Engineering, Building, and Architecture

Not many museums collect houses. The National Museum of American History has four, as well as two outbuildings, 11 rooms, an elevator, many building components, and some architectural elements from the White House. Drafting manuals are supplemented by many prints of buildings and other architectural subjects. The breadth of the museum's collections adds some surprising objects to these holdings, such as fans, purses, handkerchiefs, T-shirts, and other objects bearing images of buildings.

The engineering artifacts document the history of civil and mechanical engineering in the United States. So far, the Museum has declined to collect dams, skyscrapers, and bridges, but these and other important engineering achievements are preserved through blueprints, drawings, models, photographs, sketches, paintings, technical reports, and field notes.

This model was built for its inventors (two brothers from Montana) by a Chicago firm, run by J. T. H. Paterson, Proprietor. Raw materials were loaded into one side and mixed concrete unloaded on the other.Regal Model and Tool Works (122 S. Clarke Street, Chicago, Illinois, J. T.
Description
This model was built for its inventors (two brothers from Montana) by a Chicago firm, run by J. T. H. Paterson, Proprietor. Raw materials were loaded into one side and mixed concrete unloaded on the other.
Regal Model and Tool Works (122 S. Clarke Street, Chicago, Illinois, J. T. H. Paterson, Proprietor) built this model for two inventors, who were brothers from Montana. This cement mixer was patented.
Date made
ca 1910
ID Number
MC.316501
catalog number
316501
accession number
224662
This metal steam engine model was made by Greville Bathe in 1913. The horizontal table engine has a vertical cylinder and flywheel.
Description (Brief)
This metal steam engine model was made by Greville Bathe in 1913. The horizontal table engine has a vertical cylinder and flywheel. The donor of this item, Greville Bathe, was a machinist and engine hobbyist who would fashion his own parts to create model engines.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1913
ID Number
MC.329024
catalog number
329024
accession number
278175
The assembly line revolutionized labor and production in early 20th-century America, and its innovations of prefabricated parts and streamlined processes were applied to shipbuilding in World War I.
Description
The assembly line revolutionized labor and production in early 20th-century America, and its innovations of prefabricated parts and streamlined processes were applied to shipbuilding in World War I. This tool was used by shipyard workers to align pre-punched holes in standardized hull plates before riveting them together with steam-powered hydraulic riveting guns. Riveting was an exhausting task, but essential for ensuring the overall strength of these mass-produced freighters.
Beginning in 1918, the U.S. federal government initiated many programs designed to boost morale among workers on the home front. A popular event at shipyards was a riveting competition. The first record was set at the Baltimore Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Company, where a riveting gang drove 658 rivets in eight hours. As reports of this spread across the country, other shipyards tried for their own records and newspapers began offering cash prizes. The record climbed to 2,919 rivets in nine hours, but the United States Shipping Board soon realized that these publicity stunts were wearing out the riveting gangs. The board halted the contests, but began publishing a ranking system of each shipyard’s daily riveting totals to continue the friendly (and productive) rivalries.
date made
1918
first riveting competitions
1918
hosted riveting competitions
Baltimore Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Company
regulated riveting gangs and competitions
United States Shipping Board
ID Number
TR.336914
catalog number
336914
accession number
1979.0413
The museum’s catalogue records indicate that this toy steam engine and boiler is a model number 7 made by Otto Bernz. This model is marked “Otto Bernz, Newark, N.J., Pat. Mar 16, 1911.” Otto Bernz (later BernzOmatic) was a well known gasoline torch manufacturer.
Description (Brief)
The museum’s catalogue records indicate that this toy steam engine and boiler is a model number 7 made by Otto Bernz. This model is marked “Otto Bernz, Newark, N.J., Pat. Mar 16, 1911.” Otto Bernz (later BernzOmatic) was a well known gasoline torch manufacturer. This patent refers to patent number 536,192 which was a patent for an automatic pressure torch. It is possible that this model uses the automatic pressure described in the patent to run the horizontal engine.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1911
ID Number
MC.328987
catalog number
328987
accession number
278175
In the early nineteenth century, lighthouses in the United States were considered inferior to those in France and England.
