http://www.history.com/photos/industrial-inventions en Copyright 2013, History.com Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT History.com 2013-05-21T04:00:00Z en Copyright 2013, History.com http://www.history.com/photos/industrial-inventions/photo1 The creation of the steam engine was a driving force behind the rise of mills and factories during the Industrial Revolution http://www.history.com/photos/industrial-inventions/photo1 http://www.history.com/photos/industrial-inventions/photo2 Developed in the mid-1800s, the steam traction engine was self-propelled and could move without the use of rails. http://www.history.com/photos/industrial-inventions/photo2 http://www.history.com/photos/industrial-inventions/photo3 In the United States, the first commercial coal mining ventures were established in the 18th century http://www.history.com/photos/industrial-inventions/photo3 http://www.history.com/photos/industrial-inventions/photo4 In the later stages of the Industrial Revolution, coal output in the United States doubled nearly every year, peaking at 680 million short tons in 1916. http://www.history.com/photos/industrial-inventions/photo4 http://www.history.com/photos/industrial-inventions/photo5 In 1794, Eli Whitney received a patent for his cotton gin, which separated cotton fibers from seeds. The machine's success led to both massive growth in American cotton production and a substantial increase in the importation of slave labor. http://www.history.com/photos/industrial-inventions/photo5 http://www.history.com/photos/industrial-inventions/photo6 Today's modern cotton harvesters can harvest up to 190,000 pounds of seed cotton a day. http://www.history.com/photos/industrial-inventions/photo6 http://www.history.com/photos/industrial-inventions/photo7 The development of horse-drawn hay mowers and reapers by Cyrus McCormick and others revolutionized agriculture production in the mid-1800s. http://www.history.com/photos/industrial-inventions/photo7 http://www.history.com/photos/industrial-inventions/photo8 In the 1840s, the invention of steam-powered grain elevators allowed for the storage and shipment of agricultural products across the United States. http://www.history.com/photos/industrial-inventions/photo8 http://www.history.com/photos/industrial-inventions/photo9 Originally pulled by horse or mule and later mechanized, the combine harvester streamlined agricultural processes. What had once been three separate operations-reaping, binding and threshing-was now combined into one. http://www.history.com/photos/industrial-inventions/photo9 http://www.history.com/photos/industrial-inventions/photo10 The rise of mechanization during the Industrial Revolution led to greater concern for worker safety http://www.history.com/photos/industrial-inventions/photo10 http://www.history.com/photos/industrial-inventions/photo11 At its height, the Ford "Rouge" employed more than 100,000 people. Ford cars were completely assembled from the chassis up on a moving conveyor, and then driven off the line under their own power. http://www.history.com/photos/industrial-inventions/photo11 http://www.history.com/photos/industrial-inventions/photo12 By the 1990s, the Ford Motor Plant had increased its robotic capacity, and a car could make its way down the welding assembly line in less than four minutes. http://www.history.com/photos/industrial-inventions/photo12