Industry & Manufacturing

The Museum's collections document centuries of remarkable changes in products, manufacturing processes, and the role of industry in American life. In the bargain, they preserve artifacts of great ingenuity, intricacy, and sometimes beauty.

The carding and spinning machinery built by Samuel Slater about 1790 helped establish the New England textile industry. Nylon-manufacturing machinery in the collections helped remake the same industry more than a century later. Machine tools from the 1850s are joined by a machine that produces computer chips. Thousands of patent models document the creativity of American innovators over more than 200 years.

The collections reach far beyond tools and machines. Some 460 episodes of the television series Industry on Parade celebrate American industry in the 1950s. Numerous photographic collections are a reminder of the scale and even the glamour of American industry.

Few products are more symbolic of household life in post-World War II America than Tupperware.
Description
Few products are more symbolic of household life in post-World War II America than Tupperware. Made of plastic, intended for service in the suburban kitchen, and with clean and modern design, Tupperware represented "tomorrow's designs with tomorrow's substances." The Museum's collections include over 100 pieces of Tupperware, dating from 1946 through 1999. This bowl and cover were made by Tupperware Corporation, Woonsocket, R.I. (bowl), and Farnumsville, Mass. (lid), 1946–1958 and donated by Glenn O. Tupper.
Beginning in the 1930s, chemist Earl S. Tupper (1907–1983) experimented with polyethylene slag, a smelly, black waste product of oil refining processes, to develop uses for it. He devised translucent and opaque colored containers that he first marketed in 1942 as "Welcome Ware," then added lids with a patented seal later in the decade.
Modeled after the lid of a paint can, the lid to a Tupperware container was to be closed with a "burp," to create a partial vacuum and make the seal tight. The product was designed to appeal to the growing number of housewives who worked in suburban kitchens with modern appliances, including large refrigerators that allowed once-a-week trips for grocery shopping at the supermarket. These women formed a market for new and effective methods of food storage. Tupperware's water-tight, airtight seal promised preservation of freshness and limited spills or spoilage.
Yet the capabilities of the new product were not obvious to consumers at first, and Tupper's containers did not sell well in retail stores. A Michigan woman named Brownie Wise thought of marketing Tupperware through the home-sales method. Wise developed the system of Tupperware parties, at which a demonstrator could show the uses and advantages of Tupperware. As Tupperware became a staple of many American kitchens, some women found job opportunities in Tupperware sales.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1949
manufacturer
Tupperware
ID Number
1992.0605.022
catalog number
1992.0605.022A,B
accession number
1992.0605
This manographe, or indicator, was purchased by Professor W. H. Kenerson around 1907.
Description
This manographe, or indicator, was purchased by Professor W. H. Kenerson around 1907. He used it in making tests of the Brayton Oil Engine, National Museum of American History catalog number 313.703, at Brown University.
A pivoted mirror reflects a beam of light to a photosensitive plate or paper. Changes in pressure in the engine cylinder cause the mirror to oscillate up and down; a pin and eccentric actuated by a flexible shaft connected to the engine shaft cause the mirror to oscillate from side to side.
The indicator is housed in a wooden box that is 5 inches by 6 inches by 14 inches, with a brass pipe fitting and gear box at one end. The opposite end is open to receive a plate holder of a ground glass. A T-shaped tube lets light into one side, and an adjustable prism inside directs the light to the mirror. The flexible shaft is 32 inches long and covered with black fabric. Four plate holders, one ground glass, a steel petcock and a tapered hollow steel plug are included with the instrument. It is marked “Manographe Hospitalier-Carpentier, Brevete, S G D G, J. Carpentier, Paris.”
An engine indicator is an instrument for graphically recording the pressure versus piston displacement through an engine stroke cycle. Engineers use the resulting diagram to check the design and performance of the engine.
A mechanical indicator consists of a piston, spring, stylus, and recording system. The gas pressure of the cylinder deflects the piston and pushes against the spring, creating a linear relationship between the gas pressure and the deflection of the piston against the spring. The deflection is recorded by the stylus on a rotating drum that is connected to the piston. Most indicators incorporate a mechanical linkage to amplify the movement of the piston to increase the scale of the record.
When the ratio of the frequency of the pressure variation to the natural frequency of the system is small, then the dynamic deflection is equal to the static deflection. To design a system with a high natural frequency, the mass of the piston, spring, stylus, and mechanical linkage must be small, but the stiffness of the spring must be high. The indicator is subjected to high temperatures and pressures and rapid oscillations, imposing a limitation on the reduction in mass. Too stiff a spring will result in a small displacement of the indicator piston and a record too small to measure with accuracy. Multiplication of the displacement will introduce mechanical ad dynamic errors.
