You would think that somehow, somewhere there would be a publication (online or in print) that would list the history of different types of fabrication and materials and when and where and for what purpose they were used. As in "welding began in XX decade of the XXth century, but there were numerous developments over the years. Early welding looked like this (insert closeup of weld here) while developments in the XXth decade had them looking like this. (insert another weld bead photo here) Copper and brass were generally paired in home cookware late in the XXth century while pewter became a popular metal for tankards and flatware in the XXth decade of that century."
If a book on the history of metal fabrication has not been written, it needs to be. Can't find it.