Thomas Edison (1879)
Invented the incandescent lamp. Though he was, in general, prone to rude tendencies.
Charles Babbage (1834)'s analytic engine
Marc Brunel's first underwater tunnel (1826-1842)
Under the Thames
1858
This is a record player. Useful for music, instructions, etc.,
Cartwright's power loom (1787)
John Kay (1733)'s flying shuttle
Tremendously helped with making weaving easier, used in the putting-out industry at first.
Gugliemo Marconi (1901) transatlantic radio message
From Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Eli Whitney (1793)'s cotton gin
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)
Alfred Nobel's dynamite (1867)
First high explosive that could be safely handled. Useful for mining and clearing areas for infrastructure.
Daguerre's daguerrotype (1838)
Early form of photography
William Murdock's cool thing he did (1792)
Lit his home using coal gas. Also, he was James Watt's assistant.
James Watt's efficient steam engine (1765)
Like fifty years later, they finally came out with a steam engine with a condensing chamber, making it more efficient. Also a pretty big deal.
Allowed for more sewing, including at-home
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.
More efficient thread spinning
First steam-powered mill (1779)
Helped plant crops
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.
For the World Exposition in Paris
Robert Fulton (1807)'s Clermont
The first successful steamboat. Like the locomotive, made trade so, so much better. For example, now the US could leverage its advantage in having the Mississippi river.
James Hargreaves (1765)'s spinning jenny
Automated thread spinning
Liverpool and Manchester Railway (1830)
Karl Benz's internal-combustion automobile engine (1885)
Gasoline refinement
First occurred in 1850. Gasoline is an important fuel source.
Useful for, like, ship distress calls. Say, for example, the one the Titanic sent out.
Made generators and electrical engines possible
Alexander Graham Bell's telephone (1876)
Made communicating across long distances much easier, but such conversations still had to be done in public, etc.,
First skyscraper (10 stories tall) (in Chicago)