The parameters of the problem for designing an accurate and trouble free recorder are such that there is no easy or simple solution. Studying the variety of indicators in the collection shows how different inventors made different compromises in their designs.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MC.313704
catalog number
313704
accession number
192776
This model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office with the application for the patent issued to George H. Corliss, of Providence, Rhode Island, May 27, 1879, no.
Description
This model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office with the application for the patent issued to George H. Corliss, of Providence, Rhode Island, May 27, 1879, no. 215798.
The model represents a bank of curved water tubes joined in vertical rows by the separate cases or tube ends, which are the subject of the patent. Each end of each tube is threaded into the side of the cylindrical casting, which is provided with machined surfaces that allow the separate castings to go together tightly to form a continuous tube sheet or header for each vertical row of tubes. The castings forming each header are held together by a single long bolt, which threads into a casting that forms a common connector along the lower ends of the vertical headers.
Reference:
This description comes from the 1939 Catalog of the Mechanical Collections of the Division of Engineering United States Museum Bulletin 173 by Frank A. Taylor.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1879
patent date
1879-05-27
inventor
Corliss, George H.
ID Number
MC.309214
catalog number
309214
accession number
89797
patent number
215,798
This model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office with the application for the patent issued to George H. Corliss, August 8, 1882, no.
Description
This model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office with the application for the patent issued to George H. Corliss, August 8, 1882, no. 262209.
The model represents a flyball governor in which the motion of the slide, owing to a change in the speed of the engine to which the governor is attached, not only changes the position of the cut-off or throttle devices to regulate the speed of the engine but also changes the gear ratio between the engine and the governor to change the speed of the governor relative to the speed of the engine.
When the governor speed is increased by an increase in the speed of the engine, the balls rise and communicate motion to a slide, which, in turn, affects the throttle or cut-off to return the engine to its lower speed. At the same time the motion of the slide shifts a friction roller on its driving disk so that the governor speed is increased relative to the engine causing an additional motion of the slide in the same direction. As a result, the governor slide is given a greater motion for a given change in speed than would otherwise result.
Reference:
This description comes from the 1939 Catalog of the Mechanical Collections of the Division of Engineering United States Museum Bulletin 173 by Frank A. Taylor.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1882
patent date
1882-08-08
inventor
Corliss, George H.
ID Number
MC.308715
catalog number
308715
accession number
89797
patent number
262,209
This model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office with its application for Patent no. 217758, issued to James M. Whiting, of Providence, Rhode Island, July 22, 1879.This is an example of combined air and steam engines, many designs of which have been proposed and built.
Description
This model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office with its application for Patent no. 217758, issued to James M. Whiting, of Providence, Rhode Island, July 22, 1879.
This is an example of combined air and steam engines, many designs of which have been proposed and built. In this engine the use of steam is intended to reduce the bulk of the heated air required to operate an engine of a given capacity and consequently reduce the size of the engine.
The model shows a vertical fire-tube steam boiler of ordinary construction above the tubes of which is placed a hollow drum that is heated by the hot gases from the boiler. There is also a small steam pump and a vertical high-speed steam engine of the slide-valve type. Steam from the boiler is mixed with the heated air in the upper drum, and the mixture of heated air and steam is led directly to the engine and expanded. The air pump supplies air to the heated drum.
Reference:
This description comes from the 1939 Catalog of the Mechanical Collections of the Division of Engineering United States Museum Bulletin 173 by Frank A. Taylor.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1879
patent date
1879-07-22
inventor
Whiting, James M.
ID Number
ER.251285
accession number
48865
catalog number
251285
patent number
217,758
The Smithsonian's first label for Slater's Spinning Frame was written by textiles curator Frederick L.
Description
The Smithsonian's first label for Slater's Spinning Frame was written by textiles curator Frederick L. Lewton in 1912 for an exhibition in the United States National Museum in Washington, D.C.:
"This 48-spindle spinning machine, the oldest piece of cotton machinery in America, was built by Samuel Slater, and first operated by him on December 20, 1790, at Pawtucket, Rhode Island. One hundred years later, 1890, it was lent to the city of Pawtucket for exhibition at the Cotton Centenary, a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the beginning of cotton spinning by power machinery on the Western Hemisphere, and yarn was spun on it by an old man who had tended the spinning frame in the 'Old Slater Mill' when he was a boy. In 1876, it was exhibited at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, and in 1885, was lent by the National Museum for exhibition at the World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition in New Orleans. Presented by the Rhode Island Society For The Encouragement of Domestic Industry."
