Timeline of mechanical engineering history as a list

2014 - Aeroboat
Propelled by the same Rolls-Royce Merlin V12 engine that powered Britain's Spitfires to
victory in World War II: the yacht designers, Claydon Reeves, also based the boat’s design
on the ‘sleek lines’ of the famous fighter planes. It can ‘fly’ like a jet across water at 109mph.
The boat costs £3 million.

2013 - Supersub
Built by BAE Systems, HMS Ambush has enough nuclear fuel to carry on cruising for up to
25 years non-stop and is capable of hearing a ship leaving port in New York whilst sat
underwater in the English channel.

2013 - Large Hadron Collider

LHC (a 27-kilometre doughnut-shaped particle accelerator that smashes protons together) is
activated. Discovering a force-carrying particle possibly linked to mass (the God particle or
Higgs Boson).

2012-2013 - Synthetic meat

The meat is grown from stem cells, marking the first step for a possible revolution in meat
production. However, taste tests (2013) and costs currently limit the project.

2012-2013 - Electric vehicle stations

As of December 2012, there were around 50,000 non-residential slow charging points and
about 2,000 fast chargers deployed in the U.S., Europe, Japan and China. As of March
2013, the United States had 5,678 public charging stations across the country with 16,256
public charging points. As of November 2012, about 15,000 charging stations had been
installed in Europe

The world's top-selling highway-capable all-electric cars are the Nissan Leaf, with global
sales of over 71,000 units by mid July 2013.

2012 - Sound barrier broken by body

Skydiver Felix Baumgartner breaks the sound barrier without the use of a vehicle, diving
24.23 miles and reaching a speed of 843.598 mph.

2010 - Project Bloodhound

Project launches to take the land speed record above 1,000 mph.
2009 - McLaren new supercar
The design for the McLaren MP4-12C supercar marks the first car fully designed and built by
the company in over a decade. Car launched 2011.

2008 - Crossrail
Construction begins on London's new transport network.

2008 - Carbon capture and storage

First pilot plant.

2007 - Stem cells

James Thomson and Shinya Yamanaka convert human skin into stem cells, previously the
cells had to be harvested from human embryos.

2007 - Solar Atlantic Crossing

Sun21 completes the first solar-powered crossing of the Atlantic Ocean taking 29 days.

2007 - Skysails
SkySails is piloted on cargo ships. A 160 metre square kite, controlled by computers, its
makers believe it could cut the fuel costs of cargo ships by 10 to 35 per cent.

2006 - Water 'creation'

Aqua Sciences develop technology to extract water from the atmosphere. The device works
virtually anywhere that is inhabited by human beings, delivering clean water for drinking,
industry etc.

2006 - Turbosteamer
BMW develops prototype turbosteamer technology. It converts 80 per cent of exhaust heat
into power.

2006 - Institution of Mechanical Engineers first female CE

IMechE appoint Ruth Spellman Chief Executive.

2006 - Cosmoplane test flight

Russia’s Institute of Applied Mechanics developed a new aircraft: it takes off and lands like
an ordinary plane, but it behaves like a spacecraft for the rest of the flight. The aerospace
craft is expected to fly at heights between 100-200 kilometres and with speed as high as 30
thousand kilometres per hour. It takes the vehicle 20 minutes to fly from Moscow to Paris
and 50 minutes to New York. The cosmoplane uses hypersonic engines fuelled by oxygen
and hydrogen. Tests of plane’s 1:25 scale model by institute’s experts proved to be
successful.
2004-2010 - Graphene
Graphene is one of the crystalline forms of carbon: carbon atoms are arranged in a regular
hexagonal pattern. Graphene can be described as a one-atom thick layer of the layered
mineral graphite. High quality graphene is very strong, light, nearly transparent and an
excellent conductor of heat and electricity. The method for isolating the layers is developed
by Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov.

In 2010 a Nobel Prize in Physics was granted to Geim and Novoselov "for groundbreaking
experiments regarding the two-dimensional material graphene".

2004 - Injection by soundwave

SonoPrep is invented by bioengineer Robert Langer. The device delivers medication by
sound waves rather than injection.

2003 - Hybrid electric vehicle

The Renault Kangoo is produced. It is the first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, which can be
recharged from the mains, and does not require conventional fuel for short trips.

2003 - Clear Skies

The Clear Skies renewable energy grant scheme is launched in the UK.

2002 - Scramjet
The HyShot supersonic ramjet (scramjet) makes its first successful flight at Mach 7.6, over
seven times the speed of sound. It is a jet engine powered by oxygen which is taken from
the atmosphere as it flies, compressed and mixed with a small amount of hydrogen to
produce an explosion.

2002 - Hydrogen fuel car

General Motors reveal the Hy-Wire, a revolutionary concept car powered by hydrogen fuel
cells. It is controlled electronically, removing the need for steering wheels, pedals and other
traditional features of the automobile.

2002 - Falkirk Wheel opens

The Falkirk Wheel is a rotating boat lift in Scotland. It connects the Forth and Clyde Canal
with the Union Canal.

2001 - Segway PT
The two wheeled, self-balancing, electric vehicle is unveiled by inventor Dean Kamen.
2000 - Blyth wind farm
Blyth offshore wind farm, the first in the UK, opens off the Northumberland coast. Its 2MW
turbines are the largest offshore turbines in the world.

