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)

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

Märklin Toy Steam Engine

This toy steam engine was made by the Märklin Company during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was made by the Märklin Company during the early 20th century. The engine consists of a black firebox on tan metal base, vertical boiler with sight glass, steam whistle, and safety valve, a vertical slide valve engine and flywheel.
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.328986
catalog number
328986
accession number
278175

Langes Legetoy Toy Shaper

This toy shaper was manufactured by the Danish company H. Langes Legetoy around the middle of the 20th century. The shaper is made of cast metal, painted red, with a sliding ram driven by the flywheel. H.
Description (Brief)
This toy shaper was manufactured by the Danish company H. Langes Legetoy around the middle of the 20th century. The shaper is made of cast metal, painted red, with a sliding ram driven by the 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.329077
catalog number
329077
accession number
278175

Weeden No. 23 Hot-Air Engine Toy

The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts produced this number 23 “hot air” engine from the 1890s until 1916. The engine is not a steam engine, as no water is heated.
Description (Brief)
The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts produced this number 23 “hot air” engine from the 1890s until 1916. 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 toy consists of a vertical firebox, with a nickel-plated horizontal engine that drives a 2.25-inch flywheel all mounted on a cast iron base.
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.329053
catalog number
329053
accession number
278175

Ernst Plank Toy Steam Engine

This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Ernst Plank Company of Nuremburg, Germany during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Ernst Plank Company of Nuremburg, Germany during the early 20th century. Museum records indicate that this toy steam engine was called the Vulkan, but as Plank produced several varieties of steam toys in their Vulkan line, the exact model is unknown. The toy consists of a vertical firebox and boiler, with a vertical engine shafted to a flywheel.
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.329009
catalog number
329009
accession number
278175

Weeden No. 10 Toy Steam Engine

The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts, manufactured the Weeden No. 10 toy steam engine from 1894 until 1903. The toy consists of a horizontal boiler with star-shaped cutouts.
Description (Brief)
The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts, manufactured the Weeden No. 10 toy steam engine from 1894 until 1903. The toy consists of a horizontal boiler with star-shaped cutouts. A horizontal slide valve engine powers a flywheel mounted onto a cast iron base.
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.328954
catalog number
328954
accession number
278175

Toy Electric Motor

This electric motor is possibly a Weeden No. 117 motor that was manufactured by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from around 1916 until 1918.
Description (Brief)
This electric motor is possibly a Weeden No. 117 motor that was manufactured by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from around 1916 until 1918. The motor turns the drive wheel, which could be attached to a line shaft with pulleys to power a variety of machine shop toy accessories.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1900
.'1900
ID Number
MC.329038
catalog number
329038
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.329088
catalog number
329088
accession number
278175

Toy Steam Engine

This vertical engine and boiler was made by a German manufacturer during the early 20th century. The toy is possibly a Schoenner 101/2 model, made by Jean Schoenner in Nuremberg, Germany around 1905. The vertical engine has an iron base, metal firebox, boiler, and chimney.
Description (Brief)
This vertical engine and boiler was made by a German manufacturer during the early 20th century. The toy is possibly a Schoenner 101/2 model, made by Jean Schoenner in Nuremberg, Germany around 1905. The vertical engine has an iron base, metal firebox, boiler, and chimney. The steam powers a vertical engine shafted to a 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
20th century
ID Number
MC.328936
catalog number
328936
accession number
278175

Buckman Toy Steam Engine

This toy steam engine was produced by the Buckman Manufacturing Company of Brooklyn, New York around 1871.The walking beam engine has a horizontal boiler, vertical slide valve engine, walking beam, and flywheel all on a cast iron frame.Live steam toys enjoyed a period of populari
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was produced by the Buckman Manufacturing Company of Brooklyn, New York around 1871.The walking beam engine has a horizontal boiler, vertical slide valve engine, walking beam, and flywheel all on a cast iron frame.
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.329012
catalog number
329012
accession number
278175

Ernst Plank Toy Steam Engine

This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Ernst Plank Company of Nuremburg, Germany during the early 20th century. There is a small metal plate on the toy’s wooden base that reads “Hercules,” possibly the model name of this engine.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Ernst Plank Company of Nuremburg, Germany during the early 20th century. There is a small metal plate on the toy’s wooden base that reads “Hercules,” possibly the model name of this engine. The toy has a pressed metal firebox below the boiler. The boiler powers a vertical slide valve engine shafted to a flywheel, with a flyball governor.
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
date made
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.329007
catalog number
329007
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.
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.
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.328951
catalog number
328951
accession number
278175

Vertical Duplex Steam Engine Model

This metal steam engine model was made by an unknown maker in the early 20th century. The model is a marine-type engine with vertical duplex slide valve cylinders.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This metal steam engine model was made by an unknown maker in the early 20th century. The model is a marine-type engine with vertical duplex slide valve cylinders.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MC.329027
catalog number
329027
accession number
278175

