Hiram Maxim's machine gun (1884)
Mass slaughter is now possible, begins mechanization of warfare. Unfortunately, as some predicted, his machine gun did not prevent war — people still fought, despite these monsters being on the battlefield.
Thomas Alva Edison's phonograph (1877)
This is a record player. Useful for music, instructions, etc.,
Gugliemo Marconi (1896)'s wireless telegraph patent
Useful for, like, ship distress calls. Say, for example, the one the Titanic sent out.
Robert Trevithick (1801)'s steam locomotive demonstration
George Stephenson's Rocket, 1829, would lead to great railroad infrastructure, which helped with city planning, made moving to the city easier, and made trade and large-scale commerce much better. For example, now placing factories in population centers made more sense. (I barely understand why myself, but okay)
Henry Bessemir's steel converter (1854)
Revolutionized the production of steel
Eli Whitney (1793)'s cotton gin
This separated the useful raw cotton from its seeds, making the cotton industry much more profitable. It had mixed effects — remember how a lot of cotton was farmed using slave labor.
Tremendously helped with making weaving easier, used in the putting-out industry at first.
Marc Brunel's first underwater tunnel (1826-1842)
Under the Thames
Thomas Newcomen (1712)'s steam engine
First commercially successful (though kind of clumsy) steam engine, used to pump water out of coal mines. Big deal, since we've just unlocked a new power source.
James Brindley (1761)'s Bridgewater Canal
Allowed for barges to carry coal from Worsely to Manchester
Singer's first practical sewing machine (1851)
1858
Alfred Nobel's dynamite (1867)
First high explosive that could be safely handled. Useful for mining and clearing areas for infrastructure.
First steam-powered mill (1779)
Crompton's "mule" + Spinning jenny and water frame fully automated weaving process. Yeah.
Michael Faraday (1831)'s discovery of electromagnetic currents
Made generators and electrical engines possible
Began the first regular commercial rail service
Gasoline refinement
First occurred in 1850. Gasoline is an important fuel source.
Gugliemo Marconi (1901) transatlantic radio message
From Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
First skyscraper (10 stories tall) (in Chicago)
1883
Lit his home using coal gas. Also, he was James Watt's assistant.
This would allow for long-distance communication
Jethro Tull (1708)'s mechanical seed drill
For the World Exposition in Paris
Automated thread spinning
1858
Karl Benz's internal-combustion automobile engine (1885)
cars go vroom
Thomas Edison (1879)
Invented the incandescent lamp. Though he was, in general, prone to rude tendencies.
Daguerre's daguerrotype (1838)
Early form of photography
Brooklyn Bridge opened (1883)
Large suspension bridge, "triumph of engineering."
Charles Babbage (1834)'s analytic engine
First ancestor of the computer
