september april american inventor engineer businessman pioneer fields materials handling steam power evans prolific influential early years united_states left long series accomplishments notably designing building fully automated industrial process america high pressure steam engine albeit crude amphibious vehicle american automobile born newport delaware evans received little formal education mid teens going business brothers worked decade designing building automated mill devices bucket chains belts evans designed continuous process manufacturing required human labor novel concept prove critical industrial revolution development mass production later life evans turned attention steam power built high pressure steam engine united_states developing design independently built world year earlier evans driving force development adoption high pressure steam engines united_states evans dreamed building steam powered wagon eventually construct run known automobile country world amphibious vehicle primitive success evans visionary produced designs ideas far ahead time describe compression propose design decades colleague able construct working example similarly drew designs solar boiler machine gun steam carriage machine perpetual oven marine salvage process quadruple effect scheme urban gas lighting ideas designs reality time death evans influential political allies lacked social disliked peers disappointed angry perceived lack recognition contributions evans bitter later years damaged reputation left isolated despite import work contributions frequently overlooked attributed death household alongside steam pioneers era early life born newport delaware september charles ann evans father trade purchased large farm north newport moved family oliver infancy oliver fifth children sisters seven brothers little known evans early life surviving records provide details formative years nature location early education preserved literacy strong young age writer avid reader technical subjects aged evans wagon maker newport period recalls master extremely man forbade evans use candles reading evenings evans found way collecting wood work day serve fuel small fires revolutionary war began evans enlisted delaware militia company saw active service war age evans moved wheel making specialist forming fine wire textile cards fibers preparation spinning process thread desire increase efficiency process led invention machine bend wire teeth cut rapidly aid assembly cards justice peace newport saw potential tasked creating machine evans early successes introduced evans wished production textile cards developing machine leather wire teeth inserted invention greatly card manufacturing process producing teeth minute evans unable find financial backing invention decades card manufacturing innovations inspired evans led development automated textile card production great demand growth southern cotton industry early pioneers textile card production including thought borrowed heavily original designs evans began experimenting period steam power potential commercial application early ideas culminated delaware state patent application steam powered wagon denied evans produce working model year aged evans married daughter local farmer old wilmington developing automatic flour mill evans attention turned flour early industry rapidly northern delaware era operation mills labor intensive stages process grinding cooling packing beginning degrees gravity manual labor required grain stage additionally stages particularly cooling slow inefficient creating significant production process mills commonplace populated areas ready access waterways power bulk home hand furthermore quality wheat poor colonial america hard wheat varieties ground mills leaving flour coarse brown cross contamination major problem mill processes people moving mill contaminated flour dirt grain end result evans recognized low quality product took laborers evans brothers began building mill newport family farm estate purchased father evans recruited oversee construction red clay creek mill opened conventional design years evans began experiment reduce reliance labor moving wheat mill begin process task contemporary mills evans innovation bucket elevator facilitate process chains raise water roman technology antiquity evans seen use marine applications realized modification careful engineering raise grain series bucket elevators mill grain flour process labor intensive task spreading meal came grinding process warm moist needing cooling drying packed traditionally task manually meal large floors response evans developed boy device gathered meal bucket elevator spread evenly drying floor mechanical revolve newly deposited meal cooling drying gentle design blades slowly flour central material conjunction innovations saved hours labor greatly reduced risk contamination despite technical complexity device revolutionary standards time total vision design evans attempting radical shift thinking manufacturing process treating continuous integrated series isolated processes manufacturing fully automated production line missing link materials handling evans mill designs sought feed materials continuously system need human intervention fully automated industrial process idea continuous production proved critical ingredient industrial revolution ultimately lay foundation modern mass production constructing machinery realize vision complicated evans struggled find money pay highly skilled needed construct complex machines nearby flour industry large dominated wilmington saw little potential evans designs newport flour merchant hearing evans ideas oliver water run wooden son george saw promise evans ideas helped secure patent protection time evans converted brothers mill red clay creek fully automated prototype based perfected designs