Discusses, through the recollections of an old settler, the contributions of inventions to the growth of America prior to 1850. Shows the use made of such inventions as the Franklin stove, Sam Slater’s spinning machine, Eli Whitney’s cotton gin, James Watt’s steam engine, Robert Fulton’s steamboat, DeWitt Clinton’s locomotive, and Cyrus McCormick’s reaper. Includes views of reconstructions of early machines, and of originals which have been preserved in museums.