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#3 Steam Engine
Thomas Savery created the very first steam engine. Until, the mid 1800’s the steam engine was inefficient and wasteful. Then James Watt improved the steam engine, so that it wasted less energy and was more efficient. The steam engine harnesses steam energy, created by heating water with coal, to power machines. Steam engine powered most of the Revolution. It was used to mine coal, iron, and steel. It was also used in locomotives and steamships. -
#10 Steam Boat
John Fitch created the first steam boat. It used a steam Watt’s steam engine for power. He made a forty foot steam boat on the Delaware. On August 26, 1791 he was granted a patent for the steam boat. -
9# Cotton Gin
The cotton gin is designed to remove seeds from cotton. It used hooks to pull cotton through a screen. Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin on March 14, 1794. The cotton industry exploded when the cotton gin was created. Taking seeds out from cotton used to be timely and monotonous. The gin made producing cotton profitable and worthwhile. -
#7 Telegraph
The telegraph was made by Samuel Morse, and it revolutionized communication. The telegraph transmitted electrical signals through a wire. The telegraph sent a series of dots and dashes. Samuel Morse created a code, Morse code, from dots and dashes. A series of dots and dashes stands for a specific letter. The telegraph allowed simple communication. The telegraph was the start of many other communication innovations. -
#5 Sewing Machine
Elias Howe and Walter Hunt built the first working sewing machine. Since, Hunt thought his invention would cause unemployment Hunt never made a patent. The machine used an eye point needle. The needle was pushed through cloth creating a loop. A second string was used to go through the loop. This was called a lock stitch. In 1846 Elias got a patent for the sewing machine. -
#1 Light Bulub
Many people believe Thomas Edison created the light bulb. Actually, he improved the light bulb design. Electric light was dangerous and not practical for use. Thomas Edison made a light bulb that was safe, cheap, and efficient. The light bulb was a change from the traditional candle. The light bulb was a more efficient and brighter source of light. Even now, everyone uses light bulbs. -
#2 The Telephone
Alexander Graham Bell improved the telegraph. Before, the telegraph was only able to send single messages in mores code. Bell created the telephone able to transmit multiple messages. His telephone transmitted speech electrically. Elisha Grey also had a telephone design. Elisha and Bell raced to get a patent on the telephone. Bell got a patent on the telephone before Elisha Grey. This invention quickly connected people around the world. The telephone allowed the collaboration of people worldwide -
#4 Phonograph
Thomas Edison discovered how to record sound. He created the phonograph, a recording device. While Edison was trying to improve the telegraph he discovered how to record sound. The technology used to make the phonograph is still used today. TV’s, movies, and most media use technology that was in the first phonograph. -
#8Airplane
The Wrignt Brothers were aviation inventors who created the very first airplane. They achieved the first powered, sustained, and controlled flight. Their invention revolutionized how people travel today. Furthermore, their invention made it possible for us to fly on planes today. -
#6 The Assembly line
Henry Ford created the first assembly line in 1913. His assembly line reduced the time it took to build a car from 12 hours to 2 hours. The assembly line allowed cars to be made quicker and be sold at cheaper prices. His invention revolutionized how products are made today.
