Prelude to Industrialization

After his duty at the Helmarte Soap Works, Ernest returned to his estate at Oriel where he immediately went straight to the bedroom after greeting his mother.

His task today was to design a prototype steam engine that he'd show to Hollen.

But before that, he needed one machine to make it possible.

The boring machine.

Actually, that was the funny part.

Most people would assume the steam engine came first.

It didn't.

At least not if he wanted a good steam engine.

The cylinder needed to be round.

Very round.

Not blacksmith round.

Not "looks good from a distance" round.

Actually round.

The piston needed to slide inside with minimal gaps.

Otherwise steam escaped.

Power disappeared.

Fuel consumption increased.

And the entire machine became inefficient.

Ernest sat down at his desk and opened his notebook.

Then he wrote a title.

Cylinder Boring Machine.