evans brothers sent major centers united_states offering free licensing designs miller county commission evans refit mills campaign prove major disappointment little commercial interest evans lacked patience coupled disposition prone display frustration immediately value ideas ideas designs far ahead time idea fully automated production process difficult contemporaries evans recalled happened visit red clay creek mill early years operation fully automated mill day making hay nearby field purposely stayed sight visitors observe mill running independently human supervision evans appeared great length explained feat witnessed possible convinced chance visit bring breakthrough frustrated reports returned wilmington reported evans mill set notice man sense continued evans convinced miller mill converted years persistence attempts marketing evans designs finally given trial larger scales adopted breakthrough came progressively minded family baltimore invited evans refit mills proved success evans worked develop modified form screw act horizontal work alongside vertically bucket elevators added drill belt designs possessed complement materials handling machines possible configuration evans moved newport wilmington constructed working model designs town evans given major boost leading miller converted mills evans system estimated year changes saved operation small fortune amounting local quickly followed suit soon showcase evans technology decade finally convinced short period automated mills began spread eastern introduction federal patent law evans immediately applied protection designs granted patent application personally examined approved secretary state secretary war henry attorney general writer merchant having secured patent protection designs general adoption evans turned attention outside delaware brother joseph travelled widely promote evans work according sources mills operating evans machinery george_washington called thank flour provided feed continental_army war independence saw evans technology work mills impressed converted evans system completion overseen evans brothers evans sold share red clay creek mill moved family wilmington philadelphia opened store supplies early years philadelphia dominated writing initially evans intended write pamphlet assist construction machinery promoting automated designs evans project ultimately devoted years writing comprehensive book technology included long chapters basic principles physics mechanics times family financial security order complete young mill wright miller guide appeared consisted parts principles mechanics different kinds mills description author improvements manufacturing grain flour plans lengthy appendix evans detailed ideas hot air system central heating family early evans designs baltimore contributed section mill construction theoretical work book based earlier scientific work mechanical principles evans insisted theoretical sections align observations practical sections revised standing theories experiments conducted observations example found written theoretical mechanical principles match replicate practice revised based observation form true theory concluded old new theories agree practice suspect founded error true theory continue agree practice need care founded guide list subscribers topped george_washington edition appeared print book proved popular remained staple manual half century undergoing revisions printed editions book popularity rested detailed practical explanations mill design construction principal american superseded civil war publication guide evans concentrated work supply merchant gaining financial security licensing patented designs evans machinery adoption began accelerate rapidly considerable wealth license fees years evans concentrated growing commercial operations philadelphia expanding store times agent english imports taking complete complicated metal work mills evans continued elements mill design including new process making developing screw mill grinding plaster paris great demand philadelphia work evans younger brother developed device packing flour barrels wooden disc operating compound joint developing high pressure steam engine steam engines appeared united_states source power late 18th century living delaware philadelphia meant evans exposed early examples application launched rudimentary late philadelphia operating low pressure steam engines pump water rare examples instances new technology found europe development steam power occurred great_britain instrumental developing steam power europe machines operating industrial labor saving applications evans begun consider potential applications steam power transportation apprentice developed rudimentary designs steam carriages evans definitively began work making long held dream steam carriage reality early steam engineers notably contemporary developed plans steam propelled carriage incorporating heavy pressure converted directly power apparent experimentation low pressure steam engine powerful propel carriage weight forward evans attention turned engine steam carriage ideas industrial application importantly evans early proponent strong steam high pressure engines idea long resisted earlier steam pioneers necessary iron making metal working technology lacking evans recognized high pressure steam engine essential development steam carriage built far smaller providing similar greater power low pressure experiments high pressure steam engines europe notably unsuccessful steam tractor developed prevailing fear early steam engineering boiler safely contain high pressure steam evans ignored potential developed radically different designs called engines operating high pressure elimination central component conventional designs designs incorporated beam double acting cylinder steam valve independently