Blog #3

            The reading starts off with a statement made by Eli Whitney. Whitney in this statement explained his view on how industrialization should work in the US. His main important points were the prerequisites for mass production, as well as explaining the process of taking small parts to make one final product. He also wanted the work to be done by unskilled or low skilled workers. If this process sounds familiar it is because almost every major manufacturing company would use it, one day. People like Henry Ford would even go on to use these core principals. He would later go on to complete an order of 1000 Colt Six-Shooters. He used unskilled labors who followed patterns and outlines to make small parts that would become each gun.

            One thing I found very interesting was that he never patented any of his inventions. He invented and borrowed many machines that were used in the production process. It was said that “He kept neither the results nor the methods secret. He never bothered to patent any of his machines, and he communicated freely with other arms manu- facturers,” This in my opinion helped move the country as a whole towards an industrial revolution. Anyone could use his process and machines for free which allowed for many companies to automate processes and have competition. It was said how later on many British inspectors and overseers were shocked at the relation between employee and employer as well as the equipment being used for production.

-Nick Mitterando