The model summarizes the long chain of causes and effects that led to the Industrial Revolution. The traditional system of manufacturing was the putting-out system , also called cottage industry . In the early stages of the IR, living conditions actually deteriorated for large parts of the population. In 1780, major industrialist Chaptal adopted a standard model of still for the distillation of wine. Les merveilles de l'industrie.
Industries agricoles et alimentaires.
This model was chosen after a public competition for the best device. This is a laboratory apparatus. It illustrates how for the first time during the Industrial Revolution science begins to affect the industrial process. Adam's still was expensive and dangerous, but it allowed one-pass processing. Later, technological progress will fall in the hands of scientifically-trained professionals such as engineers and scientists.