Industrial Revolution: Stainless Steel
Contents
Stainless steel and the industrial revolution and then Sheila Shine
Life changed when the industrial revolution began. New manufacturing techniques took production out of homes and into factories. Instead of taking a full day to spin and weave one rug, for instance, factory workers produced 1,000 in a single day. Machines like Watt’s steam engine and Eli Whitney’s cotton gin made work faster and life more convenient.
The light bulb
Thomas Edison was born during the manufacturing revolution and continued to make contributions to the modern industrialized world throughout his life. He held over 1,000 US patents but is best known for the incandescent light. Edison demonstrated his commercially viable light bulb in 1879 and patented an electricity distribution system the following year. In 1880, the power industry was born in America.
The Columbian Exposition
Also known as the Chicago World’s Fair, celebrated the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the New World. It also celebrated American innovation. Scientific discoveries took center stage for all to see. The “war of the currents” rages over direct current versus alternating current. Nikola Tesla introduced the two-phase motor, and the Westinghouse Company presented systems that transmitted electricity over long distances. Even things like spray paint, the Ferris Wheel, and the automatic dishwasher made their debut at the fair. However, the main event was Edison’s light bulb.
Even though Edison’s light bulb was the main event at the fair, he did not supply lighting to the expo. That honor went instead to Reginald Fessenden’s double-stopper light bulb. This type of light bulb lit the fair by using an iron-nickel alloy (a type of stainless steel) as the lead-in wire. Edison’s used platinum for this wire. This new alloy reduced the bulb’s cost and increased its longevity.
Buy WholesaleSteel and the power industry
As we saw with Fessenden’s improved light bulb, nickel alloys and other stainless steels played a vital role in American power history. At first, stainless steel was used only as kitchenware, but people soon discovered how useful it really is. Cars made with steel are more efficient and decrease environmental impact; chemical, processing, and oil industries depend on its corrosion resistance. From skyscrapers to artificial hips, steel is all around us.
Manufacturing and power plants rely on steel. Nuclear facilities, for example, are some of the most important. Because of its long-term value, stainless steel is a constant fixture in American power, and steel is helping the industry progress every day. Fessenden’s light bulb was just the beginning of all that came after regarding stainless steel.
To protect stainless steel, many home and business owners rely on good products to keep their stainless steel clean and polished. This prevents future damage and corrosion. Stainless steel is in our everyday life and keeping it clean needs to be a priority. Sheila Shine can help with that. A 3-in-1 product, Sheila Shine will clean, polish, and protect all stainless steel surfaces in one easy step. A little dab of product and a soft, clean cloth is all that is needed!
