As hard as the shakers and steel drivers like John Henry worked, their progress was often slow due to the tough, rocky terrain they were drilling through. Between 1850 and 1875, American inventors patented more than 100 different mechanical drills, each designed to make the work faster and more efficient. One was the Burleigh compressed air steam drill (pictured), which could have been the very drill John Henry confronted in the legendary contest.

Steam drills became increasingly popular as they grew more reliable and portable. They could also drill in multiple directions and positions, making them more versatile than steel drivers. Manufacturers marketed them as time and money savers, often holding demonstrations on job sites to showcase their effectiveness. As a result, these drills began to replace human labor in many places.