operated resulting design high pressure steam engine higher power weight ratio prevailing designs making locomotives practical simpler engines making costly build maintain require large volumes water features similarly suited variety industrial applications automated mill evans ideas harshly criticized engineers notably philadelphia engineering community including influential happened engineer simultaneously developed similar ideas favor high pressure engines begun experiment developing locomotives knew work constructing designs proved far difficult evans initially envisaged working steam engines united_states time handful workshops experience making took evans savings years yield working example display public engine powered double acting cylinder inches diameter stroke length eighteen inches components wood order construction boiler engineering critical safe operation engine consisted large copper shell wood cast iron rings order contain pressure output machine approximately horsepower work output modest contemporary standards low pressure engine nearby produced horsepower steam engine fraction size pre existing machines machine times larger volume evans unveiled engine store work crushing plaster paris marble paid thousands came machine operation philadelphia newspaper aurora declared new era history steam engine evans received patent new steam engine set looking commercial applications proposals proposed construct steam wagon capacity carry barrels flour philadelphia lancaster days greatly increase profits compared equivalent horse wagons trip took days evans declared proposal doubt engines propel boats current mississippi sic roads great profit company unsure reliability cost technology proposal rejected despite setback year evans found client concerned problem cleaning city removing evans convinced contract develop steam powered result amphibious vessel consisted flat bucket chains bring mud hooks clear away sticks stones obstacles power equipment propulsion supplied high pressure evans engine end result craft nearly thirty feet long feet wide weighing seventeen tons hulk waterfront demonstration long held beliefs possibility land based steam transportation evans mounted hull wheels twice set collapsed weight connected engine order drive workshop philadelphia streets way july believed automobile united_states amphibious craft world contemporary accounts craft survive evans tendency success annals performance difficult evans claimed proceeded successfully philadelphia rival philadelphia launching river speed philadelphia harbor great weight craft land propulsion based limited engine capacity jury rigged power train fairly significant distance similarly unknown functioned evans claims point vary significantly years known invention proved ineffective purpose scrapped parts evans ideas steam carriages impossible dream evans continue promote idea published futuristic description world connected network shipping lines railroad tracks steam locomotives accurately describing happen future long potential realized time come people travel stages moved steam engines city fast birds fly miles hour steam engineer guide evans frequently fellow engineering peers steam technology increasing frustration led premature publication hoped equivalent earlier manual titled abortion young steam engineer guide significantly shorter book structured approach book devoted ongoing argument evans prominent steam engineer day previously appeared journal evans added additional criticisms stevens evans concludes book work designs complaining public prove evans coming years regardless proved popular work scale guide book united_states accessible ideas techniques steam engineering book begins introductory discussion principles steam engines relevant physical principles designs evans high pressure steam engine boilers screw mills evans developed similar suite tools tables potential steam engineers potential tables heat pressure metals instructions assembling basic components steam powered system useful components boilers evans book justify safety high pressure steam engines properly constructed despite fact time evans experienced boiler explosions workshop little understood time evans theoretical including grand principle steam develops guide mathematical modelling pressure fuel steam engines substantially flawed evans successful development high pressure steam engines designs widely theoretical understanding limited generally unable accurately predict machines guide far wider range topics interest evans including deemed worthy circulation straw cutter flour press developed brother horse drawn earth invented evans opportunity encourage government sponsorship research government expense uncertainty employ ingenious persons art science care experiment lead extension knowledge principles carefully recording experiments results fully relied leaving readers draw money expended tend greatly aid progress improvement arts sciences suggestion stemmed observation engineers relied basic principles physics mechanics guide work required engineers scientists obtain experimental data rarely qualified short government funding research evans attempted create aftermath called experiment company private research consortium conduct reliable experiments gather data benefits members venture failed evans find paying launch possibly evans committing new venture developing steam wagon design founded philadelphia years evans death similar principles despite incomplete understanding principles ways evans thinking potential steam engines far ahead time evans noted drawing vacuum water reduces boiling point observed vacuum effect resulting cooling sufficient produce ice went describe vacuum pump apparatus produce effect showed compression cylinder compression stroke vacuum pump produce heat evans produced detailed