Machines That Built the World

How, when communication giant Western Union offered a colossal cash prize to anyone who can improve its telephone network, two daring inventors went head-to-head in a fight that would forever change the way humans connected

How, with a growing need for speed and efficiency, a few visionary companies, such as Black and Decker, Milwaukee and DeWalt, created the power tools that revolutionised how America was built

In 1893, sending information across America was a time-consuming process, prompting two rival inventors to try to improve things by introducing wireless communication. Nikola Tesla was one of the most famous and successful thinkers of his day, single-handedly changing the way electricity was supplied and generated. Guglielmo Marconi was a young, uneducated Italian inventor who ignored scientific consensus and went with his gut. Both wanted to rid the world of wires and send messages through the air. With millions of dollars on the line, the two men battled to dominate the new market and bring radio to the masses.

How, with America plugging in to electric power, a flood of industry-changing innovation revolutionised the home by introducing products - such as fridges, dishwashers and washing machines - making housework easier