1999 - Millennium Wheel

The Millennium Wheel is hoisted into position, transforming the London skyline.

1998 - Robot assisted heart bypass

The first robot assisted heart bypass operation is performed by Dr. Ralph Damiano at
Pennsylvania State Hospital, USA.

1998 - International Space Station

Work begins on the ISS, a collaboration between the USA, Canada, Russia, Europe and
Japan.

1998 - Formula Student

Formula Student​ ​is launched, one of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers most popular
events. Teams of students design and build a single-seater racing car, which then faces
three days of endurance tests and scrutiny by professional engineers and industry experts.

1997 - Thrust SSC

Thrust SSC sets the land speed record, reaching 763.044 mph. It is the first car to officially
break the sound barrier, it is jet-propelled. Designed by Richard Noble and driven by Andy
Green.

1997 - The Institution of Mechanical Engineers first female President

The IMechE's 150th anniversary is marked by the appointment of its first female President,
Pam Liversidge.

1997 - Mars probe

NASA lands its first probe on Mars, discoveries prompt theories that microbial life might once
have existed on the planet.

1997 - Kyoto Protocol

55 nations agree to binding obligations to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, aviation
and shipping are excluded. The USA refuses to sign.

1997 - Hybrid automobile

The Toyota Prius is the first mass-produced hybrid automobile. It goes on sale in Japan in
1997, and is introduced worldwide in 2001.
1997 - Deep Blue
IBM's super computer beats Russian world chess grandmaster, Garry Kasparov. Marking
the first defeat of a human by a machine in chess.

1996 - Solar crossing of Pacific

Kenichi Horie completes the first solar powered crossing of the Pacific Ocean.

1995 - Space walking Briton

Dr Michael Foale performs the first space walk by a British-born American citizen.

1995 - M-theory
A new universal theory of everything is proposed by Edward Witten, uniting attempts to
reconcile gravity with quantum physics (string theories). Witten's theory is championed by
Stephen Hawkin, but remains incomplete.

1995 - GPS
Conceived by Roger Easton, GPS (Global Positioning System) measures time and location
in all weathers using a network of satellites.

1995 - Fermat's Last Theorem

358 years after it is conceived, Pierre de Fermat theorem (or conjecture) is proved by
Andrew Wiles. Famously Fermat placed it in the margin of a copy of ​Arithmetica​ but he
claimed he had a proof that was too large to fit in the margin. It states that, no three positive
integers ​a​, ​b​, and ​c​ can satisfy the equation ​an​ ​ + ​b​n​ = ​c​n​ for any integer value of ​n​ greater
than two.

1994 - GM crops
Genetically modified crops, supposedly more resistant to disease and faster growing, are
introduced.

1993 - Fuel cell bus

The first bus powered by a fuel cell is completed.

1993 - Dyson vacuums founded

Bagless vacuum cleaners are produced by James Dyson's new company. In 2005 they
become the market leader in the USA.

1991 - UK wind farm

Delabole wind farm opens, the first in the UK.

1991 - First Briton in space

Helen Sharman is the first Briton is space, on-board the Soviet space capsule, Soyuz
TM-12.

1990-1994 - Channel Tunnel

Construction workers drilling the Channel Tunnel meet in the middle, physically joining the
UK to Europe for the first time in the modern age. The Channel Tunnel is formally opened by
the Queen and the French President Francois Mitterrand in 1994.

1990 - Hubble Space Telescope

The Telescope begins to orbit, returning detailed images of deep space.

1989-1990 - World Wide Web

Tim Berners-Lee invents the web, a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via
a web browser.

1987 - World Solar Challenge

The World Solar Challenge is founded. It is a biannual solar-powered car race, run over
1877 miles from Darwin to Adelaide. The first winner reaches a speed of 42mph.

1984 - Thames Barrier opens

The 520 metre barrier completes construction, aiming to prevent flooding from rising tides
and storm surges.

1984 - Macintosh launched

Apple Computer launch the first commercially successful computer to use a mouse and
graphical user interface.

1983 - Sonic toothbrush

Philips invent the sonic toothbrush.

1983 - Maglev
The world's first maglev (magnetically levitating) train begins operating in the UK as a shuttle
between Birmingham airport and Birmingham International Railway Station, it is replaced a
few years later.

1982 - Volkswagen photovoltaic arrays

Volkswagen began testing photovoltaic arrays mounted on the roofs of vehicles.

1981-1988 - Stealth aircraft

The US F-117A Nighthawk is the first aircraft to use stealth capability. It is produced by
Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Co. The maiden flight for the type was conducted in 1981,
and it achieved initial operating capability status in October 1983. The F-117 was
"acknowledged" and revealed to the world in November 1988.

1981-1984 - 3D printing (additive manufacturing)

In 1981, the first published account of a printed solid model was made by Hideo Kodama of
Nagoya Municipal Industrial Research Institute. However, the man most often credited with
inventing the 3D printer is Charles W. Hull, who first patented the term 'stereolithography'
(defined as "system for generating three-dimensional objects by creating a cross-sectional
pattern of the object to be formed") in 1984.

1981 - Space shuttle

Space Shuttle Columbia is launched, the first space shuttle flight. It is also the first time that
solid rocket fuels are used in a US manned launch.

1981 - Solar One

Solar One is completed. The 126 acre pilot solar-thermal project produces 10MW using
1818 mirrors or heliostats. The heliostats concentrate the suns rays on a collector tower,
which transfers the energy to a substance which stores the heat for later use.

