Engineering, Building, and Architecture

Engine Room From Coast Guard Buoy Tender Oak

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.

Topic: Engineering Steam Toys and Models

Weeden Toy Steam Engine

This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from the late 19th century until the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from the late 19th century until the early 20th century. The vertical toy engine consists of a vertical boiler and firebox, with a slide valve engine attached to a flywheel on the top of the engine.
The Weeden Manufacturing Company was founded in New Bedford, Massachusetts by William M. Weeden in the early 1880s, originally producing a variety of tinplate household items. In 1884 it introduced the Weeden No. 1 Steam engine as “a new and great premium for boys” who were subscribers to the Youth’s Companion magazine. Weeden made over a hundred different models of toy steam engines until the company ceased operations in 1952.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
late 19th century
ID Number
MC.328945
accession number
278175
catalog number
328945

German Toy Steam Engine

This steam toy was made by a German manufacturer during the early 20th century. The horizontal boiler has a lever-weighted safety valve, steam whistle, and steam throttle.
Description (Brief)
This steam toy was made by a German manufacturer during the early 20th century. The horizontal boiler has a lever-weighted safety valve, steam whistle, and steam throttle. The boiler powers a horizontal two valve engine with a cam-operated valve gear and flywheel.
Live steam toys enjoyed a period of popularity from the 1880s until the 1930s. The miniature steam engines were marketed as both toys and instructive devices that mimicked full-scale steam-powered machines and allowed every boy and girl to be their own engineer. In toy steam engines, a heating source is introduced into the firebox below the boiler (early toys used lit wicks fueled by denatured alcohol, later toys used electricity) which heated the water to produce the steam pressure that ran the engine. A variety of accessories could be powered by the engine; attachments included windmills, pumps, grinders, and electric lights.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
early 20th century
ID Number
MC.329013
catalog number
329013
accession number
278175

Weeden No. 14 Toy Steam Engine

The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts manufactured the Weeden model number 14 from the 1890s until the 1940s. The toy consists of a brass boiler with safety valve, whistle, and chimney stack (that was not original to the engine).
Description (Brief)
The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts manufactured the Weeden model number 14 from the 1890s until the 1940s. The toy consists of a brass boiler with safety valve, whistle, and chimney stack (that was not original to the engine). The horizontal slide valve engine has an ornamental flyball governor and powers an iron flywheel. The boiler and engine is attached to a six-legged cast iron frame that is painted green. The side of the boiler has bears the Weeden crest logo that reads “W MFG. CO.” While this item is similar to object MC*328959 and is the same model, this engine has concave boiler ends and green iron base, pointing to an earlier manufacturing date. The later stack replaced an early style lever safety valve and there is no sight glass.
The Weeden Manufacturing Company was founded in New Bedford, Massachusetts by William M. Weeden in the early 1880s, originally producing a variety of tinplate household items. In 1884 it introduced the Weeden No. 1 Steam engine as “a new and great premium for boys” who were subscribers to the Youth’s Companion magazine. Weeden made over a hundred different models of toy steam engines until the company ceased operations in 1952.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
early 20th century
ID Number
MC.328960
catalog number
328960
accession number
278175

Langes Legetoy Toy Tumbler

This toy tumbler was manufactured by the Danish company H. Langes Legetoy around the middle of the 20th century. The tumbler is octagonal shaped with an opening latch and pulley to allow it to be connected to a power source. H.
Description (Brief)
This toy tumbler was manufactured by the Danish company H. Langes Legetoy around the middle of the 20th century. The tumbler is octagonal shaped with an opening latch and pulley to allow it to be connected to a power source. H. Langes Legetoy produced a variety of toy machine tools including a trip-hammer, grindstone, drill press, shaper, punch press, circular saw, tumbler, lathe, and grinder. These tools would often be arranged on a single board with a line shaft allowing all the machines to be operated simultaneously from a single power source.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1950
ID Number
MC.329074
catalog number
329074
accession number
278175

