Thomas Alva Edison's phonograph (1877)
This is a record player. Useful for music, instructions, etc.,
Charles Babbage (1834)'s analytic engine
Cathode rays discovered
1858
Alexander Graham Bell's telephone (1876)
Made communicating across long distances much easier, but such conversations still had to be done in public, etc.,
Reinforced Concrete
Samuel F. B. Morse's telegraph and Morse Code (1837)
This would allow for long-distance communication
Gasoline refinement
First occurred in 1850. Gasoline is an important fuel source.
Brooklyn Bridge opened (1883)
Large suspension bridge, "triumph of engineering."
1883
John Kay (1733)'s flying shuttle
Tremendously helped with making weaving easier, used in the putting-out industry at first.
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.
Gugliemo Marconi (1896)'s wireless telegraph patent
Useful for, like, ship distress calls. Say, for example, the one the Titanic sent out.
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.
Began the first regular commercial rail service
Automated thread spinning
According to wikipedia:
Allowed for more sewing, including at-home
Marc Brunel's first underwater tunnel (1826-1842)
Under the Thames
Henry Bessemir's steel converter (1854)
Michael Faraday (1831)'s discovery of electromagnetic currents
Made generators and electrical engines possible
James Brindley (1761)'s Bridgewater Canal
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.
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.
Daguerre's daguerrotype (1838)
Early form of photography
Richard Arkwright's water frame (1769)
More efficient thread spinning
Thomas Edison (1879)
Invented the incandescent lamp. Though he was, in general, prone to rude tendencies.
Gugliemo Marconi (1901) transatlantic radio message
From Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
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)
Jethro Tull (1708)'s mechanical seed drill
Helped plant crops
Karl Benz's internal-combustion automobile engine (1885)
cars go vroom