1980 - Rubik cube

The Hungarian architect Erno Rubik's cube goes on sale, the 3D twisting cube becomes the
best selling toy of all time.

1979 - Bileaflet heart valve

The Bileaflet heart valve is introduced.

1978 - Village photovoltaic system

The world's first village photovoltaic system is installed at Papago Indian Reservation,
Schuchuli, Arizona.

1978 - Regenerative braking

David Arthurs develops the regenerative braking system.

1976 - Concorde
The first Concorde jets carrying commercial passengers take off simultaneously from London
to Bahrain and Paris to Rio de Janeiro.

1975 - North Sea pipeline

The North Sea pipeline is opened, bringing ashore 40,000 barrels of oil a day to the
Grangemouth Refinery on the Firth of Forth, Scotland.

1974 - Edinburgh Duck

Professor Stephen Salter develops the Edinburgh Duck, a device which can stop 90% of
wave motion; of that, 90% can be converted into electricity.

1974 - Catalytic converter

General Motors introduce the catalytic converter, a device to reduce the toxicity of emissions
from an internal combustion engine.

1973 - Mobile phone

Dr Martin Cooper invents the mobile phone.

1973 - Airbag
The first car to be sold to the general public with an airbag as a standard feature is the
Oldsmobile Tornado. It is available only on the passenger side.

1972-1977 - MRI scanner

Dr Raymond Damadian patents the world's first MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging
scanner), he undertakes the first full-body scan in 1977.

1971 - Space station

The Soviet Union launches the first space station, Salyut 1.

1971 - Holography
Dennis Gabor pioneers holography, a technique of recording and playing back images that
can be viewed from a range of angles as if they existed in 3D space.

1970 - Boeing 747

A Boeing 747 jet arrives at Heathrow Airport in London after completing its maiden flight
from New York.

1970 - Apollo 13
Apollo 13, carrying three US astronauts, splashes down safely after a five day rescue
operation in space. The trouble is caused by an explosion on board the spacecraft during
their journey to land on the Moon.

1969-1976 - Supersonic commercial flight

Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde, a turbojet-powered supersonic passenger airliner or
supersonic transport (SST) is first flown in 1969, Concorde entered service in 1976 and
continued commercial flights for 27 years.

It is one of only two SSTs to have entered commercial service; the other was the Tupolev
Tu-144. Concorde was jointly developed and produced by Aérospatiale and the British
Aircraft Corporation (BAC) under an Anglo-French treaty.

1969 - Institution of Locomotive Engineers

Institution of Mechanical Engineers merge with the Institution of Locomotive Engineers,
creating the Railway Division.

1969 - First man on the moon

Neil Armstrong is the first man to step onto the moon.

1968 - Jet ski

Clayton Jacobsen patents the jet ski. Kawasaki buy the rights.

1967-1969 - ATM/Cash point

The world's first Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) is installed at the Rockville Centre, Long
Island at a branch of Chemical Bank, 1969. It was invented by Don Wetzel.

Barclays Bank had introduced a simpler version two years previously at a branch in North
London, but it used paper vouchers (rather than the magnetic strip technology used by the
Chemical Bank's ATM).

1966 - First lunar landing

The first scheduled unmanned soft landing on the moon surface is made by the Soviet Luna
9.

1964 - Tokaido Shinkansen

The Tokaido Shinkansen opens. It is the first high speed train in the world, travelling
between Tokyo and Shimonoseki at speeds of 130 mph.

1964 - Mouse
Dr Douglas Engelbart invents the computer mouse.

1964 - Land speed record

British speed pioneer Sir Donald Campbell sets a new land speed record of 429mph in his
car, Bluebird. Campbell held and broke a number of land and water speed records
throughout his career.
1961 - UK carwash
The first fully automated car wash in the UK opens by Stirling Moss on Brompton Road,
London.

1961 - First man in space

Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man to voyage into space, on board Vostok 1.

1960 - Internal pacemaker

The internal heart pacemaker is patented by Wilson Greatbatch. See 1950 - External
pacemaker.

1960 - Bubblewrap
The Sealed Air Corporation is formed by US engineers, Alfred Fielding and Marc
Chavannes, in order to market their new invention, bubble wrap.

1959 - Luna 1
Luna 1, an unmanned Soviet rocket, is the first to fly close to the moon.

1959 - Hydrogen fuel cell

Francis Thomas Bacon builds the first modern fuel cell, fed with high pressure hydrogen.

1958 - Photovoltaic satellite

The first photovoltaic powered satellite is launched in the US.

1957 - Sputnik 1
Sputnik 1, the first satellite to be launched into space, is sent into orbit by the Soviet Union.

1957 - Monorail
Ueno Zoo, Tokyo, is the site of the first monorail.

1956-2001 - Artificial heart

The artificial heart was patented in 1956 by Dr. Paul Winchell.

In 1982 the first 'successful' artificial heart (the Jarvik-7) is designed by Robert Jarvik, it is
received by Barney Clark: William DeVries performs the surgery. He lives for 112 days,
although the heart was intended to last a lifetime it is the first occurrence of a patient living
beyond surgery. Jarvik continued to improve the device for example, working on the Jarvik
2000, a thumb-sized heart pump.

