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- Title
The International Diffusion of the Watt Engine, 1775-1825.
- Authors
Tann, Jennifer; Breckin, M.J.
- Abstract
This article examines the empirical data on the international diffusion of the Watt engine before and during the industrial revolution. As far as the international market was concerned, it is desirable to know how many pirate manufacturers exported engines or engine parts, and to what extent these figures, if known, would alter the diffusion pattern. No manufacturing records showing the extent of foreign sales of these other engine producers have yet come to light, but at their period of greatest interest in foreign business some scholars were as concerned in the success or failure of their British competitors abroad as they were in their competitors' activities in the British market. They therefore sought and obtained information on these matters from relations, friends, acquaintances, and employees living or traveling abroad. While, admittedly far less satisfactory, this qualitative evidence suggests that the scale of foreign operations of the British pirates was, on the whole, small and that, were totals known, the conclusions arrived at concerning the rate and directions of diffusion of the Watt engine would be little altered. However, information has been sought not only on actual foreign engine sales but also on the wider potential market demonstrated by foreign inquiries for the Watt engine.
- Subjects
ENGINES; INTERNATIONAL markets; COMMERCIAL markets; INTERNATIONAL trade; EXPORT marketing; INDUSTRIAL revolution
- Publication
Economic History Review, 1978, Vol 31, Issue 4, p541
- ISSN
0013-0117
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2307/2595748