Description
In the early nineteenth century, lighthouses in the United States were considered inferior to those in France and England. American mariners complained about the quality of the light emanating from local lighthouse towers, arguing that European lighthouses were more effective at shining bright beams of light over long distances. While American lighthouses relied on lamps and mirrors to direct mariners, European lighthouses were equipped with compact lenses that could shine for miles.
In 1822, French scientist Augustin-Jean Fresnel was studying optics and light waves. He discovered that by arranging a series of lenses and prisms into the shape of a beehive, the strength of lighthouse beams could be improved. His lens—known as the Fresnel lens—diffused light into beams that could be visible for miles. Fresnel designed his lenses in several different sizes, or orders. The first order lens, meant for use in coastal lighthouses, was the largest and the strongest lens. The sixth order lens was the smallest, designed for use in small harbors and ports.
By the 1860s, all of the lighthouses in the United States were fitted with Fresnel lenses. This lens came from a lighthouse on Bolivar Point, near Galveston, Texas. Galveston was the largest and busiest port in nineteenth-century Texas. Having a lighthouse here was imperative – the mouth of the bay provided entry to Houston and Texas City, as well as inland waterways. The Bolivar Point Light Station had second and third order Fresnel lenses over the years; this third order lens was installed in 1907. Its light could be seen from 17 miles away.
On 16-17 August 1915, a severe hurricane hit Galveston. As the storm grew worse, fifty to sixty people took refuge in the Bolivar Point Light Station. Around 9:15 PM, the light’s turning mechanism broke, forcing assistant lighthouse keeper J.B. Brooks to turn the Fresnel lens by hand. By 10 PM, the vibrations from the hurricane were so violent that Brooks began to worry the lens might shatter. He ceased turning the lens, trimmed the lamp wicks and worked to maintain a steady light through the night. The next morning, Brooks left the lighthouse to find Bolivar Point nearly swept away by the water.
Bolivar Point Light Station used this Fresnel lens until 1933. It was donated to the Smithsonian Institution by the National Park Service.
date made
1822
late 1800s
all United States lighthouses outfitted with Fresnel lenses
1860s
lens used during a severe hurricane at Bolivar Point
1917-08-16 - 1917-08-17
donated to Smithsonian
1933
inventor
Fresnel, Augustin Jean
ID Number
TR.335567
catalog number
335567
accession number
1977.0626
This metal steam engine model was manufactured by Bathe around 1910. The engine is a vertical table engine with a rotary valve and flywheel.
Description (Brief)
This metal steam engine model was manufactured by Bathe around 1910. The engine is a vertical table engine with a rotary valve and flywheel. The donor of this item, Greville Bathe, was a machinist and engine hobbyist who would fashion his own parts to create model engines.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1910
ID Number
MC.329025
catalog number
329025
accession number
278175
This bronze bucket has a notched lip and ellipsoidal face. The bucket bowls are ground but not polished. Cast in the metal is “W. A. Doble – Pat. Sept 19, 1899.” The bucket is 7.5 inches wide, weighs about 9.5 pounds, and has the lug type of back.
Description
This bronze bucket has a notched lip and ellipsoidal face. The bucket bowls are ground but not polished. Cast in the metal is “W. A. Doble – Pat. Sept 19, 1899.” The bucket is 7.5 inches wide, weighs about 9.5 pounds, and has the lug type of back. It was made about 1912.
Reference:
This description comes from the 1939 Catalog of the Mechanical Collections of the Division of Engineering United States Museum Bulletin 173 by Frank A. Taylor.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1912
ID Number
MC.310390
catalog number
310390
accession number
117363
date made
ca 1910
maker
F. Ad. Richter and Company
ID Number
DL.301847.0001
catalog number
301847.0001
accession number
301847
A push to recruit 250,000 additional shipyard workers for the Hog Island shipyard in early 1918 led the Emergency Fleet Corporation to create the “U.S.
Description
A push to recruit 250,000 additional shipyard workers for the Hog Island shipyard in early 1918 led the Emergency Fleet Corporation to create the “U.S. Shipyard Volunteers.” Men who signed up to work in the yards were exempted from the military draft.
In May 1918, shortly after the initiative began, New York led the drive with more than 81,800 volunteers, followed by Illinois and Massachusetts.
date made
ca 1919
ID Number
TR.63540.02
accession number
63540
catalog number
308554
The United States entered World War I in April 1917. Within days, the federal government created the Emergency Fleet Corporation (EFC) to construct a fleet of merchant ships.