Empire B-30 Toy Steam Engine

The Metal Ware Corporation of Two Rivers, Wisconsin produced the B-30 model toy steam engine during the first half of the 20th century, beginning in the 1920s. This toy steam engine’s boiler was electrically heated, with the heating element inside the red cast iron base.
Description (Brief)
The Metal Ware Corporation of Two Rivers, Wisconsin produced the B-30 model toy steam engine during the first half of the 20th century, beginning in the 1920s. This toy steam engine’s boiler was electrically heated, with the heating element inside the red cast iron base. The nickel plated copper boiler has a sight glass on the left, a safety valve inside the chimney stack, a steam whistle, and throttle for the horizontal slide valve engine that powered the flywheel and driving pulley. Advertising shows this engine powering accessories like a lathe and water pump, and touts the toy as “the finest a boy ever had for mechanical instruction and fun.”
Location
Currently not on view
date made
mid 20th century
ID Number
MC.328988
catalog number
328988
accession number
278175

Model of Railroad Sail Car

This is a model of a rail sail car. The car is shown with several tools; shovel, ax, hammer, coal, wood, and oil cans. The sail car was an attempt to move rail cars with wind power, before steam locomotives became the preferred method of locomotive power.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This is a model of a rail sail car. The car is shown with several tools; shovel, ax, hammer, coal, wood, and oil cans. The sail car was an attempt to move rail cars with wind power, before steam locomotives became the preferred method of locomotive power.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MC.329096
catalog number
329096
accession number
278175

Weeden No. 645 Toy Steam Traction Engine

This Weeden Toy Steam Traction Engine was manufactured by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from around 1926-1935.
Description (Brief)
This Weeden Toy Steam Traction Engine was manufactured by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from around 1926-1935. The steam traction engine consists of a black firebox, tin boiler painted brown and horizontal engine powering a flywheel which is chained to the rear wheel. The back of the engine has a steam whistle, and the rear is stamped “WEEDEN/TRADEMARK/U.S. Patent Office.”
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.328928
catalog number
328928
accession number
278175

Falk Toy Steam Engine

This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Josef Falk Company of Nuremberg, Germany during the early 20th century. The toy consists of a vertical engine run by a vertical boiler over a firebox on a cast iron base.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Josef Falk Company of Nuremberg, Germany during the early 20th century. The toy consists of a vertical engine run by a vertical boiler over a firebox on a cast iron base. The engine bears the stamp “JF 597” and the makers mark “JF Ngb.”
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.328938
catalog number
328938
accession number
278175

Toy Steam Engine

This toy steam engine consists of a vertical brass boiler with a steam line connected to two horizontal slide valve engines with two flywheels.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine consists of a vertical brass boiler with a steam line connected to two horizontal slide valve engines with two flywheels. The museum’s catalogue records indicate that is was possibly made by the Buckman Manufacturing Company, during the late 19th century.
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.328982
catalog number
328982
accession number
278175

German Toy Steam Engine

This horizontal toy steam engine was manufactured by an unknown German company during the early 20th century. The horizontal brass boiler with chimney sits on an iron metal firebox.
Description (Brief)
This horizontal toy steam engine was manufactured by an unknown German company during the early 20th century. The horizontal brass boiler with chimney sits on an iron metal firebox. The slide-valve engine is attached to a crankshaft and linked to a gearing that is connected to the flywheel. The engine has a decorative flyball governor.
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
20th century
ID Number
MC.322910
catalog number
322910
accession number
220719

Weeden Toy Steam Engine

This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from around 1884 until the 1940s. The first six Weeden toy steam engine models were all very similar in style, and this model of engine is likely either Weeden No.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts from around 1884 until the 1940s. The first six Weeden toy steam engine models were all very similar in style, and this model of engine is likely either Weeden No. 1, 2, or 3. The vertical toy steam engine consists of a firebox, boiler, and slide valve engine attached to a wheel. The firebox has been repainted yellow and the boiler has been repainted black.
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.328943
catalog number
328943
accession number
278175

Peerless Toy Steam Engine

This Peerless brand toy steam engine was made during the early 20th century. The toy consists of a cast iron boiler and a horizontal slide valve engine and flywheel.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This Peerless brand toy steam engine was made during the early 20th century. The toy consists of a cast iron boiler and a horizontal slide valve engine and flywheel.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.329003
catalog number
329003
accession number
278175

Weeden No. 37 Toy Steam Engine

The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts produced this Weeden Force No. 37 toy steam pump during the late 19th to early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts produced this Weeden Force No. 37 toy steam pump during the late 19th to early 20th century. The vertical boiler is connected to a vertical engine that drives a pump which was capable of spraying water from the attached hose.
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.328964
catalog number
328964
accession number
278175

Buckman Toy Steam Engine

This toy steam engine was produced by the Buckman Manufacturing Company of Brooklyn, New York during the late 19th century.
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was produced by the Buckman Manufacturing Company of Brooklyn, New York during the late 19th century. A brass boiler sits on three iron legs with an overtype engine above the 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
1870-1880
ID Number
MC.328980
catalog number
328980
accession number
278175

Weeden No. 102 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.322913
catalog number
322913
accession number
220719

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.