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1790-1793
inventor
Slater, Samuel
ID Number
TE.T11197.000
catalog number
T11197
accession number
013137
This model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office with the application for the patents issued to George H. Corliss, Providence, Rhode Island, August 26, 1862, nos.
Description
This model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office with the application for the patents issued to George H. Corliss, Providence, Rhode Island, August 26, 1862, nos. 36279 and 36281.
The model represents a pair of internally fired, fire-tube boilers of the “locomotive” type, each equipped with a steam main connected to the steam space at six different points for the purpose of diffusing the draft of steam from over the whole surface of the water in the boiler and thus prevent priming; and provided with a salt-water evaporator located in the breeching, so as to obtain heat from the hot flue gases, and connected to the surface condenser to lower the pressure on the boiling salt water to facilitate evaporation.
The purpose of the peculiar arrangement of steam pipes is to provide a method of obtaining steam free from water without the necessity of a high steam chamber, which would be a vulnerable part of a naval vessel. The theory is that the filling of any of the many tubes with water, due to the pitching of the vessel, would cause the other tubes to supply the steam to the engines and the water would not travel far in the immersed tubes.
Reference:
This description comes from the 1939 Catalog of the Mechanical Collections of the Division of Engineering United States Museum Bulletin 173 by Frank A. Taylor.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1862
patent date
1862-08-26
inventor
Corliss, George H.
ID Number
MC.308666
catalog number
308666
accession number
89797
patent number
36,279
36,281
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1878
patent date
1879-05-27
inventor
Corliss, George H.
ID Number
MC.251291
catalog number
251291
patent number
215,803
accession number
48865
The model was filed on October 27, 1875, to the U.S. Patent Office with the application for the patent issued to George H. Corliss, June 6, 1876, no.
Description
The model was filed on October 27, 1875, to the U.S. Patent Office with the application for the patent issued to George H. Corliss, June 6, 1876, no. 178275.
The model is a brass miniature of a vacuum dash pot designed to combine the functions of supplying the force to close the steam valve and to arrest the motion without shock after the valve is closed. The vacuum dash pot has some advantages over heavy weights and springs for closing valves.
The dash pot consists of a casting in which is bored a cylinder having a lower section of small diameter and an upper section of larger diameter. A plunger, having corresponding sections of large and small diameters, fits the cylinder. When the steam valve to which the plunger is attached is opened the plunger rises in the cylinder forming a vacuum in the part of smaller diameter. At the same time small leather valves in the larger part of the plunger open and allow air to enter the cylinder under this part of the plunger. When the valve is released the vacuum draws down the plunger and closed the valve. The air under the upper part escapes through a port in the cylinder until the plunger covers the port. The air trapped in the cylinder at this point acts a s a cushion and brings the valve quickly but gently to rest.
Reference:
This description comes from the 1939 Catalog of the Mechanical Collections of the Division of Engineering United States Museum Bulletin 173 by Frank A. Taylor.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1876
patent date
1876-06-06
inventor
Corliss, George H.
ID Number
ER.308692
accession number
89797
catalog number
308692
patent number
178,275
This model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office with the application for the patent issued to G. H. Babcock and S. Wilcox, Jr., of Providence, Rhode Island, April 24, 1866, no.
Description
This model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office with the application for the patent issued to G. H. Babcock and S. Wilcox, Jr., of Providence, Rhode Island, April 24, 1866, no. 54090.
The valve gear represented by the model is an early governable one of the class of riding cut-off valves in which the riding valve is operated by a small independent auxiliary steam cylinder, equipped with its own steam valve. The valve controlling the admission of steam to the auxiliary steam cylinder is in turn controlled by the action of the engine governor.
The main valve of the engine is a flat lap valve, machined top and bottom with mortises through the valve near each end. The valve functions as a common D-valve admitting steam through the mortises instead of at its ends. Solid cut-off valves working on the back of the main valve, over the mortises, are joined by a rod, which passes through a small auxiliary steam cylinder and at the middle of which within the cylinder is the small actuating piston. The valve of the auxiliary cylinder is operated transversely across the cylinder by an eccentric on the end of a lay shaft. This shaft revolves at the same speed as the crankshaft and the main-valve eccentric, but its position at any time relative to the main-valve eccentric is determined by the governor as follows:
The lay shaft is divided into two shafts, one driving, the other driven. The connection between the two is maintained by means of a driving bevel gear on the driving shaft, an intermediate idling bevel gear, and a driven bevel gear on the driven shaft. Though the driving and driven shafts turn in opposite directions, they turn with the same relative positions so long as the intermediate gear remains in one position. However, the axle of the intermediate fear is pivoted about the driving shaft and is held in position only by the governor rod, and the position of the intermediate gear changes with each change of position of the governor rod. A change in position of the intermediate gear advances or sets back the position of the driven shaft relative to the driving shaft and varies the action of the auxiliary steam valve relative to the action of the main-valve eccentric.
