In 1891, American inventor Margaret E. Knight advanced the technology of manufacturing significantly, impacting the economic transformations of the era. Knight, renowned for her 1871 patent of a machine that folded and glued paper to create flat-bottomed paper bags, refined manufacturing processes to enhance productivity and versatility. Her work facilitated the broad use of paper bags in retail, highlighting the essential role of female ingenuity in 19th century technological advancements.