Innovations of the 19th Century

The 19th century was a time of tremendous development from a technological perspective. Tools and many of the daily items we take for granted today were new and innovative to the 19th century generations.
You may be surprised at the extent of inventions that were created during a one-hundred year period. We can truly appreciate the visionary minds of the individuals who have made day-to-day living easier.
Years 1800-1820
1800
Battery
1801
Gaslighting. By 1807, London had gas streetlights.
1803
Steel pen
1812
Storage battery
1814
First locomotive in the U.S. and the steam-powered rotary printing press in London
1816
Camera
1818
Blood transfusion. Although discovered, physicians of the time did not understand blood transfusion and thus was not really used until the 20th century.
1819
Stethoscope. The first stethoscope had a wooden tube.
Years 1821-1840
1821
Electric motor
1827
Matches. However, these worked rather poorly. The phosphorous match replaced these type in 1836.
1830
Food canning, which would become a very important technology. In addition, the portable steam fire engine and the first steam locomotive, the Tom Thumb, raced against a horse-drawn railcar in Baltimore.
1831
Chloroform was discovered. This would become a critically important invention, particularly on the battlefield.
1834
McCormick reaper (would change agriculture forever!) and refrigeration!
1837
The Telegraph, which was demonstrated by Morse. The telegraph would be the first step in revolutionizing communication. The first message was sent in 1844 in Morse code. It was: “What hath God wrought?”
1839
Daguerreotype (photograph)

1841-1860
1842
The player piano.
1843
Typewriting machine. (Consider: this would be the first step of a journey to the computers of today.)
1846
Lock-stitch sewing machine. This invention would change the way clothes would be sewn!
1847
Chloroform used in surgery.
1860
Can opener, the internal combustion engine.
1861-1880
1864
Rubber dental plate.
1868
First practical typewriter, plastics.
1876
Telephone. By the year 1900, there would be 1.4 million telephones in the United States.
1877
Phonograph, gas engine.
1881-1899
1884
Motor car, airship, fountain pen, steam turbine.
1885
Motorcycle
1886
Aluminum
1890
Rubber tires used on bicycles.
1893
Carburetor, diesel engine.
1895
X-ray
1896
Radio
1899
Aspirin