Reference:
This description comes from the 1939 Catalog of the Mechanical Collections of the Division of Engineering United States Museum Bulletin 173 by Frank A. Taylor.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1866
patent date
1866-04-24
inventor
Babcock, George H.
Wilcox, Jr., Stephen
ID Number
MC.308673
catalog number
308673
accession number
89797
patent number
54,090
This is a wooden model of a very simple variable drop cut-off valve gear in which a poppet valve is lifted by a bell crank operated by a cam. The cam is a cylinder that may be moved parallel to its axis, so as to bring any part of the cam against the follower of the bell crank.
Description
This is a wooden model of a very simple variable drop cut-off valve gear in which a poppet valve is lifted by a bell crank operated by a cam. The cam is a cylinder that may be moved parallel to its axis, so as to bring any part of the cam against the follower of the bell crank. The cam is so shaped that the valve will open at the same time for all positions of the cam, but the valve will close progressively earlier or later as the cam is moved along its shaft.
Reference:
This description comes from the 1939 Catalog of the Mechanical Collections of the Division of Engineering United States Museum Bulletin 173 by Frank A. Taylor.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MC.309819
catalog number
309819
accession number
109438
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1872
patent date
1872-04-02
inventor
Brayton, George B.
ID Number
MC.251280
catalog number
251280
accession number
48865
patent number
125,166
This model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office with the application for the two patents issued to George H. Corliss, May 9, 1876, nos.
Description
This model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office with the application for the two patents issued to George H. Corliss, May 9, 1876, nos. 177059 and 177099.
The model represents the valve gear of a horizontal cylinder with a separate rotary steam and exhaust valve at each end of the cylinder. The valves are driven from one wrist plate, the steam valves through disengaging hooks or catches, which are controlled by the governor, the exhaust valves by a series of permanently connected links designed to effect a quick closing of the exhaust valves. The steam valves are closed by vacuum dash pots instead of by weights or springs as in the earlier Corliss valve gears.
Reference:
This description comes from the 1939 Catalog of the Mechanical Collections of the Division of Engineering United States Museum Bulletin 173 by Frank A. Taylor.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1876
patent date
1876-05-09
inventor
Corliss, George H.
ID Number
ER.308693
accession number
89797
catalog number
308693
patent number
177,059
177,099
This is a crank-operated, wooden model of a ball governor connected to a throttle valve in a short section of pipe.The governor consists of balls hung in the usual manner upon arms attached by pin joints at their upper ends to the top of the governor spindle.
Description
This is a crank-operated, wooden model of a ball governor connected to a throttle valve in a short section of pipe.
The governor consists of balls hung in the usual manner upon arms attached by pin joints at their upper ends to the top of the governor spindle. Radius rods from the centers of the ball arms connect to a collar upon the spindle, so that the collar moves up and down as the balls are swung in or out by changes in the speed of the engine. The sliding collar is connected to a crank on the axis of the disk of a plain butterfly valve.
Reference:
This description comes from the 1939 Catalog of the Mechanical Collections of the Division of Engineering United States Museum Bulletin 173 by Frank A. Taylor.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
ER.309818
accession number
109438
catalog number
309818
This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 185,390 issued to George H. Corliss of Providence, Rhode Island on December 19, 1876.
Description
This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 185,390 issued to George H. Corliss of Providence, Rhode Island on December 19, 1876. The goal of the patent’s design was an efficient steam-driven water pump.
This patent was based in part upon his June 2, 1857 patent for the same purpose. That patent claimed a design for a steam pump that improved efficiency of fuel use while providing a well-regulated stream of pumped water. This was accomplished by multiple powered steam cylinders alternating with pump cylinders located around the circumference of a circular structure. Inlet and outlet water mains formed the framing of the structure. That design allowed for smooth and efficient pumping without the need for a flywheel. Corliss however desired to further improve the overall efficiency of the pump.
A principal goal of the Corliss design in Patent Number 185,390 was to provide for slow operation of the water pumps while allowing the steam engine driving the pump to work at high speed. It was known that slow pump motion was needed to allow the pump to fill and empty efficiently. However, steam engines could operate more efficiently when run faster and using the work from the expansion of steam in the cylinders.