Hess Dynamobil Powered Crusher-Grinder Toy

This toy was manufactured by the Hess Company of Nuremburg, Germany during the early 20th century. The “J.L.H.” makers mark on the base of the toy dates the motor to between 1906 and 1930, when John Leonard Hess took over the company.
Description (Brief)
This toy was manufactured by the Hess Company of Nuremburg, Germany during the early 20th century. The “J.L.H.” makers mark on the base of the toy dates the motor to between 1906 and 1930, when John Leonard Hess took over the company. The motor is a crank operated friction-inertia toy. The winding of the crank builds up inertia and when the switch on the other side is turned on the motor spins its axel. The motor powers a toy stamp machine, which passes the power through its drive wheel to a crusher-grinder toy.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MC.329044
catalog number
329044
accession number
278175

Frisbie’s Toy Steam Engine

This toy steam engine was manufactured by the J. & E. Stevens Company of Cromwell, Connecticut during the late 19th and early 20th century. Russel Frisbie patented this steam engine model in 1872 when he was an employee of the J. & E.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was manufactured by the J. & E. Stevens Company of Cromwell, Connecticut during the late 19th and early 20th century. Russel Frisbie patented this steam engine model in 1872 when he was an employee of the J. & E. Stevens Company, and the company went on to produce the toy for many years. The toy consists of a three-legged kettle boiler, slide valve engine, walking beam, and flywheel.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1871
ID Number
MC.328979
catalog number
328979
accession number
278175

Hot-Air Engine Toy

This hot-air engine toy was manufactured by an unknown maker (possibly Ernst Plank) during the early 20th century. The engine is not a steam engine, as no water is heated. Instead the firebox heats air which expands and moves a piston to create useful mechanical work.
Description (Brief)
This hot-air engine toy was manufactured by an unknown maker (possibly Ernst Plank) during the early 20th century. The engine is not a steam engine, as no water is heated. Instead the firebox heats air which expands and moves a piston to create useful mechanical work. The engine consists of a vertical fire box and vertical cooling tank powering a horizontal engine with two flywheels.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MC.329057
catalog number
329057
accession number
278175

German Toy Steam Engine

This toy steam engine was manufactured by an unknown German maker during the early 20th century. The engine consists of a vertical boiler and vertical engine mounted on a metal plate.Live steam toys enjoyed a period of popularity from the 1880s until the 1930s.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was manufactured by an unknown German maker during the early 20th century. The engine consists of a vertical boiler and vertical engine mounted on a metal plate.
Live steam toys enjoyed a period of popularity from the 1880s until the 1930s. The miniature steam engines were marketed as both toys and instructive devices that mimicked full-scale steam-powered machines and allowed every boy and girl to be their own engineer. In toy steam engines, a heating source is introduced into the firebox below the boiler (early toys used lit wicks fueled by denatured alcohol, later toys used electricity) which heated the water to produce the steam pressure that ran the engine. A variety of accessories could be powered by the engine; attachments included windmills, pumps, grinders, and electric lights.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
early 20th century
ID Number
MC.328939
catalog number
328939
accession number
278175

Fleischmann Toy Grindstone

This toy grindstone and figure was produced by Fleischmann during the 1960s. The grindstone has a pulley that could be connected to a steam engine’s flywheel to provide power to the grindstone.
Description (Brief)
This toy grindstone and figure was produced by Fleischmann during the 1960s. The grindstone has a pulley that could be connected to a steam engine’s flywheel to provide power to the grindstone. The man is connected to the grindstone in such a way that it seems as if he is turning the wheel while it is powered by an engine.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MC.329068
catalog number
329068
accession number
278175