Various incarnations of the technology sought to replace transplant but it was not until 2001
that a major breakthrough occurred.
In 2001 the AbioCor artificial heart is invented by AbioMed. It is fully implantable within a
patient, due to a combination of advances in miniaturization, biosensors, plastics and energy
transfer. The AbioCor runs on a rechargeable source of power. The internal battery is
charged by a transcutaneous energy transmission (TET) system, meaning that no wires or
tubes penetrate the skin and therefore there is less risk of infection

1956-1959 - Hovercraft
The modern hovercraft is invented by Christopher Cockerell. He produced his first
hovercraft, SRN 1, in 1959.

1956 - First commercial nuclear power station

Calder Hall, the world's first large-scale commercial nuclear power station, is connected to
the national grid.

1955 - Diesel electric trains

Diesel electric trains are first introduced in the UK.

1954 - Photovoltaic cell

The first practical photovoltaic solar cell is demonstrated.

1954 - Nuclear power station

The world's first nuclear power station opens at Obninsk, near Moscow. Britiain's first station
opens in the same year, at Harwell.

1953-1969 - Colour television

The first successful colour television system is designed by the Radio Corporation of
America. Broadcasting begins on 17 December 1953. It was introduced in the UK on BBC
Two for Wimbledon coverage on July 1, 1967. The launch of the BBC2 "full" colour service
took place on December 2, 1967. Some British TV programs, however, had been produced
in colour even before the introduction of colour television in 1967, for the purpose of sales to
American, Canadian, and Filipino networks.​ ​BBC One​ and​ ​ITV​ started colour transmissions
November 15, 1969.

1953 - Heart-lung machine

The heart-lung machine is developed by John Gibbon of Philadelphia.

1953 - Airbag
The first patent for the airbag is taken out by American naval engineer, John Hetrick. It is
perfected by American inventor, Allen K Breed, in 1968.

1952 - Mechanical heart valve

The first human implant of a mechanical heart valve is made.

1951 - Electricity from nuclear fission

The first usable electricity from nuclear fission is produced at the National Reactor Station,
Idaho. Four years later, the neighbouring town of Arco is the first to be powered by nuclear
energy.

1950 - Microwave
Percy Lebaron Spencer, from Massachusetts, patents the first microwave oven.

Toggle 1950 - External pacemaker

Dr Mark Lidewell invents the​ ​pacemaker: a medical device that uses electrical impulses,
delivered by electrodes contracting the heart muscles, to regulate the beating of the heart.
See 1960 - Internal pacemaker.

1950 - Cardiac pacemaker

Canadian John Hopps invents the cardiac pacemaker, although the first model is too large to
fit into the human body.

1949 - De Havilland Comet

The de Havilland Comet, the world's first jet airliner, makes its maiden flight.

1947 - Institution of Automobile Engineers

Institution of Mechanical Engineers merges with the Institution of Automobile Engineers,
creating the Automobile Division.

1947 - GLEEP
Graphite Low Energy Experimental Atomic Pile was a long-lived experimental nuclear
reactor, run for the first time on 15 Aug: it was the first reactor to operate in Western Europe.
Designed and built at Harwell, England.

1947 - Breaking the sound barrier

Chuck Yeager is the first person to break the sound barrier in level flight, flying the X-1.

1945 - Turing-Welchman Bombe

Alan Turing develops the Turing-Welchman Bombe, an electromechanical machine capable
of deciphering the German enigma codes, at Bletchley Park.

1945 - James Clayton lecture

First James Clayton lecture (Institution of Mechanical Engineers premier award of its type) is
authorised by Council. Frank Whittle presents ‘The early history of the Whittle gas turbine’ to
a packed house.​ ​Read the paper​.
1944 - Calculator
American Howard Aiken develops the first fully automatic, large scale calculator, known as
the Harvard Mark I. It has over 750,000 parts.

1944 - PLUTO
The Pipeline Under the Ocean (PLUTO) was designed to supply petrol from storage tanks in
southern England to the advancing Allied armies in France in the months following D-Day. It
was fully operational by June 14 1944.

1943 - Dialysis machine

The artificial kidney (dialysis machine) is tested for the first time.

1942 - Nuclear chain reaction

Enrico Fermi demonstrates the first self supporting nuclear chain reaction in a laboratory at
the University of Chicago.

1941 - Gloster E28/39

The Gloster E28/39 is the first aircraft to fly using Whittle's jet engine.

1939 - First working helicopter

The first working helicopter is constructed by Sikorsky.

1939 - First rocket powered flight

Flight Captain Erich Warsitz pilots the first rocket powered aircraft, the He176.

1939 - First jet powered flight

The first jet aircraft to fly is the Heinkel He 178, powered by an He S3B engine designed by
Hans von Ohain. The plane is piloted by Flight Captain Erich Warsitz, who also piloted the
first jet powered aircraft.

1938 - Tumble dryer

Hamilton's Manufacturing Company produces the first commercial tumble dryer, invented by
J Ross Moore.

1938 - Steam locomotive speed record broken

The Mallard locomotive gains the world speed record for steam locomotives at 126 mph (203
kph). It was designed by the renowned locomotive engineer Sir Nigel Gresley.

1937-1959 - Photocopier
Chester F Carlson invents the photocopier. It is not patented until 1942, and it is not until
1959 that the first commercial machine goes on sale by the Haloid Company, later renamed
the Xerox Corporation.

1937 - Jet engine

The jet engine is invented by Frank Whittle.

