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The Steam Engine Invented
In 1712, Thomas Newcomen and John Calley got together and invented the first steam engine. They built this engine on top of a mine filled with water to pump the water out. The engine worked by pumping stream into a cylindar and using cold water to condense the steam, creating a vacuum in the cylindar. The resulting pressure created a downward pull, powering the pistons. Picture and Information: http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blsteamengine.htm -
Lightning Rod Invented
In 1752, Benjamin Franklin conducted his most famous experiment, the Lightning Rod. Around this time, most house fires were attributed to lightning. In order to reduce the amount of these fires, Benjamin Franklin invented the Lightning Rod. This device was attached to the side of a house and would attract lightning, but keep it away from the house. Picture and Information: http://inventors.about.com/od/fstartinventors/ss/Franklin_invent_3.htm -
David Bushnell's Submarine
David Bushnell invented the first submarine in 1776. The Submarine only fit one man and was powered by pedals. It would submerge by allowing water into the hull, and would surface by releasing water by a hand powered pump. This submarine gave the Revolutionary armies hopes for a secret weopon. Picture and Information: http://inventors.about.com/od/sstartinventions/a/Submarines_3.htm -
The First Steam Boat
The Steam Boat era officialy began in 1787 when John Finch invented the fist one. The first trial was completed on the Delaware River. It did not use Newcomen's steam engine idea, but James Watt's. Finch was given the patent for the steam boat in 1791. Picture and Information: http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blsteamship.htm -
The Telegraph Invented
In 1809 the first telegraph was invented by Samuel Soemmering. It was a crude telegraph, for it only taveled 2000 feet. He used 35 wires with golden electrodes. The message was read using gas caused by electrolysis. Picture and Information: http://inventors.about.com/od/tstartinventions/a/telegraph.htm -
Typewriter Invented
In 1829 William Austin Burt invented the first typewriter which he called the "Typographer". This invention used a clock on the front to show how much of a page you filled. Burt did not continue to expand on the typewriter, but moved on to create other inventions. This invention however, opened the eyes of other inventors. Picture and Information: http://www.typewriter.be/missinvention.htm -
Alfred Nobel's Dynamite
Alfred Nobel worked as a bridge builder in Stockholm. His work inspired him to find new methods of blasting rock. He was first inventor to start experimenting with nitroglycerine. Nobel went on to invent the detenator in 1963. Picture and Information: http://inventors.about.com/od/dstartinventions/a/Alfred_Nobel.htm -
Barbed Wire Invented
Many things changed the face of the Wild West Era, but none so much as barbed wire. The main use of this tool was to keep livestock in and predators out. The reason they used wire was because wood was not abundant and it was much cheaper than wood. Barbed wire was ultimately invented by Joseph Glidden. Picture and Information: http://inventors.about.com/od/bstartinventions/a/BarbedWire.htm -
First Escalator Invented
In 1891, Jesse Reno invented the much used Escalator. This was basically a moving staircase that worked like a conveyor belt. Reno recieved the patent for this invention in 1892. Later on, Charles Seeberger refined the earlier model of the escalator. We use Seeberger's model today. Picture and Information: http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blescalator.htm -
The Zepplin Invented
In 1900, Ferdinand Zepplin invented the first rigid frame airship. He called this airship a Zepplin after himself. The fist model was called the LZ-1. The first flight of this Zepplin was flown with five passengers on board. Picture and Information: http://inventors.about.com/od/astartinventions/ss/airship_7.htm
