Family & Social Life

Donations to the Museum have preserved irreplaceable evidence about generations of ordinary Americans. Objects from the Copp household of Stonington, Connecticut, include many items used by a single family from 1740 to 1850. Other donations have brought treasured family artifacts from jewelry to prom gowns. These gifts and many others are all part of the Museum's family and social life collections.

Children's books and Sunday school lessons, tea sets and family portraits also mark the connections between members of a family and between families and the larger society. Prints, advertisements, and artifacts offer nostalgic or idealized images of family life and society in times past. And the collections include a few modern conveniences that have had profound effects on American families and social life, such as televisions, video games, and personal computers.

This toy steam engine was made by the Märklin Company during the early 20th century. This toy steam engine consists of a firebox, vertical brass boiler, chimney stack, and vertical engine that powered a flywheel, all mounted on a red cast iron stand.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was made by the Märklin Company during the early 20th century. This toy steam engine consists of a firebox, vertical brass boiler, chimney stack, and vertical engine that powered a flywheel, all mounted on a red cast iron stand. The Märklin Company logo can be seen stamped on the side of the boiler.
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 that included steam engines such as this one.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
early 20th century
ID Number
MC.328985
catalog number
328985
accession number
278175
This model was made by the Bathe Manufacturing Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the early 20th century. Greville Bathe was a machinist and steam engine hobbyist who would fashion his own parts to complete toy steam engines and models.
Description (Brief)
This model was made by the Bathe Manufacturing Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the early 20th century. Greville Bathe was a machinist and steam engine hobbyist who would fashion his own parts to complete toy steam engines and models. The model consists of vertical boiler on the first floor powering a horizontal engine on the second floor. The model identifies the building as the home of Perkins & Company Engineers of No. 69 Fleet Street, London, England.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1823
ID Number
MC.329093
catalog number
329093
accession number
278175
Parmelee’s “Artificial Leg” included an atmospheric pressure-conforming rubber bucket molded from the patient’s remaining limb. Parmelee held several patents using India-rubber.Patent model for DuBois D. Parmelee, “Improvement in Artificial Legs,” U.S. Patent 37,737 (Feb.
Description (Brief)
Parmelee’s “Artificial Leg” included an atmospheric pressure-conforming rubber bucket molded from the patient’s remaining limb. Parmelee held several patents using India-rubber.
Description
Patent model for DuBois D. Parmelee, “Improvement in Artificial Legs,” U.S. Patent 37,737 (Feb. 10, 1863). Dubois Duncan Parmalee (1829-1897) was a chemist and inventor in New York City.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1863
patent date
1863-02-10
maker
Parmelee, Dubois D.
ID Number
1978.0273.07
accession number
1978.0273
catalog number
1978.0273.07
patent number
37637
This toy steam engine does not bear a specific makers mark, but comparisons to other engines reveal similarities to a Carette engine model 108. The model 108 engine was made by Georges Carette of Nuremberg, Germany around 1900.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine does not bear a specific makers mark, but comparisons to other engines reveal similarities to a Carette engine model 108. The model 108 engine was made by Georges Carette of Nuremberg, Germany around 1900. The overtype engine has a horizontal slide valve engine and horizontal boiler over a black firebox.
Carrette et Cie (Carrette and Company) was founded in Nuremberg, Germany by Georges Carette and operated from 1886-1917.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
mid or early 20th century
ID Number
MC.328934
catalog number
328934
accession number
278175
This toy steam engine was manufactured by an unknown maker during the early 20th century. The engine has a reversible slide valve and flywheel, with a horizontal brass boiler.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 maker during the early 20th century. The engine has a reversible slide valve and flywheel, with a horizontal brass boiler.
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.329014
catalog number
329014
accession number
278175
This Peerless brand toy steam engines was manufactured around 1900. The overtype engine consists of a horizontal boiler with sight glass and lever safety valve. A slide valve engine powers a flywheel on top of the boiler. The engine sits on an iron frame.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This Peerless brand toy steam engines was manufactured around 1900. The overtype engine consists of a horizontal boiler with sight glass and lever safety valve. A slide valve engine powers a flywheel on top of the boiler. The engine sits on an iron frame.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.329001
catalog number
329001
accession number
278175
This horizontal model steam engine was manufactured by an unknown maker in the early 20th century. The engine has a slide valve and 7.5-inch flywheel.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This horizontal model steam engine was manufactured by an unknown maker in the early 20th century. The engine has a slide valve and 7.5-inch flywheel.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MC.329023
catalog number
329023
accession number
278175
The Weeden Model No. 34 toy steam engine was produced by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from 1896 until 1940. This toy steam engine features a brass boiler with star cutout that is painted blue.
