Family & Social Life

Bennet Family Record

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.

Topic: Models (representations)

Märklin No. 5 Toy Steam Engine

This Märklin No. 5 toy steam engine was built by the Märklin Manufacturing Company of Göppingen, Germany during the early 20th century. This toy steam engine consists of an externally fired horizontal brass boiler on top of a simulated brick firebox and chimney.
Description (Brief)
This Märklin No. 5 toy steam engine was built by the Märklin Manufacturing Company of Göppingen, Germany during the early 20th century. This toy steam engine consists of an externally fired horizontal brass boiler on top of a simulated brick firebox and chimney. The horizontal slide valve cylinder engine drives a flywheel with slip-eccentric reversing gear. The boiler and engine are mounted on a tinplate 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
ca 1950
ID Number
MC.322911
catalog number
322911
accession number
220719

J. L. Hess Toy Motor

This toy motor was manufactured by the Hess Company in 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 motor was manufactured by the Hess Company in 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. This type of friction-inertia motor was marketed as the Dynamobil. The motor is a crank operated friction-inertia toy. The winding of the crank builds up inertia and when the switch is turned on, the engine spins its axel, which would power machine accessories connected to the engine either directly or through a line shaft.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MC.329043
catalog number
329043
accession number
278175

Weeden "Favorite" Toy Steam Engine

The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts, manufactured the Weeden “Favorite” engine from around 1880 until the middle of the 1890s. The vertical boiler powers a vertical engine, with built-in fuel tank for a self-contained burner.
Description (Brief)
The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts, manufactured the Weeden “Favorite” engine from around 1880 until the middle of the 1890s. The vertical boiler powers a vertical engine, with built-in fuel tank for a self-contained burner. The “Favorite” engine was sold alone or with attachments like a force pump or pile driver.
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.328955
catalog number
328955
accession number
278175

Märklin Toy Steam Engine

This toy steam engine was made by the Märklin Company during the early 20th century. The engine consists of a firebox that is painted to simulate brickwork with a green chimney stack.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was made by the Märklin Company during the early 20th century. The engine consists of a firebox that is painted to simulate brickwork with a green chimney stack. The horizontal boiler has a steam whistle and throttle that is connected to a horizontal slide valve engine that powers a flywheel. The generator was added by hobbyist Greville Bathe at a later date.
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
ID Number
MC.329032
catalog number
329032
accession number
278175

German Toy Steam Engine

This toy steam engine was made by an unknown German maker around the early 20th century. The toy consists of a vertical boiler, vertical engine, and flywheel.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was made by an unknown German maker around the early 20th century. The toy consists of a vertical boiler, vertical engine, and flywheel. The chimney stack is in the shape of a hexagon.
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.328983
catalog number
328983
accession number
278175

Toy Steam Engine

This toy steam engine consists of a vertical boiler and horizontal slide valve engine. The museum’s catalogue records indicate that the toy was manufactured in the late 19th century, possibly by the J.E.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine consists of a vertical boiler and horizontal slide valve engine. The museum’s catalogue records indicate that the toy was manufactured in the late 19th century, possibly by the J.E. Stevens Manufacturing Company or the Buckman Manufacturing Company, but no manufacturing marks can be seen on the object.
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
late 19th century
ID Number
MC.328981
catalog number
328981
accession number
278175

German Toy Steam Engine

The Bing Company of Bavaria, Germany manufactured this toy steam engine during the early 20th century. The horizontal boiler has a steam whistle and sight glass above a black firebox with a simulated brickwork chimney.
Description (Brief)
The Bing Company of Bavaria, Germany manufactured this toy steam engine during the early 20th century. The horizontal boiler has a steam whistle and sight glass above a black firebox with a simulated brickwork chimney. The boiler powers an orange horizontal slide valve engine and flywheel. Everything is mounted on a tin base that measures 9.25 by 9.5 inches.
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 caused 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
20th century
ID Number
MC.328991
catalog number
328991
accession number
278175