Langes Legetoy Toy Drill Press

This toy drill press was manufactured by the Danish company H. Langes Legetoy around the middle of the 20th century. The toy is made of cast metal painted red but is missing the ribbed steel band that runs from the lower pulley to the upper pulley to spin the drill. H.
Description (Brief)
This toy drill press was manufactured by the Danish company H. Langes Legetoy around the middle of the 20th century. The toy is made of cast metal painted red but is missing the ribbed steel band that runs from the lower pulley to the upper pulley to spin the drill. H. Langes Legetoy produced a variety of toy machine tools including a trip-hammer, grindstone, drill press, shaper, punch press, circular saw, tumbler, lathe, and grinder. These tools would often be arranged on a single board with a line shaft allowing all the machines to be operated simultaneously from a single power source.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1950
ID Number
MC.329076
catalog number
329076
accession number
278175

Weeden Toy Engine with Sawmill

The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts produced this toy engine with sawmill during the early 20th century. The toy consists of a black fire box below an upright brass boiler with sight glass and a vertical engine connected to a flywheel.
Description (Brief)
The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts produced this toy engine with sawmill during the early 20th century. The toy consists of a black fire box below an upright brass boiler with sight glass and a vertical engine connected to a flywheel. The drive wheel is connected by a string to a pulley on the sawmill that moves a log carriage to simulate the sawmill’s operation.
The Weeden Manufacturing Company was founded in New Bedford, Massachusetts by William M. Weeden in the early 1880s, originally producing a variety of tinplate household items. In 1884 it introduced the Weeden No. 1 Steam engine as “a new and great premium for boys” who were subscribers to the Youth’s Companion magazine. Weeden made over a hundred different models of toy steam engines until the company ceased operations in 1952.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
early 20th century
ID Number
MC.329062
catalog number
329062
accession number
278175

Weeden No.20 Toy Steam Engine

This toy steam engine is a Weeden model number 20, manufactured by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from around 1894 until 1940.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine is a Weeden model number 20, manufactured by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from around 1894 until 1940. The brass base of the engine is a fuel reservoir with protruding wick, and was made to burn either petroleum oil (kerosene) or alcohol. The brass boiler comes with a sight glass, and powers a vertical slide valve engine attached to a flywheel. This is the same model as object number MC*328947, except it lacks the “Big Giant” stamp on its boiler since it was not one of the engines included as a prize for subscribing to the Youth’s Companion magazine.
The Weeden Manufacturing Company was founded in New Bedford, Massachusetts by William M. Weeden in the early 1880s, originally producing a variety of tinplate household items. In 1884 it introduced the Weeden No. 1 Steam engine as “a new and great premium for boys” who were subscribers to the Youth’s Companion magazine. Weeden made over a hundred different models of toy steam engines until the company ceased operations in 1952.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.328949
catalog number
328949
accession number
278175

German Toy Steam Engine

This toy steam engine was made by an unknown German manufacturer during the early 20th century. The horizontal steam boiler powers a flywheel which is connected to a dynamo that can power the attached bulb.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was made by an unknown German manufacturer during the early 20th century. The horizontal steam boiler powers a flywheel which is connected to a dynamo that can power the attached bulb. The boiler, flywheel, dynamo, and light bulb are all attached to the wooden base.
Live steam toys enjoyed a period of popularity from the 1880s until the 1930s. The miniature steam engines were marketed as both toys and instructive devices that mimicked full-scale steam-powered machines and allowed every boy and girl to be their own engineer. In toy steam engines, a heating source is introduced into the firebox below the boiler (early toys used lit wicks fueled by denatured alcohol, later toys used electricity) which heated the water to produce the steam pressure that ran the engine. A variety of accessories could be powered by the engine; attachments included windmills, pumps, grinders, and electric lights.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
early 20th century
ID Number
ER.328990
accession number
278175
catalog number
328990