Description (Brief)
The Weeden Model No. 34 toy steam engine was produced by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from 1896 until 1940. This toy steam engine features a brass boiler with star cutout that is painted blue. The horizontal boiler, flywheel, and engine sit on an iron frame.
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.322912
catalog number
322912
accession number
220719
This grinder was manufactured by Wilhelm Schröder GmbH & Company (Wilesco) of Lüdenscheid, Germany during the 20th century. The grinder is a Wilesco model M52.
Description (Brief)
This grinder was manufactured by Wilhelm Schröder GmbH & Company (Wilesco) of Lüdenscheid, Germany during the 20th century. The grinder is a Wilesco model M52. The grinder could be connected to the drive wheel of a toy steam engine for power and operate just like its full size counterpart.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
mid 20th century
ID Number
MC.329064
catalog number
329064
accession number
278175
This toy lathe was manufactured by the Danish company H. Langes Legetoy around the middle of the 20th century. The lathe is made of a cast metal base that is painted red.
Description (Brief)
This toy lathe was manufactured by the Danish company H. Langes Legetoy around the middle of the 20th century. The lathe is made of a cast metal base that is painted red. The pulley is used to spin the spindle part of the lathe, and the tool rest is able to slide to change the bed length. 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.329080
catalog number
329080
accession number
278175
The Märklin Company produced this toy steam engine during the early 20th century. The toy consists of a simulated brick fire box and chimney stack and a horizontal boiler with steam whistle, safety valve, pressure gauge, and throttle.
Description (Brief)
The Märklin Company produced this toy steam engine during the early 20th century. The toy consists of a simulated brick fire box and chimney stack and a horizontal boiler with steam whistle, safety valve, pressure gauge, and throttle. The steam line runs to a horizontal slide valve engine that powers a flywheel. The flywheel is connected to an electric generator that was a later addition to the toy.
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 that included steam engines such as this one.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920
ID Number
MC.329060
catalog number
329060
accession number
278175
This model engine is a vertical engine with a 2.5-inch flywheel on top of an oil-can boiler. This engine consists of some homemade parts and some parts from the J.E. Stevens Company.
Description (Brief)
This model engine is a vertical engine with a 2.5-inch flywheel on top of an oil-can boiler. This engine consists of some homemade parts and some parts from the J.E. Stevens Company. The donor of this item, Greville Bathe, was a machinist who would fashion his own parts to complete engines and models.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MC.329018
catalog number
329018
accession number
278175
This Peerless brand toy steam engines was manufactured around 1900. The overtype engine consists of a horizontal boiler with sight glass and lever safety valve. A slide valve engine powers a flywheel on top of the boiler.
Description (Brief)
This Peerless brand toy steam engines was manufactured around 1900. The overtype engine consists of a horizontal boiler with sight glass and lever safety valve. A slide valve engine powers a flywheel on top of the boiler. The engine sits on an iron frame which is painted with red stripes.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.329002
catalog number
329002
accession number
278175
This Weeden No. 238 toy steam engine was manufactured by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from 1918 until 1940. The vertical engine has a firebox below a steel boiler with chimney.
Description (Brief)
This Weeden No. 238 toy steam engine was manufactured by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from 1918 until 1940. The vertical engine has a firebox below a steel boiler with chimney. A vertical slide valve engine is attached to a flywheel on the upper half of the boiler.
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.328948
catalog number
328948
accession number
278175
This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Bassett-Lowke Company of Northampton, England during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Bassett-Lowke Company of Northampton, England during the early 20th century. The vertical slide valve engine consists of a firebox, vertical boiler, and chimney 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
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.328940
catalog number
328940
accession number
278175
The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts, manufactured the Weeden No. 900 toy steam engine from 1935 until 1940. The Weeden No. 900 was an electrically heated steam engine, and the two prongs that would be plugged into a cord can be seen under the boiler.
