The Machines That Built America

In the 1870s, harvesting crops is gruelling, back-breaking work.

In 1910, airplanes are a novelty: fragile wooden concoctions that float in the air and crash.

In the 1920s, the idea of beaming moving images through the air is pure science fiction.

William Harley and Arthur Davidson have a bold vision for a new form of transportation.

Communication giant Western Union offers a colossal cash prize to anyone who can improve its network.

With a growing need for speed and efficiency, a few visionary companies, including Black and Decker, Milwaukee and DeWalt, create the power tools that revolutionise how America is built.