

Cyrus Field Transatlantic cable YEAR: 1866 Cable allowed instantaneous communication between Europe and America. Used telegraph technology in cable on sea bed. Took many attempts for it too work properly

Submarine Cables Today

Alexander Graham Bell Invented Telephone YEAR: 1876 Allowed for instantaneous communication between individuals from their own homes. Rapidly increased the flow of information between businesses.

Thomas Edison Invented Phonograph 1877 Phonograph enabled sounds to be recorded and played back. Led to records, magnetic audio tapes and eventually CD’s

Thomas Edison Incandescent Light Bulb 1879 Made oil lamps obsolete. Enabled lighting at night in homes, streets and public areas. Imagine life without them!!!

Nikola Tesla Induction Electric Motor YEAR: 1888 Made electricity a commercially available power source. Used to power lighting and machinery. Revolutionized quality of life for people everywhere.

Rudolf Diesel Invented Diesel Engine YEAR: 1892 First engine to use petroleum as a fuel. Small, portable engine for a multitude of tasks. Used to drive vehicles Enabled the invention of the motor car

Orville and Wilbur Wright First Airplane YEAR: 1903 The importance of aircraft cannot be overstated. Enabled travel between continents that previously had to be achieved by ship. Enabled more people to travel to more places than ever before.

By 1914 Planes used in WW1

Henry Ford Model T Ford YEAR: 1909 First car to be mass produced. Made cars accessible to average American workers. Led to a boom in industry of car related products and services.

Henry Ford Assembly Line YEAR: 1913 Standardized production techniques . Allowed for high quality, rapid production. Became the model for all industries everywhere.

Bessemer Steel Process New process creates lighter and stronger steel Leads to sky scrapers Otis Elevator allows for Sky Scrapers to be feasible