Description (Brief)
The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts, manufactured the Weeden No. 900 toy steam engine from 1935 until 1940. The Weeden No. 900 was an electrically heated steam engine, and the two prongs that would be plugged into a cord can be seen under the boiler. The plate above the prongs details the volts, watts, and catalog number of the engine. The engine consists of a horizontal boiler powering a horizontal slide valve engine with flyball governor that powers 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
ID Number
MC.328953
catalog number
328953
accession number
278175
This toy steam engine was made by an unknown German company during the early 20th century. The toy consists of a horizontal boiler with chimney on a simulated brickwork firebox. The horizontal slide valve engine powers a flywheel with a centrifugal flyball governor.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was made by an unknown German company during the early 20th century. The toy consists of a horizontal boiler with chimney on a simulated brickwork firebox. The horizontal slide valve engine powers a flywheel with a centrifugal flyball governor. The boiler and engine are mounted on a cast iron 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.322908
catalog number
322908
accession number
220719
This toy electric engine was made by an unknown maker around 1900. The reciprocating engine has a 3.5-inch flywheel on a cast-iron base.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This toy electric engine was made by an unknown maker around 1900. The reciprocating engine has a 3.5-inch flywheel on a cast-iron base.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.329035
catalog number
329035
accession number
278175
This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts during the early 20th century. This vertical engine has a tin firebox, brass boiler, and vertical slide valve engine.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts during the early 20th century. This vertical engine has a tin firebox, brass boiler, and vertical slide valve engine. The upper stack is homemade and was added to the original Weeden model at a later date.
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.328946
catalog number
328946
accession number
278175
This toy steam engine was built by the Ernst Plank Company of Nuremburg, Germany, during the late 19th or early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was built by the Ernst Plank Company of Nuremburg, Germany, during the late 19th or early 20th century. The toy consists of a black firebox below a horizontal boiler that powers a horizontal slide valve engine that is connected to two flywheels.
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
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.329005
catalog number
329005
accession number
278175
This toy punch press was manufactured by an unknown maker during the early 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 early 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
date made
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.329086
catalog number
329086
accession number
278175
Henry Essex of Buffalo, New York received patent number 723,660 in 1903 for this design of a caloric engine. The engine is a “hot air” or caloric engine, where heated air powers the piston before being cooled and returning to be heated, continuously producing work.
Description (Brief)
Henry Essex of Buffalo, New York received patent number 723,660 in 1903 for this design of a caloric engine. The engine is a “hot air” or caloric engine, where heated air powers the piston before being cooled and returning to be heated, continuously producing work. The engine consists of a flywheel at one end with displacing rod, a heating element in the center with two piston inside, and cool air pockets on either side of the center.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1903
ID Number
MC.329058
catalog number
329058
accession number
278175
Ernst Plank produced this toy steam engine during the early 20th century. The toy has a tan fire box below a horizontal boiler with steam whistle, safety valve, and throttle.
Description (Brief)
Ernst Plank produced this toy steam engine during the early 20th century. The toy has a tan fire box below a horizontal boiler with steam whistle, safety valve, and throttle. The steam line powers a small oscillating engine mounted on a two pole generator that provides electricity to twin Marx-manufactured lamps on metal scaffolding.
Ernst Plank founded his company in Nuremburg, Germany in 1866. The company was well known for manufacturing a variety of metal toys like steam locomotives, stationary steam engines, early photography equipment, and magic lanterns until its dissolution in 1935.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MC.329059
catalog number
329059
accession number
278175
This toy steam engine was made by the Märklin Company during the early 20th century. This toy steam engine consists of a firebox, horizontal brass boiler, chimney stack, and horizontal engine with flyball governor that powers a flywheel.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was made by the Märklin Company during the early 20th century. This toy steam engine consists of a firebox, horizontal brass boiler, chimney stack, and horizontal engine with flyball governor that powers a flywheel. The boiler and engine are mounted on a tin base.
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 that included steam engines such as this one.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
mid 20th century
ID Number
MC.329031
catalog number
329031
accession number
278175

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