The manufacturing industry has a long and storied history in the United States, beginning at the turn of the 19th century and continuing through the modern era. Though the modern manufacturing industry barely resembles the manufacturing companies of old, there’s still plenty of knowledge to be gained by learning more about the American Industrial Revolution and the companies that started it all.
Below, we answer the questions, “Where were the first factories built in the Industrial Revolution?” and “What are the famous factories in the Industrial Revolution?” and others. Read on to learn more about the Industrial Revolution in the United States!
1. Slater Mill: The First Factory
Before the birth of modern manufacturing, goods were created by hand by village craftsmen or homesteaders. At the end of the 18th century, however, modern machine inventions began to be introduced, making it easier to produce higher quantities of product in less time. Thus began the Industrial Revolution.
With the industrial revolution, industry began to forge ahead. The first factories were built in 1790, starting with Samuel Slater’s Rhode Island cotton-spinning factory, Slater Mill. This triggered the boom of the textile manufacturing industry, which quickly became the dominant industry at the onset of the Industrial Revolution.
Guns and ironworks quickly followed, and the 19th century proceeded to lay the groundwork for the first true manufacturing companies of the United States.
2. DuPont: The Chemical Giant
Founded in 1802 in Delaware by E.I. du Pont, DuPont began as a gunpowder mill, quickly expanding its horizons through the 19th century. Since its inception, the company has grown into a chemical manufacturing giant, holding trademarks on everything from dyes to Teflon and Kevlar.
3. Boston Manufacturing Company: The First Manufacturing Corporation
The Boston Manufacturing Company was the first integrated textile factory, established in 1813 by Frances Cabot Lowell, Nathan Appleton and Patrick Johnson. The Boston Manufacturing Company focused on the manufacturing of cotton textiles. This company was the first to use the corporate model in manufacturing, which quickly became the norm by the mid-19th century.
4. Atkins & Pearce: Two Centuries of Textile Manufacturing
Established in 1817, this Kentucky-based textile manufacturing company started soon after the Boston Manufacturing Company, using much the same model. What makes Atkins & Pearce unique, however, is that they are still around today. The company has lasted for over two centuries now, producing materials for efforts during the Civil War and both World Wars.
5. Ford Motor Company: The Founder of Modern Manufacturing
Though hardly the first manufacturing company, Ford Motor Company was possibly the most influential in the birth of the modern manufacturing industry. In 1908, partners Ford and Sorensen created the first assembly line, arranging machines, tools and people into an efficient line to get his Model T automobile built as efficiently as possible. The result was over 15 million Model T cars produced and the birth of modern manufacturing processes.
Repair Services for the Manufacturing Industry
Each of these incredible companies made a huge impact on the history of U.S. manufacturing, and some have lasted through the centuries through perseverance, growth and consistent maintenance. With the right repair service on your side, your business can last too. Choose Global Electronic Services for your repair and maintenance services. Be sure to visit us online at www.gesrepair.com or call us at 1-877-249-1701 to learn more about our services. We’re proud to offer Surplus, Complete Repair and Maintenance on all types of Industrial Electronics, Servo Motors, AC and DC Motors, Hydraulics and Pneumatics. Please subscribe to our YouTube page and Like Us on Facebook! Thank you!