April 1900: The Paris Exhibition

Held to celebrate the achievements of the 19th century and usher in those of the 20th, the event saw the public introduced to iconic inventions such as the diesel engine, as well as cultural developments such as talking films.

But while the show’s legacy helped shape history, its beginnings were altogether more inauspicious. When the show opened in April 1900 it was beset by problems, many of which had their origins in the run-up to the event. According to The Engineer, several of the temporary buildings due to be constructed for the fair were behind schedule, owing to a shortage of rolled iron.

Exactly who was responsible for the shortfall was unclear, with blame being passed along the supply chain. “Ironmasters were unable to supply what was needed because they could not get pig iron,” wrote our predecessors. “The blast furnace proprietors threw the blame on the coke oven owners, and these shifted the burden of complaint on to the shoulders of the colliery companies.” Plus ça change.