Bassett-Lowke Toy Steam Engine

This cast metal engine was based off of a Bassett-Lowke kit. The engine is a two valve steam engine with flywheel, all on a wooden base. The engine would run when hooked up to a boiler.
Description (Brief)
This cast metal engine was based off of a Bassett-Lowke kit. The engine is a two valve steam engine with flywheel, all on a wooden base. The engine would run when hooked up to a boiler. Bassett-Lowke is a toy company in Northampton, England that was founded in 1899, and manufactured a variety of model boats, ships, trains, and engines until it went out of business in 1965.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MC.329021
catalog number
329021
accession number
278175

Weeden No. 441 Toy Steam Engine

This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from around 1920-1927. The engine is model number 441, and consists of a cast iron base, steel firebox, and brass boiler.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from around 1920-1927. The engine is model number 441, and consists of a cast iron base, steel firebox, and brass boiler. The vertical slide valve engine is attached to a flywheel.
The Weeden Manufacturing Company was founded in New Bedford, Massachusetts by William M. Weeden in the early 1880s, originally producing a variety of tinplate household items. In 1884 it introduced the Weeden No. 1 Steam engine as “a new and great premium for boys” who were subscribers to the Youth’s Companion magazine. Weeden made over a hundred different models of toy steam engines until the company ceased operations in 1952.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.328941
catalog number
328941
accession number
278175

Langes Legetoy Toy Trip-Hammer

This toy trip-hammer was manufactured by the Danish company H. Langes Legetoy around the middle of the 20th century. The trip-hammer is on a red metal base with flywheel. H.
Description (Brief)
This toy trip-hammer was manufactured by the Danish company H. Langes Legetoy around the middle of the 20th century. The trip-hammer is on a red metal base with flywheel. H. Langes Legetoy produced a variety of toy machine tools including a trip-hammer, grindstone, drill press, shaper, punch press, circular saw, tumbler, lathe, and grinder. These tools would often be arranged on a single board with a line shaft allowing all the machines to be operated simultaneously from a single power source.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1950
ID Number
MC.329075
catalog number
329075
accession number
278175

Weeden No. 48 Toy Steam Engine

The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts, manufactured this Weeden No. 48 toy steam engine from around 1898 until 1918. The engine has been repainted with a black and orange color scheme.
Description (Brief)
The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts, manufactured this Weeden No. 48 toy steam engine from around 1898 until 1918. The engine has been repainted with a black and orange color scheme. The engine consists of a horizontal boiler with a “walking beam” engine turning the flywheel. The engine is mounted on a cast metal plate that reads “THE WEEDEN.”
The Weeden Manufacturing Company was founded in New Bedford, Massachusetts by William M. Weeden in the early 1880s, originally producing a variety of tinplate household items. In 1884 it introduced the Weeden No. 1 Steam engine as “a new and great premium for boys” who were subscribers to the Youth’s Companion magazine. Weeden made over a hundred different models of toy steam engines until the company ceased operations in 1952.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.328950
catalog number
328950
accession number
278175

Bing Toy Steam Engine

This toy steam engine was made by the Bing Works company in Bavaria, Germany during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was made by the Bing Works company in Bavaria, Germany during the early 20th century. The engine has a black firebox and horizontal boiler with simulated brickwork chimney that is attached to a horizontal slide valve engine and flywheel.
The Gebrüder Bing (Bing Brothers) toy company was founded in Nuremburg, Germany by Adolf and Ignatz Bing in 1863 and operated until 1932. The company was renamed Bing Werke (Bing Works) in 1918 when Ignatz Bing died. While very successful from 1863 until 1912, World War I created an unfavorable export market for German products, and the hard post-war years created additional financial hardships. The harsh political climate in Germany forced the Jewish Bing family to flee to England in 1932, and Bing’s assets were acquired by rival toy company Bub in 1933.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
early 20th century
ID Number
MC.328984
catalog number
328984
accession number
278175

