Steam Engine

The core of the entire Grayburn society, the steam engine is what started the Industrial Revolution. Nowadays, to the Upper Class, the steam engine is a symbol of innovation and how things 'should be'. To the Lower Class, especially outside the cities, they are a symbol of waste and stagnation.
In Grayburn, every bit of advanced technology should use a steam engine. Vehicles, factories, even advanced household technologies are all meant to use steam engines. Inventions that don't involve a complicated steam mechanism, are looked down upon by the elite. Even the Industrialists prefer using Steam Engines, though they are starting to wane themselves off this prejudice. In public, however, they fully stick to this ludicrous ideal.
In the corners of Grayburn, one can still find water mills and windpowered inventions. In some hidden Industrialist bases, dams are used to channel water and supply the motion needed for machinery. As an added bonus, these inventions don't require a constant supply of wood. But these are always kept hidden from the upper class. In fact, water mills tend to have false steam engines that are only turned on whenever any merchants or Upper Class members are visiting, keeping up the charade.
Asides from raw power, steam machines are also considered a symbol of status. Since there is little difference between engines, some change the steam outlets to add a personal touch. For example, a family may have its own short melody produced whenever their steam engines vent excess steam.