Fifty Machines that Changed the Course of History

Fifty Machines that Changed the Course of History identifies the most significant branded or one-off machines of the 19th and 20th centuries, placing them in their historical and technological contexts, and evaluating their impact on the development of human civilisation. These include the first locomotive designed for passenger use during the First Industrial Revolution, the Berliner gramophone and Model T Ford at the turn of the 20th century, and the first TV set and air conditioner of the 1930s. From steam engines to modern-day telescopes and cellphones, this book is a celebration of 50 iconic machines, and of mechanical technology in general.