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The Best Episodes of The Machines That Built America

Every episode of The Machines That Built America ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Machines That Built America!

Binge this in 5h 44m•Peaking at 8.0/10

The stories behind innovations such as TV, radio, phones, airplanes, motorcycles and power tools as well as the inventors including Nikola Tesla, William Harley, Alexander Graham Bell, Duncan Black and Alonzo Decker.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Machines That Built America Season 1 Episode 8 - Home Tech Revolution
    8.0/10(27 votes)

    #1 - Home Tech Revolution

    S1:E8

    With America plugging in to electric power, a flood of innovation is not only changing industry, it's revolutionizing the home; the new technology makes housework easier and gives women opportunities to work outside the home.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. The Machines That Built America Season 1 Episode 1 - Tractor Revolution
    7.9/10(42 votes)

    #2 - Tractor Revolution

    S1:E1

    In the 1870s, harvesting crops is grueling, back-breaking work. Farmers must walk miles behind horse drawn plows to get food on American tables. But a group of dreamers--all of them rivals--has a vision that will change farming forever and create one of the world's most iconic machines: the tractor. Their quest to corner the market--worth 75 billion today--produces some of the greatest innovations and most iconic brands of all time: Caterpillar, John Deere, and Ford.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. The Machines That Built America Season 1 Episode 3 - Titans of Television
    7.7/10(44 votes)

    #3 - Titans of Television

    S1:E3

    A ruthless mogul takes on a little-known inventor in a high stakes battle that will change the world forever, asking the question of whether a farm-boy can beat a titan with endless resources.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The Machines That Built America Season 1 Episode 5 - Telephone Wars
    7.7/10(36 votes)

    #4 - Telephone Wars

    S1:E5

    In the 1870s communicating with distant family requires sending a letter, and waiting days or weeks for a reply. The telegraph is faster, but too expensive for most people. When communication giant Western Union offers a colossal cash prize to anyone who can improve its network, two daring inventors go head-to-head in a fight that will forever change the way humans connect. Alexander Graham Bell and Elisha Gray will stop at nothing to lay claim to the new technology and dominate the market.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. The Machines That Built America Season 1 Episode 6 - Power Tool Showdown
    7.7/10(27 votes)

    #5 - Power Tool Showdown

    S1:E6

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. The Machines That Built America Season 1 Episode 7 - Tesla vs. Marconi
    7.7/10(29 votes)

    #6 - Tesla vs. Marconi

    S1:E7

    Two rival inventors have the same idea for improving things: wireless communication.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Machines That Built America

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  7. The Machines That Built America Season 1 Episode 2 - Plane Pioneers
    7.6/10(37 votes)

    #7 - Plane Pioneers

    S1:E2

    In 1910, airplanes are a novelty, fragile wooden concoctions that float in the air--and crash. But that doesn't stop two young dreamers with a passion for this newfangled machine from imagining a very different future: one in which planes carry millions of passengers across the country, even across the seas. To realize that vision and create a lucrative new market, William Boeing and Donald Douglas take on automobile titan Henry Ford, infamous Dutch aviation giant Anthony Fokker--and each other.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. The Machines That Built America Season 1 Episode 4 - Motorcycle Kings
    7.5/10(38 votes)

    #8 - Motorcycle Kings

    S1:E4

    At the end of the 19th century, private travel means taking a walk or riding a horse. But scrappy upstarts William Harley and Arthur Davidson have a bold vision for a new form of transportation--connecting a motor to a bicycle. They'll take on George Hendee's Indian Motorcycle in a classic David Vs. Goliath battle, fighting to dominate a market valued at more than 7 billion dollars today, the rivals will push their machines to the limit and tap into the lure of the open road.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Home Tech Revolution" is the best rated episode of "The Machines That Built America". It scored 8/10 based on 27 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 8/29/2021. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Tractor Revolution".