Interchangeable Parts During The Industrial Revolution Of The 19th Century

Interchangeable parts were considered one of the most groundbreaking inventions during the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century. Defined as identical components that can be substituted for one another (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, 2016), the invention cannot be traced back to an exact date. Interchangeable parts were popularized in America when Eli Whitney began using them to assemble muskets during the first years of the 19th century (History.com Staff, 2010). Interchangeable parts played such a vital role towards the developmental growth of the country at the time because it revolutionized the manufacturing and effectiveness of weapons. Mass production of the parts allowed relatively unskilled workers to quickly produce and repair low cost weapons in large numbers. It took away the need for an expert and alleviated any concern about the lack weapons.

Once interchangeability started, a firearm could be repaired by simply replacing the damaged part instead of making a whole new weapon. Compared to other inventions that came out during the Industrial Revolution, interchangeable parts are still as beneficial today as it was back when it was first introduced. Email has made the telegraph ancient communication system. The cotton gin, another Eli Whitney invention, is still being used today; however, the versions used today are much more sophisticated and efficient. In closing, interchangeable parts have not been the most talked about inventions from the Industrial Revolution, but it was definitely a game