Allowing rural, isolated societies to maintain certain industrial capabilities?

My society/area is set in a isolated wasteland where the primary income of people is ranching. However, I want my people to be able to at least be able to maintain technology at a 1916 level (the reason for 1916 is because airplanes, balloons, and dirigibles with war-fighting capabilities are integral to the setting).

I realize that during the actual First World War most of these technologies were built in super-massive factories in urban areas with advanced industrial engineering processes. What are some ways I can allow my characters to at least by able to continuously maintain their technology without introducing a modern city or Henry Ford-esque assembly lines?

posted almost 7 years ago

knowads‭

1 reputation 4 0 0 0