The Industrial Revolutions: The Metal Fabrication and Engineering Industries v. 9

Improvements in the working of metals and the development of the steam engine are generally recognized as lying at the heart of the British Industrial Revolution. This volume includes key articles describing innovations in the manufacture of simple tools and screws, and of more complex articles, such as watches and clocks. The evolution of the Newcomen atmospheric engine is described from its beginnings. Several contributions deal with the Boulton and Watt partnership and the engines they produced. Other describe the rise of the early stages of mass production engineering. The book also discusses metal working and the diffusion of engineering technology among major producing countries. Finally, the rise of true mass production of metal goods, sometimes known as the "American system of manufacture", is examined, which foreshadowed the technical breakthroughs which were to follow later in the century and after.