1936-1938 - Spitfire
The Spitfire fighter plane, designed by Reginald Mitchell, has its maiden flight. It enters RAF
service in 1938.

1935; 1952 - Biro

Laszlo Biro produces the ballpoint pen commercially. It is not until 1952 that the most
popular ballpoint pen in the UK, the Bic, is first produced by French manufacturer Marcel
Bich.

1932-1939 - BBC broadcasting, television and radio

The BBC makes the first televised broadcast, from Alexandra Palace, London on 22nd
August. From December radio broadcasting widens: on the 19th The Empire Service
(precursor of the World Service) launches; and on the 25th King George V becomes the first
monarch to deliver a Christmas Day message by radio, on the Empire Service.

Four years later, the BBC opens the world's first regular high-definition television service:

● 1937
○ 12 May – First use of TV outside broadcast van, for the coronation procession
of King George VI.
○ 21 June – The BBC broadcasts television coverage of the Wimbledon Tennis
Championships for the first time.
○ 16 September – The BBC makes the world's first live television broadcast of a
football match, a specially arranged local mirror match derby fixture between
Arsenal and Arsenal reserves.
● 1938
○ 3 January – The BBC begins broadcasting its first foreign-language radio
service, in Arabic.
○ 30 April – The BBC broadcasts television coverage of the FA Cup for the first
time.
○ 27 September – Start of the European Service on radio, broadcasting in
French, German and Italian. Portuguese and Spanish are added before the
start of the Second World War.
● 1939
○ 1 September – The BBC Television Service is suspended, about 20 minutes
after the conclusion of a Mickey Mouse cartoon (​Mickey's Gala Premiere​),
due to the imminent outbreak of the Second World War, amid fears that the
 VHF transmissions would act as perfect guidance beams for enemy bombers
attempting to locate central London – also, the technicians and engineers of
the service will be needed for war efforts such as the RADAR programme. On
radio, the Home Service replaces the National and Regional Programmes.

1932 - Piccadilly Circus electrified

In London, Piccadilly Circus lights are lit by electricity for the first time.

1931 - Wind generator

The 100kW Balaclava wind generator, the first utility scale wind turbine, opened in Russia. It
operated for two years along the Caspian Sea. Also, in 1931 the Darrieus wind turbine was
developed as a vertical axis turbine used to generate electricity. By the 1930's farms across
the U. S. were using small wind turbines.

1930 - Quick freeze machine

Clarence Birdseye patents the 'Quick Freeze Machine', reducing the time needed to freeze
food from three days to a few minutes.

1929 - Transatlantic non-stop flight

English air pioneers John Alcock and Arthur Brown complete the first non-stop transatlantic
flight from Newfoundland to Ireland.

1929 - Jet engine

Frank Whittle invents jet propulsion, patented 1930.

1927 - Transatlantic airplane flight

American pilot Charles Lindbergh lands in Paris, successfully completing the first solo
transatlantic airplane flight.

1926 - Rocket propellant

The world's first liquid rocket propellant is launched by Robert Goddard, near Worcester,
Massachusetts.

1924-1926 - Television
Television is demonstrated for the first time by John Logie Baird at Selfridges, London, 1926.
It used a mechanical system of rotating discs which had been patented in 1924.

1924 - Wembley Stadium

On 23 April 1924 Wembley Stadium is officially opened by King George V.
1924 - IMechE first female member
Verena Holmes becomes the first woman to be elected as an Institution of Mechanical
Engineers member.

1924 - First rotary engine

Felix Wankel develops the Wankel engine, the world's first rotary engine.

1921 - First IMechE Local Branch

The first Institution of Mechanical Engineers local members’ branch is created in
Birmingham, the birthplace of the Institution (1847) before its move to London in 1877.

1919 - Transatlantic airship crossing

The British built R34 becomes the first airship to cross the Atlantic, arriving in New York after
a crossing time of 108 hours and 12 minutes, on the 6th July.

1919 - Pop up toaster

Charles Strite designs the pop-up toaster. It is patented in 1921 and launched in 1926.

1917 - First aircraft carrier

HMS Argus is launched, the first vessel to be designed for use as an aircraft carrier.

1915-1917 - Dual power/hybrid car

'Dual Power’ developed by Woods Motor Vehicles. It has a four cylinder internal combustion
engine and an electric motor. For speeds under 15mph the car is powered by the electric
motor, while the internal combustion engine takes it up to a maximum speed of 35mph.
Around 600 are made up to 1918.​ ​The first was produced in 1917.

1914 - Tank
Sir Ernest Swinton develops the modern tank.

1914 - First car wash

The world's first car wash, the Automated Laundry, opens in Detroit, Michigan.

1914 - First bomber aircraft

The German airship Zeppelin (named after its pioneer, Count Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin)
is the world's first bomber aircraft.

1913- Assembly line

The assembly line is introduced to manufacture Ford Model Ts. As a result, Ford's cars
came off the line in three-minute intervals, much faster than previous methods, reducing
production time by a factor of eight (requiring 12.5 hours before, 93 minutes afterwards),
while using less manpower.

1913 - IMechE Graduateship

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers commences its own graduateship examinations in a
drive to improve and control the training. The tests are not entirely technical; general
knowledge papers tested candidates reading of Chaucer and Tennyson.

1911 - Refrigerator
General Electric launch their first home-market refrigerator.