theoretically coherent design compression identifying major components cooling cycle leaving credit grandfather evans developed working model designs evidence attempted evans later life worked associated extensively fellow inventor steam engines potential later develop build device received patents employing principles originally forward evans mars works having view perfected ideas designs steam engines evans turned attention commercial propagation steam engines constructed hoc basis improvised tools workers relied heavily metal working shops philadelphia little experience precise metal work required build steam engines particular evans soon realized unlike machines wood leather need specialist skills precision tools large order build steam machines commercial basis evans constructed mars works large site blocks north store philadelphia choice roman god war thought challenge near birmingham united_kingdom famous building engines completed mars works largest best equipped outfits kind united_states contemporary accounts featured substantial shop shops maker steam engine works large steam engine grind materials work wrought iron thirty staff produced wide range ranging working steam engines cast iron fittings farming machines evans established agricultural steam engine orders proved insufficient support extensive business costs works highly experienced producing kinds heavy machinery contributing philadelphia emergence leading center work 19th century works received military orders casting naval cannons war evans proved highly innovative designing steam power solutions clients example commissioned build engines wool processing factories connecticut evans designed network accompanying pipes heat factory engine exhaust records designs early steam engines produced evans famous engine design appeared called engine patriotic gesture prove advanced successful steam engine design created evans brought bear extensive experience designing building high pressure steam engines horizontally oriented engine allowed rod work closely end machine reducing need heavy working beam like required conventional engines rod kept working straight line new type sets bars guided movements working bar known evans straight line superseded years precise straight line mechanisms culmination style steam engine perfected designs like saw style wide use range applications decision introduce design significantly cut running cost engine point engines efficient powerful low pressure designs far cheaper build smaller size year engines operating construction applications ranging grain manufacturing paper wire wool reputation grew demand products years began engines inland son george order having moved pittsburgh operate george mill highly successful generated great deal interest evans engines interior engines western pennsylvania kentucky ohio challenging expensive logistical perspective evans george successful steam miller engineer founded addition engines like produce heavy machinery pittsburgh pennsylvania high demand industrial products relatively little industrial capacity pittsburgh works added repertoire capacity producing finer products domestic purposes like fittings location pittsburgh factory mississippi_river watershed important development high pressure steam engines use new company began promote engines river transport evans long believer application steam engines maritime purposes book evans stated navigation river mississippi steam engines principles laid years favorite subject author wishes heart evans long acquaintance build united_states worked steam projects evans lone attempt building powered high pressure engine evans vague capabilities found success hudson_river reality low pressure engines contacted evans possibility evans engines correspondence lead implementation evans designs mississippi tributaries experienced far stronger currents eastern counterparts low pressure lacked power counteract enterprise viable run rivers designer employed adapted evans engine purpose high pressure engines standard mississippi relatively actually built pittsburgh works evans patent high pressure engines widely enforced engine shops opened mississippi freely adapted evans designs purposes notable examples river constructed pittsburgh mars works include franklin pennsylvania christened renamed constitution eventual owners lost crew members boiler exploded near louisiana evans deeply distressed news defended safety high pressure engines cited explosions extremely rare occurrences patent battles evans found battles protect intellectual property times career pursued cause years successful patents concerning flour proved problematic defend evans battles proved influential setting precedent newly established area federal patent law original patent automated flour mill expired january evans believed fourteen year patent term brief petitioned congress extend january act relief oliver evans passed signed president jefferson long time admirer evans work act took extraordinary step reviving evans expired patent giving fourteen year term evans delighted highly problematic particularly implemented evans designs intervening year period patent terms waited evans patent upgrading mills evans agents set aggressively collecting royalties designs furthermore evans significantly raised license fees use patented technology raising claims asked pay great cases ended court act adopted evans technologies specify perpetual defendants argued years question evans argued evans stage life established poor reputation community petty pursuit patent rights resistance major legal cases questioned laws extend private patents manner constitutional evans ultimately prevailed case bitter legal battle began evans sued miller near baltimore evans improvements license produce modest flour damages sum deemed high harsh