German Toy Steam Engine

This toy steam engine was produced in Germany by an unknown maker during the early 20th century. Comparisons to other engines reveal similarities to the Schoenner 107 toy steam engine, which was manufactured during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was produced in Germany by an unknown maker during the early 20th century. Comparisons to other engines reveal similarities to the Schoenner 107 toy steam engine, which was manufactured during the early 20th century. Jean Schoenner formed his company in 1875, but sold the business to Falk in 1912. The overtype engine has a firebox that shows wear, with a silver boiler, horizontal valve engine, and flywheel. The engine has platform steps on the front and side, and the base is stamped “F144.”
Location
Currently not on view
date made
20th century
ID Number
MC.328935
catalog number
328935
accession number
278175

German Toy Steam Engine

This vertical toy steam engine was manufactured by an unknown German company during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This vertical toy steam engine was manufactured by an unknown German company during the early 20th century. The toy consists of a fire box, a vertical boiler with chimney, and a vertical engine attached to a flywheel all mounted on a cast iron base.
Live steam toys enjoyed a period of popularity from the 1880s until the 1930s. The miniature steam engines were marketed as both toys and instructive devices that mimicked full-scale steam-powered machines and allowed every boy and girl to be their own engineer. In toy steam engines, a heating source is introduced into the firebox below the boiler (early toys used lit wicks fueled by denatured alcohol, later toys used electricity) which heated the water to produce the steam pressure that ran the engine. A variety of accessories could be powered by the engine; attachments included windmills, pumps, grinders, and electric lights.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
early 20th century
ID Number
MC.322909
catalog number
322909
accession number
220719

Toy Punch Press

This toy punch press was manufactured by an unknown maker during the 20th century. The toy punch press was made of cast metal and could be powered by connecting its pulley directly to an engine or a line shaft.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This toy punch press was manufactured by an unknown maker during the 20th century. The toy punch press was made of cast metal and could be powered by connecting its pulley directly to an engine or a line shaft.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MC.329085
catalog number
329085
accession number
278175

Märklin Toy Drill Press

This toy drill press was manufactured by the Märklin Company around 1920. The toy has a cast metal body with the pulley attached to a gearing mechanism that spun the drill.
Description (Brief)
This toy drill press was manufactured by the Märklin Company around 1920. The toy has a cast metal body with the pulley attached to a gearing mechanism that spun the drill. The toy could be connected to the drive wheel of a toy steam engine for power and produce realistic motion just like its full size counterpart.
The Märklin Company was established in 1859 in the town of Göppingen, Germany by tin smith Theodor Friedrich Wilhelm Märklin. Märklin began his business with the production of tin doll houses, but the company soon began producing a variety of tinplate and metal items, eventually specializing in toys such as this one.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920
ID Number
MC.329071
catalog number
329071
accession number
278175

Weeden No. 101 Electric Motor

The Weeden no. 101 electric generator was produced by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from 1912 until 1918. The toy is an electromagnetic generator, producing a direct electric current through the rotation of a wire coil in a magnetic field.
Description (Brief)
The Weeden no. 101 electric generator was produced by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from 1912 until 1918. The toy is an electromagnetic generator, producing a direct electric current through the rotation of a wire coil in a magnetic field. The center axel of the generator could be connected to the flywheel of a Weeden steam engine, rotating the center coil, turning mechanical power into electricity.
The Weeden Manufacturing Company was founded in New Bedford, Massachusetts by William M. Weeden in the early 1880s, originally producing a variety of tinplate household items. In 1884 it introduced the Weeden No. 1 Steam engine as “a new and great premium for boys” who were subscribers to the Youth’s Companion magazine. Weeden made over a hundred different models of toy steam engines until the company ceased operations in 1952.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.329036
catalog number
329036
accession number
278175

Toy Drill Press

This toy drill press was manufactured by an unknown maker during the 20th century. The drill press was made of cast metal and could be powered by connecting its pulley directly to an engine or a line shaft.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This toy drill press was manufactured by an unknown maker during the 20th century. The drill press was made of cast metal and could be powered by connecting its pulley directly to an engine or a line shaft.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MC.329087
catalog number
329087
accession number
278175

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