1911 - Electric starter motor

The electric starter motor for automobiles is invented by Charles Kettering.

1908 - Electric washing machine

The Thor was the first electric-powered washing machine, sold by the Hurley Machine
Company of Chicago and invented Alva J. Fisher.

1908 - Electric vacuum cleaner

James Murray Spangler develops the first electric powered vacuum cleaner. The patent is
bought by Hoover.

1907 - Helicopter flight

French brothers Jacques and Louis Breguet's helicopter makes the world's first flight.

1907 - Brooklands
Brooklands, the first purpose built, off-road race track, is built at Weybridge in Surrey.

1906 - Grand prix

The French Grand Prix, the first of its kind, takes place on a 100km road circuit near the
town of Le Mans. The total distance run is 1100km.

1904 - Geothermal electricity

A geothermal electric generator is built at Larderello, Italy.

1901 - First hybrid car

Ferdinand Porsche designs the ‘Mixte’, the first recorded petroleum electric hybrid vehicle on
record. It uses a petrol motor to power a generator, which in turn powers a hub motor, with a
battery pack for backup. It has a top speed of 35mph.
1900-1901 - Escalator
Charles D Seeberger joins forces with the Otis Elevator Company to produce the first
practical device with moving stairs. It is exhibited at the Paris Exposition of 1900. The first
commercial version is installed at Gimbel's department store, Philadelphia, the following
year.

1900 - The Zeppelin

Ferdinand von Zeppelin develops the world’s first successful dirigible – the Zeppelin.

1900 - Peanut oil engine

Diesel demonstrates an engine which runs on peanut oil.

1899 - IMechE Headquarters

Institution of Mechanical Engineers constructs Storey’s Gate headquarters, later known as 1
Birdcage Walk. A Graduates’ section for younger members is created and immediately
makes its mark when the first ever paper on automobiles is delivered.

1896 - Michelin & Cie

Pneumatic tyres are first used on motor cars by Michelin & Cie, France.

1896 - First flight

Samuel Pierpont Langley makes the first sustained flight by a heavier-than-air powered,
unmanned aircraft: the Number 5 model, driven by a miniature steam engine, flew half a mile
in 90 seconds over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. In November that year the
Number 6 flew more than five thousand feet.

1896 - British petrol-driven car

Frederick Lanchester develops the first full sized British petrol-driven car.

1895 - X-rays
Wilhelm Roentgen discovers X-rays. In recognition of his work, he is awarded the first Nobel
Prize for Physics in 1901. He refuses to patent his work, considering it a gift to humankind.

1895 - First petrol driven bus

The world's first petrol driven bus is created in Germany by the Netphener
Omnibusgesellschaft, who convert a Benz truck. It is capable of carrying eight passengers.

1895 - First Lanchester automobile

Frederick Lanchester and his brother construct a production model, one of the earliest petrol
automobiles in England.

1893 - Lawnmower
James Sumner of Leyland, Lancashire, develops the first motor driven lawnmower. It is
powered by steam and weighs two tonnes.

1893 - Hydroelectric dam

The first dam designed specifically for generating hydroelectricity is built across the Colorado
River.

1893 - Ferris wheel

George Washington Ferris builds the first Ferris wheel for the World Fair at Chicago.

1892-1898 - Diesel engine

Rudolf Diesel invents the engine in 1892. It is patented six years later.

1891 - Electric toaster

Crompton and Company invent the electric toaster. ​ ​The same company later launches the
electric kettle, exhibited 1892.

1888 (1935) - Ballpoint pen

American John Loud invents the ballpoint pen but it is not produced commercially until 1935.

1888 - Pneumatic tyre

John Dunlop invents the pneumatic tyre.

1888 - Electricity generation

A brush post mill is used to generate electricity in Cleveland, Ohio; in 1891 La Cour windmill
is used to generate electricity.

1887 - Radar
German physicist Heinrich Hertz develops radar.

1886 - Four-wheeled motor vehicle

The first four-wheeled motor vehicle is produced by Daimler, working with Wilhelm Maybach.

1886 - Commercial dishwasher

Josephine Cochrane invents and patents the first commercial dishwashing machine.
Apparently she was dissatisfied with the treatment her servants were subjecting her china to
and disliked doing the washing up herself.
1885 - Motorbike
Gottlieb Daimler builds the world's first motorbike.

1885 - Automobile
Karl Benz creates the first purpose built automobile.

1884 - Parson's Steam turbine

Sir Charles Parsons invents the modern steam turbine, whose first model was connected to
a dynamo that generated 7.5 kW of electricity.​ ​The invention made cheap and plentiful
electricity possible and revolutionised marine transport and naval warfare, amongst other
industries.

1884 - Machine gun

Hiram Maxim demonstrates the first prototype Maxim gun, the first truly automatic machine
gun.

1882 - First trolley bus

Siemens install the world's first trolley bus service along the Kurfürstendamm in Berlin.

1881 - Metal detector

Alexander Graham Bell invents the metal detector, with limited initial success. When
President James Garfield is shot doctors asks Bell to locate the bullet but he couldn't.
However, there is some debate as to whether this was due to metal in the bed.

1879 - Long distance pipeline

The first long distance pipeline is built in the United States by Tide Water Oil Company,
running from Pennsylvania to the East Coast.

1879 - Cash register

Barman James Ritty invents the cash register.