The new patent improved upon the 1857 patent by eliminating the need for multiple steam-powered cylinders. A single steam cylinder, shown at the top of the image, was connected to a crankshaft that turned a small gear and a large flywheel at high speed. The small gear meshed with a larger gear plate upon which was mounted an offset crankpin that was connected to the pushrods for eight water pumps located around the circumference of the pump frame. The gearing allowed the goal of rapid steam cylinder and slow water pump speeds to be attained.
Corliss also made provisions in the patent design to drive the air-pump and feed-pump associated with a condensing type steam engine. The connection for the pumps was to the crankshaft for the small gear. A pushrod from that connection passed over the steam cylinder pushrod and operated a bell-crank on the engine framing. Rods at each end of the bell-crank operated the air and feed pumps which would be located below the primary pumping mechanism. The compact design of the pumping mechanism was claimed as another benefit that allowed installation in a small pumping-house. Corliss received a later patent which expanded upon the details of the air-pump mechanism.
The patent model is constructed of wood and metal. All of the key features of the invention are illustrated by the model to include the driving steam cylinder, pushrod, gearing, pump cylinders, and fly-wheel. The air-pump and feed pump pushrod is also shown, but not the bell-crank nor pump mechanisms. The details of the pump cylinder intake and outlet connections and valves are not modelled. Note that while the model shows a vertically mounted steam cylinder and pump frame, the intention of the patent was for horizontal mounting as can be seen in the patent application drawings. A full description of the invention along with complete diagrams of the patent can be found in the patent document online at the United States Patent and Trademark Office website, www.uspto.gov.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1877
1876
patent date
1876-12-19
1877-05-22
inventor
Corliss, George H.
ID Number
ER.308694
accession number
89797
catalog number
308694
patent number
190,958
185,390
A Lewis Hine silver print from about 1906–1918, this image of a young boy working at a loom in a cotton mill in Rhode Island is one in a series of photographs made by Hine for the National Child Labor Committee.
Description
A Lewis Hine silver print from about 1906–1918, this image of a young boy working at a loom in a cotton mill in Rhode Island is one in a series of photographs made by Hine for the National Child Labor Committee. The photographs document child labor throughout America in the early 20th century. As a "sociological photographer" and one of the earliest practitioners of what has come to be known as photojournalism, Hine used his photography to raise public consciousness about the inhumane and dangerous working conditions to which children were being exposed every day. His work was instrumental in bringing about child labor laws and raising safety standards in the American workplace, a social movement that would secure the promise of childhood for future generations.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1906-1918
maker
Hine, Lewis
ID Number
PG.72.78.10
accession number
302041
catalog number
72.78.10
Deck hands working aboard most commercial fishing vessels require protective clothing from head to toe. Non-slip, waterproof footwear is essential, and on the Alaska Ocean factory trawler, the deck hands, as well as the people who work in the factory, wear “Xtratuf” boots.
Description
Deck hands working aboard most commercial fishing vessels require protective clothing from head to toe. Non-slip, waterproof footwear is essential, and on the Alaska Ocean factory trawler, the deck hands, as well as the people who work in the factory, wear “Xtratuf” boots. Manufactured in the United States, these neoprene boots are made for “severe fishing, farm, and work conditions.” This pair was worn by a deck hand aboard the Alaska Ocean in summer of 2007.
date made
2007
2006-2007
Associated Date
2007
maker
Norcross Safety Products, L. L. C.
ID Number
2007.0178.01
accession number
2007.0178
catalog number
2007.0178
These non-slip, waterproof boots were worn by Thelma McFarland, a fish processor working aboard the Alaska Ocean factory trawler in the summer of 2007.
Description
These non-slip, waterproof boots were worn by Thelma McFarland, a fish processor working aboard the Alaska Ocean factory trawler in the summer of 2007. Manufactured in the USA, these “Xtratuf” boots are made of neoprene, a synthetic rubber.
Processors work 12-hour shifts and, if the factory is busy, they may work an additional 3 hours, called a kicker shift. For most of this time, the workers are on their feet, standing at processing tables or conveyor belts, or walking from one station to another on grated walkways. These walkways, like the areas around the equipment where processors stand to work, are raised above the floor, allowing the water used in factory operations to run beneath the workers’ feet. Despite being elevated above any water flow, it is still essential for workers to wear non-slip, waterproof boots to keep their feet warm and dry.
These boots are identical to those worn by deck hands. Most of the specialized clothing worn by workers and crew aboard the Alaska Ocean is provided by the company. Boots, however, are purchased by individuals, and are available in the on-board store. Felt insoles for the boots are available in the laundry and are washed frequently by laundry staff.
date made
2007
used
2007
used
McFarland, Thelma
maker
Norcross Safety Products, L. L. C.
ID Number
2007.0178.17
catalog number
2007.0178.17
accession number
2007.0178

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