Model Engine

This toy engine consists of a vertical duplex oscillating engine that 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.
Description (Brief)
This toy engine consists of a vertical duplex oscillating engine that 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. The engine could be powered by an external boiler.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MC.329016
catalog number
329016
accession number
278175

Hess Toy Stamp Machine

This toy stamp machine steam engine accessory was manufactured by the Hess Company of Nuremburg, Germany during the early 20th century. The toy could be connected to a steam engine or Hess’s Dynamobil friction-inertia motor as a power source.
Description (Brief)
This toy stamp machine steam engine accessory was manufactured by the Hess Company of Nuremburg, Germany during the early 20th century. The toy could be connected to a steam engine or Hess’s Dynamobil friction-inertia motor as a power source. The engine would rotate the central shaft, which rotated the two cams, lifting the hammers in succession.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.329066
catalog number
329066
accession number
278175

Toy Trip Hammer

This toy trip hammer was manufactured by an unknown maker during the 20th century. The trip hammer toy could be powered by connecting its pulley directly to an engine or a line shaft, and raised and struck via the cam on its central axel.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This toy trip hammer was manufactured by an unknown maker during the 20th century. The trip hammer toy could be powered by connecting its pulley directly to an engine or a line shaft, and raised and struck via the cam on its central axel.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MC.329084
catalog number
329084
accession number
278175

Langes Legetoy Toy Circular Saw

This toy circular saw was manufactured by the Danish company H. Langes Legetoy around the middle of the 20th century. The circular saw is in a cast metal base painted red and could spin when its shaft was attached to an engine. H.
Description (Brief)
This toy circular saw was manufactured by the Danish company H. Langes Legetoy around the middle of the 20th century. The circular saw is in a cast metal base painted red and could spin when its shaft was attached to an engine. 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.329079
catalog number
329079
accession number
278175

Toy Steam Engine

This toy steam turbine consists of a firebox and boiler in a pressed sheet metal container painted to simulate brickwork. The boiler has a sight glass and safety valve, with a steam line powering a turbine wheel made from an eggbeater gear that is connected to a second gear.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam turbine consists of a firebox and boiler in a pressed sheet metal container painted to simulate brickwork. The boiler has a sight glass and safety valve, with a steam line powering a turbine wheel made from an eggbeater gear that is connected to a second gear. A line shaft is connected to the toy’s wooden base that could be strung to the turbine and power a variety of toy machine accessories.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MC.329050
catalog number
329050
accession number
278175

Model Engine

This toy engine consists of a vertical duplex oscillating engine with two flywheels made of brass that consists of some homemade parts and some parts from the J.E. Stevens Company.
Description (Brief)
This toy engine consists of a vertical duplex oscillating engine with two flywheels made of brass that 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. The engine could be powered by an external boiler.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MC.329017
catalog number
329017
accession number
278175

Weeden No. 138 Toy Steam Engine

The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts, manufactured the Weeden No. 138 toy steam engine from 1915 until 1933. This Weeden no. 138 engine consists of a vertical steel boiler and walking beam engine mounted on grey wood, all on a steel base.
Description (Brief)
The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts, manufactured the Weeden No. 138 toy steam engine from 1915 until 1933. This Weeden no. 138 engine consists of a vertical steel boiler and walking beam engine mounted on grey wood, all on a steel base. This engine has been repainted with a red and gold color scheme.
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.328952
catalog number
328952
accession number
278175

Märklin Toy Power Hacksaw

This toy power hacksaw was manufactured by the Märklin Company around 1950. The toy hacksaw has a tin base and clamp with a saw shafted to a flywheel.
Description (Brief)
This toy power hacksaw was manufactured by the Märklin Company around 1950. The toy hacksaw has a tin base and clamp with a saw shafted to a flywheel. The hacksaw toy could be connected to the drive wheel of a toy steam engine for power and operate 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 1950
ID Number
MC.329069
catalog number
329069
accession number
278175

