Brooklyn Bridge opened (1883)
Large suspension bridge, "triumph of engineering."
First skyscraper (10 stories tall) (in Chicago)
1883
Eiffel Tower (1889)
For the World Exposition in Paris
Thomas Edison (1879)
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.
Hiram Maxim's machine gun (1884)
Tremendously helped with making weaving easier, used in the putting-out industry at first.
Gugliemo Marconi (1901) transatlantic radio message
From Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Made communicating across long distances much easier, but such conversations still had to be done in public, etc.,
Richard Arkwright's water frame (1769)
More efficient thread spinning
Cathode rays discovered
1858
Karl Benz's internal-combustion automobile engine (1885)
cars go vroom
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.
Singer's first practical sewing machine (1851)
Allowed for more sewing, including at-home
Joseph Monier (1849)
According to wikipedia:
Eli Whitney (1793)'s cotton gin
Useful for, like, ship distress calls. Say, for example, the one the Titanic sent out.
Liverpool and Manchester Railway (1830)
Began the first regular commercial rail service
Michael Faraday (1831)'s discovery of electromagnetic currents
Made generators and electrical engines possible
Robert Trevithick (1801)'s steam locomotive demonstration
Samuel F. B. Morse's telegraph and Morse Code (1837)
This would allow for long-distance communication
Daguerre's daguerrotype (1838)
Early form of photography
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.
Jethro Tull (1708)'s mechanical seed drill
Helped plant crops
First steam-powered mill (1779)
Crompton's "mule" + Spinning jenny and water frame fully automated weaving process. Yeah.
This is a record player. Useful for music, instructions, etc.,
First high explosive that could be safely handled. Useful for mining and clearing areas for infrastructure.
First transatlantic cable completed
Gasoline refinement
First occurred in 1850. Gasoline is an important fuel source.