Description
The United States entered World War I in April 1917. Within days, the federal government created the Emergency Fleet Corporation (EFC) to construct a fleet of merchant ships. The EFC hired the American International Shipbuilding Corporation to build and operate the largest shipyard in the world: Hog Island, near Philadelphia.
Hog Island’s 50 shipways stretched a mile and a quarter along the Delaware River near Philadelphia. It abutted 846 acres with 250 buildings and 28 outfitting docks, on what is now the site of the Philadelphia International Airport. At its peak, the yard employed around 30,000 workers. Most were men, but some 650 women worked in the yard. Many of the workers had no factory experience, so they were trained on the job.
At its peak, Hog Island launched a vessel every 5½ days, and its workers built 122 cargo and troop transport ships in four years. Although none saw service before the end of the war, the United States learned how to build large ships quickly on a grand scale from prefabricated parts. This valuable experience would expedite the Liberty and Victory ship building programs of World War II.
date made
1919
ID Number
TR.335550.2
catalog number
335550.2
accession number
1977.0003
In celebration of Memorial Day on May 30, 1919, the Hog Island Shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, launched five freighters in 48 minutes.
Description
In celebration of Memorial Day on May 30, 1919, the Hog Island Shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, launched five freighters in 48 minutes. This bottle was smashed against the bow of the Luxpalile by Laura Andrew, wife of the ship-construction manager at Hog Island, as she christened the last ship. Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels spoke to 50,000 spectators before the launchings, and declared that Hog Island would become the center of American shipbuilding. “Never again will the United States be guilty of the folly of trusting its foreign commerce to foreign bottoms,” he said, referring to the country’s reliance on Allies’ vessels during World War I because its merchant fleet was so small. “We will not quit the shipbuilding industry. We will put it on a solid and firm and sound basis. We will build big ships and bigger ships . . . . The genius, statesmanship, and skill of America must be united in the development of a merchant marine,” Daniels concluded as the first ship was launched.
The shipyard at Hog Island was part of a model project during World War I to produce prefabricated ships. Before then, builders touted their abilities to construct a variety of customized vessels within a single shipyard. But the growing demand for a larger merchant fleet convinced some that yards should specialize in a few standard types. Inspired by automaker Henry Ford’s production of Eagle-class submarine chasers, a template system was developed for the construction of identical parts that would be assembled elsewhere, such as at shipyards like Hog Island.
Subcontractors prefabricated 95 percent of each “Hog Islander,” the nickname for vessels built at the shipyard, and shipped the materials to one of Hog Island’s storage sites located along 80 miles of Pennsylvania Railroad tracks. From there, the parts would be assembled by some of Hog Island’s 30,000 workers and placed on one of 50 slipways, the ramps used to construct and later launch a ship. This theoretical procedure, however, never matched the realities of the operation. Hog Island’s sheer size and dependence on numerous subcontractors likely contributed to its failure to complete even one of the 122 vessels in time to be used during the war. A postwar recession forced Hog Island to close in 1921, but builders learned from the experiment. New shipyards were only a quarter of the size of Hog Island, and many avoided substantial use of subcontractors. But the greatest consequence was the proven success of prefabricating ships. The Liberty and Victory ships, critical for Allied victories in World War II, were inspired by the standardization of Hog Island.
date made
ca. 1919
Hog Island Shipyard Freighter launching
1919-05-30
Hog Island Shipyard closed
1921
christened ship
Andrew, Laura
Secretary of the Navy
Daniels, Josephus
ID Number
TR.335562
catalog number
335562
accession number
1977.0003
This toy machine shop was made by an unknown manufacturer during the early 20th century. The toy shop has a variety of tools including a stamping press, grinder, drill press, lathe, and trip hammer.
Description (Brief)
This toy machine shop was made by an unknown manufacturer during the early 20th century. The toy shop has a variety of tools including a stamping press, grinder, drill press, lathe, and trip hammer. All the toys are connected to pulleys on an overhead line shaft under a roof with two skylights, and a sign labeled “Maschinenfabrik, Augsburg.” Maschinenfabrik is German for “Engineering Works.” A vertical steam engine is connected to the line shaft, powering all the machines in the shop.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1910
ID Number
MC.329089
catalog number
329089
accession number
278175

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