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.

This medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1861. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1861. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign medals. This medal has a hole at the top so the medal could be worn on an article of clothing.
Obverse: Bust of George McClellan facing left. Legend reads: MAJOR GENERAL GEO. B. McCLELLAN/War OF 1861.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1861
depicted
McClellan, George B.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1220
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1220
This badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1864. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1864. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign badges. This badge has a hole in the rim indicating it was worn.
Obverse: Labeled photograph of George B. McClellan. The rim is inscribed: THE CONSTITUTION AS IT IS 1864.
Reverse: Labeled photograph of George Pendleton. Stars around the rim. Legend reads: PAT. APR 2, 1861.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1864
depicted
McClellan, George B.
Pendleton, George Hunt
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1129
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1129
This presidential campaign badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1864. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This presidential campaign badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1864. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign badges.
Obverse: Tintype photograph of George B. McClellan imbedded into a circular brass frame. The tintype is labeled “M’CLELLAN.”
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1864
depicted
McClellan, George B.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1105
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1105
The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this token during the early 20th century. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this token during the early 20th century. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens.
Obverse: Bust of George McClellan facing left. The legend reads: MAJ. GEN. G. B. McCLELLAN, PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
early 20th century
depicted
McClellan, George B.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1541
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1541
This medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1861. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1861. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign medals.
Obverse: Bust of George McClellan facing left. The legend reads: MAJOR GENERAL Geo B. McCLELLAN WAR OF 1861.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1861
depicted
McClellan, George B.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1223
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1223
This presidential campaign badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1864. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This presidential campaign badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1864. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign badges.
This campaign badge features a tintype photograph of George B. McClellan in a circular brass frame. The tintype is labeled “G.B. M’CLELLAN.”
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1864
depicted
McClellan, George B.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1094
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1094
This medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1864. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1864. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign medals. There is a hole at the top so the medal could be worn on an article of clothing.
Obverse: Bust of George McClellan facing left. The legend reads: MAJOR GENERAL G.B. McCLELLAN WAR OF 1861.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1864
depicted
McClellan, George B.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1158
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1158
This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1864. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1864. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign medals.
Obverse: Bust of George B. McClellan facing left, two branches underneath the bust. Legend: MAJOR GENERAL GEO B McCLELLAN.
Reverse: Shield with legend: YORKSTOWN/WILLIAMSBURG/FAIR OAKS/SEVEN PINES/MALVERN HILL. Ribbon reads “ANTIETAM.” Shield is surrounded by four flags with eagle perched above.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1864
depicted
McClellan, George B.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1207
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1207
This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1864. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer, and is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1864. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer, and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including campaign badges.
Obverse: Bust of George B. McClellan facing forward. Legend reads, MAJ. GEN. GEO. B. McCLELLAN, U.S.A.
Reverse: Eagle with a ribbon that reads “E Pluribus Unum” perched on the shield of the United States with the American flag is draped across a spear. The legend reads: MY COUNTRY I AM SWORN TO DEFEND.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1864
depicted
McClellan, George B.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1072
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1072
This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1864. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1864. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign badges.
Obverse: Bust of George B. McClellan facing left. The legend reads: GEORGE B. McCLELLAN.
Reverse: Image of an eagle with shield, clutching arrows and an olive branch in its talons. The legend reads: THE UNION MUST AND SHALL BE PRESERVED.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1864
depicted
McClellan, George B.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1092
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1092
This presidential campaign badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1864. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This presidential campaign badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1864. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign badges.
Obverse: Tintype photograph of George B. McClellan in a brass frame. The frame has two shields flanking the photograph. Legend reads: FOR PRESIDENT G. B. McCLELLAN.
Reverse: Tintype photograph of George H. Pendleton. The legend reads: FOR VICE PRESIDENT GEO. H. PENDLETON.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1864
depicted
McClellan, George B.
Pendleton, George Hunt
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1101
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1101
This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1864. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer, and is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1864. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer, and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign badges.
Obverse: Bust of George B. McClellan facing left, surrounded by a wreath. Legend reads: MAJ. GEN. GEO. B. McCLELLAN.
Reverse: Image of a shield that is surrounded by flags and a “liberty cap.” Legend reads: THE PEOPLES CHOICE FOR PRESIDENT 1864.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1864
depicted
McClellan, George B.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1081
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1081
This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1864. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1864. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign badges.
Obverse: Bust of George B. McClellan facing forward. The legend reads: MAJ. GENERAL McCLELLAN. Reverse: Eagle clutching arrows and an olive branch, encircled with 34 stars and a wreath. The legend reads: ONE FLAG AND ONE UNION NOW AND FOREVER.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1864
depicted
McClellan, George B.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1104
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1104

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