[Kelaine]

I have been using text books to get information on the Industrial Revolution. However, i am confused when it it comes on to inventions and inventors, as the dating varies for each invention. What can i do to get a correct date of invention?

[MrJohnDClare]

You are absolutely correct in noticing that dates for invention often differ from textbook to textbook.
Sometimes this is simply because of errors in the textbooks.
Being kind, sometimes it's because there is uncertainty as to the date when an invention became the invention - the first working prototype? the patent date? the first installed model? the improved model which actually worked? etc.

When I was writing textbooks and wanted a standard measure, I always used the dates in Encyclopaedia Britannica, but not because they were any more correct than any other dates, but simply to take one fairly authoritative source.

When you are citing dates for 18th century inventions, usually best to use the little c. for circa (= Latin for 'about') before them all, unless you are absolutely certain.