Inventing the 19th Century : 100 Inventions That Shaped the Victorian Age from Aspirin to the Zeppelin

This book should help advance the use of patent literature for historical research.-Choice"This publication is an interesting work that could be useful for reference purposes as well as pleasant for browsing."-ARBA onlineDishwashers, electric light bulbs, gramophones, motion picture cameras, radios, roller skates, typewriters. While these inventions seem to speak of the 20th century, they all in fact date from the 19th century.The Victorian age (1837-1901) was a period of enormous technological progress in communications, transport, and many other areas of life. Illustrated by the original patent drawings from The British Library's extensive collection, this attractive book chronicles the history of the one hundred most important, innovative, and memorable inventions of the 19th century. The vivid picture of the Victorian age unfolds as inventions from the ground-breaking-such as aspirin, dynamite, and the telephone-to the everyday-like blue jeans and tiddlywinks-are revealed decade by decade. Together they provide a vivid picture of Victorian life.This follow-up volume to Stephen van Dulken's acclaimedInventing the 20th Centurywill be compelling reading to anyone interested in inventors and the "age of machines." From the cash register to the safety pin, from the machine gun to the pocket protector, and from lawn tennis to the light bulb,Inventing the 19th Centuryis a fascinating, illustrative window into the Victorian Age.