Wilesco Toy Drill Press

This drill press was manufactured by Wilhelm Schröder GmbH & Company (Wilesco) of Lüdenscheid, Germany during the 20th century. The drill press is a Wilesco model M51.
Description (Brief)
This drill press was manufactured by Wilhelm Schröder GmbH & Company (Wilesco) of Lüdenscheid, Germany during the 20th century. The drill press is a Wilesco model M51. The press 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.329063
catalog number
329063
accession number
278175

Wilesco Toy Circular Saw

This circular saw was manufactured by Wilhelm Schröder GmbH & Company (Wilesco) of Lüdenscheid, Germany during the 20th century. The circular saw is a Wilesco model M53.
Description (Brief)
This circular saw was manufactured by Wilhelm Schröder GmbH & Company (Wilesco) of Lüdenscheid, Germany during the 20th century. The circular saw is a Wilesco model M53. The saw 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.329065
catalog number
329065
accession number
278175

Model Engine

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

Bing Toy Traction Engine

This toy steam traction engine was manufactured by Bing Works of Nuremberg, Germany around 1918-1932.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam traction engine was manufactured by Bing Works of Nuremberg, Germany around 1918-1932. The traction engine consists of a firebox below a boiler with a horizontal slide valve engine attached to a flywheel that drives the tractor’s rear wheel.
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
ID Number
MC.335707
catalog number
335707
accession number
1977.0920

Bing Toy Steam Traction Engine

This toy steam traction engine was manufactured by Bing Works of Nuremberg, Germany around 1918-1932.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam traction engine was manufactured by Bing Works of Nuremberg, Germany around 1918-1932. The traction engine consists of a black firebox below a boiler with a horizontal slide valve engine attached to a flywheel that is chained to the tractor’s rear wheel.
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 caused 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.328930
catalog number
328930
accession number
278175

Märklin Toy Boring Mill

This toy boring mill was manufactured by the Märklin Company around 1920. The toy has a cast metal body, but is missing the ribbed steel band that runs from the lower pulley to the upper pulley to spin the cutting tool.
Description (Brief)
This toy boring mill was manufactured by the Märklin Company around 1920. The toy has a cast metal body, but is missing the ribbed steel band that runs from the lower pulley to the upper pulley to spin the cutting tool. The toy boring mill 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.329073
catalog number
329073
accession number
278175

Weeden No. 12 Toy Steam Engine

The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts manufactured the Weeden model number 12 toy steam engine from 1890 until 1906. This toy steam engine features dual horizontal boilers and dual horizontal slide valve engines connected to a single flywheel.
Description (Brief)
The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts manufactured the Weeden model number 12 toy steam engine from 1890 until 1906. This toy steam engine features dual horizontal boilers and dual horizontal slide valve engines connected to a single flywheel. The dual engines are offset so one engine is pushing the flywheel at each time. A simulated brickwork metal firebox surrounds the two boilers, and the metal housing around the flywheel is made to look like brickwork as well. The entire engine is mounted on a metal plate.
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.328958
catalog number
328958
accession number
278175

Weeden No. 106 Toy Electric Motor

The Weeden no. 102 electric generator was produced by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from 1913 until 1918. This was an earlier version of the model No. 102, as evidenced by the wooden base plate attached to the cast iron base.
Description (Brief)
The Weeden no. 102 electric generator was produced by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from 1913 until 1918. This was an earlier version of the model No. 102, as evidenced by the wooden base plate attached to the cast iron base. It is an electromagnetic generator, producing a direct electric current through the rotation of a wire coil in a magnetic field. 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.322914
catalog number
322914
accession number
220719

Bathe Toy Gasoline Engine

The Bathe Manufacturing Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania manufactured this toy outboard marine gas engine during the early 20th century. The engine has two opposing cylinders with a two-blade propeller.
Description (Brief)
The Bathe Manufacturing Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania manufactured this toy outboard marine gas engine during the early 20th century. The engine has two opposing cylinders with a two-blade propeller. The Bathe Manufacturing Company was owned by Greville Bathe, a machinist and engine hobbyist who donated this object to the museum.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
early 20th century
ID Number
MC.329046
catalog number
329046
accession number
278175

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