swap_horiz Alfred Vail Alternatives

1

Herman Hollerith

Herman Hollerith was an American inventor whose innovations dramatically improved data processing. He developed a punch-...

American 19TH Century Computing Punch Card Tabulator

9.3 Excellent

2

John Pemberton

John Pemberton was an American pharmacist born in 1831. He developed Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia, beginning with its c...

American 19TH Century Beverage Pharmacist

9.1 Excellent

3

Werner von Siemens

Werner von Siemens, born Ernst Werner Siemens, was a 19th-century German electrical engineer and industrialist who lived...

German 19TH Century Electrical Dynamo

9.1 Excellent

4

George Eastman

George Eastman was an American inventor instrumental in transforming photography. He established Eastman Kodak in 1892,...

American Photography 19TH Century Kodak

9.0 Excellent

5

John Browning

John Browning was an American inventor primarily known for his groundbreaking work in firearms design during the 19th ce...

American 19TH Century Mechanical Firearms

9.0 Excellent

6

Joseph Henry

Joseph Henry (1797–1878) was an American scientist and engineer who served as the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Ins...

American 19TH Century Electrical Telegraphy

9.0 Excellent

7

Charles Wheatstone

Charles Wheatstone (1802–1875) was an English physicist and inventor. He is best remembered for his contributions to the...

19TH Century British Electrical Telegraph

8.9 Great

8

Christopher Sholes

American inventor Christopher Latham Sholes is notable for creating the first practical typewriter and developing the QW...

American 19TH Century Mechanical Typewriter

8.9 Great

9

Frank Sprague

Frank Julian Sprague was an American electrical engineer and inventor who played a pivotal role in the development of ur...

American 19TH Century Transportation DC Motor

8.8 Great

10

Samuel Morse

Samuel Morse was an 19th century American inventor instrumental in revolutionizing communication. He developed Morse cod...

Communication American 19TH Century Code

8.7 Great

11

George Westinghouse

George Westinghouse was a 19th-century American inventor best known for his pioneering work with electrical systems. He...

American 19TH Century Electric Railway

8.7 Great

12

Elisha Otis

Elisha Otis revolutionized urban development with his invention of the safety elevator brake. Prior to this innovation,...

Safety American 19TH Century Elevator

8.7 Great

13

Valdemar Poulsen

Valdemar Poulsen (1869–1942) was a Danish engineer who made significant contributions to early audio recording and radio...

Audio Danish 19TH Century Communications

8.6 Great

14

William Morton

William Thomas Green Morton (1819-1868) was an American dentist who played a pivotal role in the introduction of anesthe...

American Medicine 19TH Century Surgery

8.6 Great

15

Richard Gatling

Richard Jordan Gatling (1818–1903) was an American inventor best known for his creation of the Gatling gun, which he pat...

American 19TH Century Mechanical Firearms

8.5 Great

16

Jacob Davis

Jacob W. Davis was a Latvian born American tailor who played a central role in the development of riveted work trousers....

American Manufacturing 19TH Century Apparel

8.4 Great

17

Thomas A. Watson

Thomas A. Watson was an American inventor and machinist who worked as Alexander Graham Bell's assistant during the devel...

Engineering American 19TH Century Telephone

8.2 Great

18

Granville Woods

Granville Woods was an American inventor active in the late 19th century. He developed crucial technologies for railways...

American 19TH Century Electric Railway

8.1 Great

19

William Fothergill Cooke

William Fothergill Cooke (1806-1879) was an English inventor who, in partnership with scientist Charles Wheatstone, deve...

19TH Century British Railways Telegraph

7.9 Good

20

Elisha Gray

Elisha Gray was an American electrical engineer and inventor who co-founded the Western Electric Manufacturing Company....

Communication American 19TH Century Telephone

7.8 Good