1878-1881 - First two-stroke petrol engine

Sir Dugald Clerk develops the first two-stroke petrol engine (or two-cycle engine), 1878. It is
patented three years later. The crankcase-scavenged engine, employing the area below the
piston as a charging pump, is generally credited to Englishman Joseph Day.

1878 - Solar powered steam engine

A solar powered steam engine is exhibited in Paris.

1877 - Tynewydd Colliery

The Tynewydd Colliery disaster occurred on 11 April 1877.
1877 - IMechE moves to London
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers moves to London, with a rented headquarters at 10
Victoria Chambers, Victoria Street.

1876 - Telephone
Alexander Graham Bell patents the device, just beating Elisha Grey to the Patents Office.

1868 - Westinghouse compressed air brake

George Westinghouse invents the compressed air locomotive brake.

1868 - Typewriter
Christopher Latham Sholes patents the first commercial typewriter.

1868 - Traffic signals

John Peake Knight invents the first traffic signals. They are installed at the junction of
George Street and Bridge Street in Westminster, London. His invention was instigated by the
1102 people who were killed and 1334 injured on roads in London, in 1866.

1865 - First pipeline

The world's first pipeline is built, out of wood. Nine miles long, it carries crude oil from the
well at Pithole, Pennsylvania.

1863 - First underground railway

The world's first underground railway, the Metropolitan Line, is opened in London, running
from Bishop's Road, Paddington to Farringdon.

1862 - Man-made plastic

Alexander Parkes invents the first man-made plastic by mixing pyroxylin with alcohol and
camphor. He called the resulting hard, transparent and flexible material Parkesine.

1861 - Solar power

Auguste Mouchot is granted a patent for running a motor by solar power.

1860 - Singer sewing machine

Isaac Singer builds the first commercially successful sewing machine. The company he
founds becomes the world's largest manufacturer of sewing machines.

1858 - Transatlantic cable

The first transatlantic cable is laid by American Cyrus Field.

1858 - The Great Eastern

1857 - Elevator
The first mechanical elevator is installed at E V Haughwout and Company department store,
Broadway, New York City.

1857 - Blast furnace

William Kelly invents the blast furnace for steel production.

1856 - Bessemer steel process

Bessemer's process for steel production is introduced. This is the first process commercially
viable process for producing steel, leading to the replacement of iron and other metals with
steel.

1855 - Rayon
George Audemars invents Rayon but is not able to manufacture it commercially.

1854 - Halladay windmill

Daniel Halladay patented the first commercially successful self-governing windmill.

1854 - Bunsen burner

Bunsen burners are first produced by German physicist and chemist Robert Bunsen.

1852 - Burglar alarm

American manufacturer Edwin Holmes develops the burglar alarm.

1851 - Washing machine

James King is awarded the first patent for a mechanical clothes washing device: a hand
powered, rotating cylinder machine with a drum.

1851 - The Great Exhibition

The Great Exhibition is held at Crystal Palace, London.​ ​It was a showcase for manufacturers
and industrialists​, and was a great success, attracting over 6 million visitors and making a
profit of £187,000 for the nation.

1851 - First IMechE London Meeting

In the same year as The Great Exhibition, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers first
London meeting is held.

1850 - Underwater telegraph cable

The first underwater telegraph cable is laid between France and England.
1850 - Dishwasher
The first dishwasher is developed by Joel Houghton.

1847 - Institution of Mechanical Engineers founded

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers is created, ‘to give an impulse to inventions likely to
be useful to the world’. 56 engineers and manufacturers meet at the Queen’s Hotel,
Birmingham for the inaugural meeting. George Stephenson is elected first President.
IMechE bases itself in Newhall Street, Birmingham.

1843 - Fax Machine

Alexander Bain develops the first fax machine.

1841 - Stapler
Samuel Slocum patents the stapler.

1840 - Measuring machine

Joseph Whitworth develops his measurement machine, previously accuracy was up to one
sixteenth of an inch was a good workman. Whitworth’s measured up to one two-millionth of
an inch: allowed him to produce standard measures and gauges. Uniformity was extended to
the still famous Whitworth system of thread screw threads.

1839-1842 - Steam hammer

James Nasmyth invents the steam hammer circa 1839, patenting it in June 1842.

1839 - Fuel cell

The first fuel cell, combining hydrogen and oxygen to produce electrical power, is developed
by William Robert Grove.

1837 - Mechanical refrigeration

The first patent for mechanical refrigeration is issued to American Jacob Perkins.

1830 - Liverpool & Manchester Railway

The Liverpool & Manchester Railway opens. It is the first purpose built passenger railway in
the world.

1829 - Rainhill Trials

The Rainhill Trials are held to determine whether steam locomotives could be capable of
providing the motive power for the Liverpool & Manchester Railway. The contest is won by
Rocket, Robert Stephenson’s locomotive based upon the design principles of George
Stephenson.
1827-1837 - Water Turbine
The first water turbine is developed and produced by Benoît Fourneyron.

1825 - First passenger locomotive

George Stephenson runs the first passenger locomotive. Called Locomotion, it travels the 25
miles between Stockton and Darlington.

1822 - Difference engine

Mathematician Charles Babbage builds his difference engine (or automatic mechanical
calculator) to improve significantly the accuracy of the calculations in the production of
arithmetical tables.

1813 - First cotton-to-cloth mill

Francis Lowell's investor group builds Waltham Mills, Massachusetts. It is the first to place
cotton-to-cloth production under one roof. The group was incorporated as the Boston
Manufacturing Company in 1814.

