From traditional cabinetmaking to entrepreneurial production: David Evans (1748--1819)

Scholars have given merchants full credit for developing the American economy and pushing the nation into the Industrial Revolution. In contrast, they describe artisans as powerless and without ambition.;Using the daybooks of Philadelphia cabinetmaker David Evans (1748–1819), this study explores how an artisan survived the economic fluctuations of the Revolutionary war and subsequent depression. The examination will investigate Evans' family history, youth and apprenticeship. A review of Evans' cabinet shop analyzes his personal life, products, production levels, and patronage in light of the changing Philadelphia economy and marketplace. The study examines Evans' switch to mass producing coffins and Venetian blinds and what encouraged him to take these entrepreneurial risks.;This study documents that artisans, such as David Evans, adapted to the economy, sought to improve their finances and status, and took financial risks, just like the merchants. By transforming their production methods, these ambitious artisans contributed to the advancement of American manufacturing.