CBSE · Class 10 · Social Science · History: The Age of IndustrialisationWhy did some industrialists in 19th-century Europe prefer hand labor over machines?

In 19th-century Britain, there was an abundance of human labor, which kept wages low. Therefore, industrialists saw no reason to invest in expensive machines that required high capital costs. Additionally, many industries had seasonal demands, such as breweries and gas works, where labor was needed only at specific times. Machines were also incapable of producing goods with intricate designs and specific shapes, which were highly valued by the upper classes and could only be achieved through manual skill and precision.