1810 - Steam-powered printing press

Friedrich Koenig patents a steam-powered printing press.

1808 - 'Catch-me-who-can'
Richard Trevithick builds a circular railway track nicknamed the 'Catch-me-who-can', to
demonstrate his steam engine. Entrance to the "steam circus" cost one shilling and included
a ride; it was intended to show that rail travel was faster than by horse.

1804 - Jacquard Loom

Joseph Marie Jacquard invents the Jacquard Loom. Through the use of punched cards, the
loom is capable of weaving complex designs.

1804 - Gas lighting

Friedrich Winzer (also known as Winsor) patents gas lighting.

1802-1804 - Pen-y-Darren steam locomotive

Richard Trevithick builds a prototype steam locomotive at Pen-y-Darren, 1802. Selling the
patent the next year. In 1804 a revised version successfully carried 10 tons of iron, 5 wagons
and 70 men for 9.75 miles in 4 hours and 5 minutes (at an average speed of approximately
2.4 mph). Making it the first steam locomotive to undertake practical work.
1801 - Trevithick steam carriage
Richard Trevithick builds the first steam-carriage designed for road travel.

1800 - Battery
Alessandro Volta invents the battery.

1794 - Cotton gin

Eli Whitney patents the cotton gin, which automates the process of separation cotton seed
from short-staple cotton fibre.

1791 - Heated factories

James Watt heats his factories through piped steam. He patents this method in the same
year.

1787 - Steamboat
American clock-maker John Fitch demonstrates the first steamboat.

1779 - Spinning mule

Samuel Crompton invents the spinning mule (or cotton mule), allowing for greater control
over the weaving process. It allows extremely fine yarn to be produced, allowing muslin to
be made; previously this could only be made using hand-spun yarn from India.

1778 - Water closet

Joseph Bramah patents his water closet. The design was a success and production
continued well into the 19th century. His original water closets are still working in Osbourne
House, Queen Victoria's home on the Isle of Wight.

1769 - Steam wagon

Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot demonstrates a 'steam wagon', predecessor to the first automobile.

1769 - Spinning frame

Richard Arkwright invents a spinning frame (or water-frame) adapted to use water power.
This made much cheaper manufacture possible, subsequently a great expansion of the
cotton industry followed.

1764 - Spinning Jenny

James Hargreaves invents the Spinning Jenny (or multi-spool spinning frame). This
invention allows faster production of cotton products.

1757-1769 - Watt steam engine

James Watt patents his steam engine with separate condenser in 1769. Work begun in
1757. Also known as the Boulton & Watt steam engine.

1755 - Sewing machine

The first recorded patent for a sewing machine is issued. It is a British patent issued to
German Charles Weisenthal.

1733 - Flying shuttle

John Kay invents the flying shuttle. This device makes mass production of textiles a
possibility for the first time.

1712 - Newcomen steam engine

Thomas Newcomen develops a working atmospheric steam engine, the first of its kind.

1698 - Savery steam engine

Thomas Savery invents a basic steam engine.

1690 - Piston
Denis Papin uses steam to move a piston.

1673 - Huygens motor

Christiaan Huygens builds a gunpowder explosion-driven motor.

1629 - Branca steam turbine

A primitive steam turbine is developed by Giovanni Branca.

1620-1624 - Submarine
Cornelius Drebbel invents the first submarine, a human-powered submersible. He holds
successful trials in the Thames in 1624.

1589 - Knitting machine

William Lee invents the knitting machine.

1578 - Underwater rowing boat

Mathematician and innkeeper William Bourne designs an underwater rowing boat, covered
in waterproof leather. The design is never built.

1493 - Concept of flight

Leonardo da Vinci conceives of flying machines, creating over 100 sketches to illustrate his
ideas.

1440 - Printing press

The modern printing press is invented by Johannes Gensfleisch Gutenberg.

1326 - Prototype handgun

A prototype handgun is mentioned in an order for iron bullets.

1185 - Post windmill

The first recorded use of a post windmill, in Yorkshire. The first were of the sunken type.

1150 - Tidal mills

Tidal mills are documented as being in use in England and France.

1050 - Steel
Precursor to the modern Bessemer process that uses partial decarbonization via repeated
forging under a cold blast is documented as being in use.
However, steel was known much earlier.

1010 - Human flight

First human flight, according to popular myth. Inspired by the Greek myth of Icarus, Brother
Elmer (a monk at Malmesbury Abbey) creates a glider from wood and either linen or
parchment. Launching himself from a height of around 18 metres, he flies 200 metres before
panicking and crashing, breaking both of his legs.

650 - Windmill
The horizontal windmill is in use in Iran and Afghanistan.

644 - Wind-power
A wind-power machine is developed by the Persians.

62 - Æolipile
The æolipile, a simple steam engine, is invented by Hero of Alexandria.

circa 3000 BC - Potter's Wheel

The potter's wheel is invented.

circa 3300 BC - First sailing ship

The first depiction of a ship using cloth sails, in Egyptian paintings.

circa 4000 BC - First wheeled vehicle

The first depiction of a wheeled-vehicle is on a pot from Southern Poland. It shows a wagon
with four wheels and two axles.

circa 6000 BC - First boats

First depictions of canoes, dugouts and rafts in Egyptian rock paintings.
​