American manufacturing

Interchangeable parts, sewing machines, typewriters and jeans: the United States became the world's largest industrial nation.

The American system of manufactures was based on machines that made interchangeable parts, so that products could be assembled quickly and repaired easily. Singer's sewing machines were sold on hire purchase all over the world. Sholes and Glidden's typewriter, made by Remington from 1873, gave us the QWERTY keyboard.

In 1873 Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis patented work trousers with copper rivets. The Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876 showed American industry to the world.