50 More Things That Made the Modern Economy

Things That Made the Modern Economy

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Inventions, ideas and innovations that have helped to create the modern economic world

Tim Harford introduces inventions, ideas and innovations that have helped to create the modern economic world

Things That Made the Modern Economy: Series 2: Interchangeable Parts

50 Things That Made the Modern Economy

Interchangeable Parts

Series 2

BBC Radio 4 - Things That Made the Modern Economy, Series 2, Interchangeable Parts

Interchangeable parts revolutionised the world of engineering.

Interchangeable parts promised a revolution in maintenance and production and changed the world of engineering forever.

A sweltering afternoon in July 1785, in the cool of a dungeon east of Paris, was the site of a remarkable demonstration of French engineering – and French insouciance. Honoré Blanc, a gunsmith, showed how he could take apart flintlock rifles, jumble up the parts, and reassemble the rifles. The parts were interchangeable, promising a revolution in maintenance and production. Thomas Jefferson, future President of the US, was in the audience. As Tim Harford explains, the world of engineering was about to change – but could either Blanc or Jefferson take advantage of what was coming?

Producer: Ben Crighton
Editor: Richard Vadon

Things That Made the Modern Economy: Series 2

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More inventions, ideas and innovations that helped to create the modern economic world.

More inventions, ideas and innovations that have helped to create the modern economic world.

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Things That Made the Modern Economy

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Interchangeable Parts

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