Joseph Monier (1849)
Reinforced Concrete
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)
This would allow for long-distance communication
Thomas Alva Edison's phonograph (1877)
Singer's first practical sewing machine (1851)
Allowed for more sewing, including at-home
Michael Faraday (1831)'s discovery of electromagnetic currents
Made generators and electrical engines possible
Cathode rays discovered
Richard Arkwright's water frame (1769)
More efficient thread spinning
James Brindley (1761)'s Bridgewater Canal
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)
Marc Brunel's first underwater tunnel (1826-1842)
Revolutionized the production of steel
Liverpool and Manchester Railway (1830)
Useful for, like, ship distress calls. Say, for example, the one the Titanic sent out.
Eiffel Tower (1889)
For the World Exposition in Paris
First ancestor of the computer
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.
James Hargreaves (1765)'s spinning jenny
Automated thread spinning
Cartwright's power loom (1787)
According to wikipedia:
Tremendously helped with making weaving easier, used in the putting-out industry at first.
Made communicating across long distances much easier, but such conversations still had to be done in public, etc.,
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.
1883
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.
First transatlantic cable completed
Karl Benz's internal-combustion automobile engine (1885)
cars go vroom
William Murdock's cool thing he did (1792)
Lit his home using coal gas. Also, he was James Watt's assistant.
Thomas Edison (1879)
Invented the incandescent lamp. Though he was, in general, prone to rude tendencies.
Gasoline refinement
First occurred in 1850. Gasoline is an important fuel source.