evans actions rallied baltimore community case finally heard appeared support defendant evans detractors presented evidence witnesses trial press argument evans truly patents protected boy undoubtedly original use bucket chains screws ancient times evans modified features adapted use context retired weighed debate letters evans detractors questioning philosophy patent law truly defined invention machine extent validity claims ultimately defended purpose patent law innovation rewarding development sharing new technology jefferson noted evans designs consisted devices long existed access evans thought modify use conjunction build automatic mill ultimately jury found favor evans victory evans community process ultimately reduced claim robinson response prominent evans critic submission congress wake trial entitled memorial congress citizens united_states praying relief seeking limit compensation evans seek patent use congress void altogether senate drafted bill roll evans patent rights pass continued vigorously pursue patent fees patent act issues including constituted originality context patent addressed later life death evans suffered bouts depression bitterness felt appreciate sentiments peak later years legal battles comments presiding judge sent evans particular fury dramatically papers prior future evans declared time led disappointment appreciation committed business material acquisition sake family ultimately burned represents small proportion survives evans continue interest tone evans later life undoubtedly hostility disappointment evans gradually withdrew operations workshops son george managing operations pittsburgh sons law likewise philadelphia mars works established entity receiving prestigious commissions engines records indicate mars works turn steam engines time evans death retirement evans increasingly consumed pursuing patent technology widespread stated time wholly law suits evans somewhat obsessed took siege mentality numerous lawyers height working cases united_states final work known counsel engaged defence patent rights eighty rise progress despite opposition difficulties patents explanations evans undertook travel distant areas country order find offenders trip vermont evans visited mills promptly engaged lawyer press charges perceived patent rights years evans compiled list lost eighty total alluded title publication lawyers unfinished ideas known include scheme gas lighting cities united_states means raising sunken ships machine gun self shaft bearing types steam carriages machine perpetual oven proposal threatened washington war evans ventured build steam powered frigate scheme didn far wife sarah died cause evans remarried years later april years junior daughter new_york years evans lived new_york new wife early evans developed lungs month illness died april days prior april news reached new_york philadelphia burned sons law committed establishing business outside city evans buried manhattan church sold body moved times finally resting unmarked common grave broadway street new_york_city legacy undoubtedly evans contributions profound rapidly adopted lifetime american undergone revolution designs allowed mills built industrial scales far greater efficiency profitable enterprise number mills increased dramatically united_states price flour fell significantly availability increased automated drying processes increased quality flour turn led major shift bread making cheaper better quality flour lowered cost bread production generation majority bread consumption shifted home store bought revolution far reaching europe called american system quickly adopted industry triggered major increases food production needed period continual warfare turn 18th century key elements evans designs bucket elevators screws merely modified invented combination machines automated continuous production line unique idea prove pivotal industrial revolution development mass production scientific technical historians generally credit evans line culminated modern assembly line concept industrial far ahead time shift manufacturing concept century fully realized continuous process manufacturing spread evans designs related industries eventually wide variety products technology prevailing opinion caught evans contributions later deemed important eminent industrial historian conclude respect evans opens new chapter history mankind evans contributions steam ground breaking earlier work played critical role high pressure steam engine united_states evans engines particularly highly influential early steam power applications united_states particularly evolution steam powered industrial processes evans ahead curve ideas death steam infancy united_states meant time ideas come fruition example leading advocate high pressure engines 1830s engines definitively replaced low pressure designs evans dream steam wagon notwithstanding brave attempt widespread adoption later unlike earlier contributions evans brilliant minds steam technology inventor working totally independently evans develop high pressure engine dream possible despite formidable record importance history technology evans household respect evans worst enemy deeply affected perceived lack recognition appreciation peers work bouts depression lead act extreme prematurely ending projects times course life time feelings turned bitterness vengeance criticized doubted led accomplishments fiercely denouncing critics wild success end life relentless pursuit patent rights force people pay process badly damaged reputation enemies leading philadelphia merchant summed stating inclined credit useful enjoys patents spite weight detractors evans persistent pursuit ideas quality evans felt ultimately triumph french translator agreed concluding place truly distinguished eminent services rendered country humanity
Oliver Evans