Industry & Manufacturing

Eli Terry Mass-Produced Clock

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.

Date: 1860s

Ulysses S. Grant Campaign Badge

This presidential campaign badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company around 1868.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 around 1868.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.
This badge has a tintype photograph of both Ulysses Grant and Schuyler Colfax that is labeled above their heads, “GRANT and COLFAX.” The photo is set into a circular frame with a pink background, and the frame is set into a six-sided star.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1868
depicted
Grant, Ulysses S.
Colfax, Schuyler
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1179
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1179

Abraham Lincoln Campaign Medal

This medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1860. 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 1860. 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 Abraham Lincoln facing right. The legend reads: HON: ABRAM LINCOLN 1860.
Reverse: Legend around rim reads: LINCOLN & HAMLIN FREEDOM & PROTECTION. Center legend reads: THE MAN THAT CAN SPLIT RAILS OR GUIDE THE SHIP OF STATE.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1860
depicted
Lincoln, Abraham
referenced
Hamlin, Hannibal
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1123
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1123

U.S. Grant Campaign Medal

This campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1869. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1869. 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: Busts of Ulysses Grant and Schuyler Colfax facing right. The legend reads: U.S. GRANT S. COLFAX. The bust is signed: EMIL SIGEL FT.
Reverse: Legend reads: NATIONAL UNION REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES 1869-1873/FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1869
depicted
Grant, Ulysses S.
Colfax, Schuyler
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1143
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1143

Ulysses S. Grant Campaign Medal

This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1868. 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 1868. 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 Ulysses S. Grant facing right. The legend reads: GENERAL U. S. GRANT 1868.
Reverse: Bust of Schuyler Colfax facing left. The legend reads: SCHUYLER COLFAX 1868 (the 1868 is worn down).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1868
depicted
Grant, Ulysses S.
Colfax, Schuyler
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1116
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1116

Ulysses S. Grant Campaign Medal

This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1868. 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 1868. 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 Ulysses S. Grant facing forward with a legend that reads: GENERAL U. S. GRANT 1868.
Reverse: Bust of Schuyler Colfax facing forward, with a legend that reads: SCHUYLER COLFAX 1868.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1868
depicted
Grant, Ulysses S.
Colfax, Schuyler
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1083
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1083

Ulysses S. Grant Campaign Badge

This presidential campaign badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1868. 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 1868. 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. The tintype picture of Grant is hanging from the beak of an eagle. The eagle has a pin on its back so that it could be worn on an article of clothing.
Obverse: Tintype photograph of Ulysses S. Grant, labeled “GRANT” inside a shield-shaped frame.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1868
depicted
Grant, Ulysses S.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1167
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1167

Ulysses S. Grant Campaign Medal

This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1868. 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 1868. 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 Ulysses Grant facing right. The legend reads: General U.S. Grant.
Reverse: Legend reads: GENERAL U.S. GRANT/REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT 1868.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1868
depicted
Grant, Ulysses S.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1252
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1252

Patent Model of a Bookbinders' Standing Press

This patent model demonstrates an invention for a bookbinders standing press which was granted patent number 30243.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a bookbinders standing press which was granted patent number 30243. The press has a platen, or upper follower, lowered in the usual way by an iron screw, and a bed, or lower follower, that was raised by a rack and pinion.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1860
patent date
1860-10-02
maker
Pelletreau, Maltby K.
ID Number
GA.89797.030243
patent number
030243
accession number
089797
catalog number
GA*89797.030243

Patent Model for a Machine for Trimming Books and Paper

This patent model demonstrates an invention for a table with clamp and knives, for trimming paper to any size; the invention was granted patent number 29532.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a table with clamp and knives, for trimming paper to any size; the invention was granted patent number 29532.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1860
patent date
1860-08-07
maker
Utley, Gabriel
ID Number
GA.89797.029532
patent number
029532
accession number
089797
catalog number
GA*89797.029532

Patent Model of a Typesetting for Stereotype Plates

This patent model demonstrates an invention for a typesetter for stereotype plates which was granted patent number 52073. The invention included the use of a "perpetual font of type" for impressing letters into a plastic molding material.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a typesetter for stereotype plates which was granted patent number 52073. The invention included the use of a "perpetual font of type" for impressing letters into a plastic molding material. Type was stored in a permanent holder, each piece tied by a thin strip of metal. At the touch of a key, type fell to casting position, the faces protruding below the holder. After casting, the type was returned to the storage cell.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1866
patent date
1866-01-16
patentee
Paulding, John
ID Number
GA.89797.052073
patent number
052073
accession number
089797
catalog number
GA*89797.052073

Patent Model of a Book Clamp

This patent model demonstrates an invention for a clamp for holding books while they were backed; the invention was granted patent number 50597. Joshua Wiestling Jones (born 1831) was apprenticed to the printing and binding trades. For a time he worked with the binder W. O.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a clamp for holding books while they were backed; the invention was granted patent number 50597. Joshua Wiestling Jones (born 1831) was apprenticed to the printing and binding trades. For a time he worked with the binder W. O. Hickok and helped in building Hickok's prototype paper-ruling machine. Later he worked in public printing, particularly at the state printing house in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Jones pioneered the use of electric arc lighting in Harrisburg, one of the first American cities to adopt the system.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1865
patent date
1865-10-24
maker
Jones, Joshua W.
ID Number
GA.89797.050597
patent number
050597
accession number
089797
catalog number
GA*89797.050597

Patent Model for an Inking Apparatus for Color Printing

This patent model demonstrates an invention for an inking apparatus for color printing; the invention was granted patent number 79910. The press combines two forms on the bed of a press, one to be printed in a single color, and the other in bands of several colors.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for an inking apparatus for color printing; the invention was granted patent number 79910. The press combines two forms on the bed of a press, one to be printed in a single color, and the other in bands of several colors. Double sheets were printed, rotated, and printed again.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1868
patent date
1868-07-14
maker
Hunt, Joshua
ID Number
GA.89797.079910
accession number
089797
patent number
079910
catalog number
GA*89797.079910

Patent model for a method of making curved electrotype and stereotype plates

This patent model demonstrates an invention for the manufacture of curved printing plates from flat plates, without altering the dimensions of the printing image; the invention was granted patent number 86021.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for the manufacture of curved printing plates from flat plates, without altering the dimensions of the printing image; the invention was granted patent number 86021.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1869
patent date
1869-01-19
maker
Lovejoy, Henry W.
Ferguson, James H.
ID Number
GA.89797.086021
accession number
089797
patent number
086021
catalog number
GA*89797.086021

Patent Model of a Machine for Cutting Books in the Round

This patent model demonstrates an invention for a machine to cut books in the round which was granted patent number 35639. The machine includes rocking knives for cutting the fronts of books in the round, an operation normally performed by hand.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a machine to cut books in the round which was granted patent number 35639. The machine includes rocking knives for cutting the fronts of books in the round, an operation normally performed by hand.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1862
patent date
1862-06-17
maker
Trinks, Gregor
Heitkamp, Louis
ID Number
GA.89797.035639
patent number
035639
accession number
089797
catalog number
GA*89797.035639

Patent Model of an Apparatus for Printing on Bottles, Boxes, or Cans

This patent model demonstrates an invention for printing directly on glass or metal with elastic type instead of using the common practice of stenciling on the surface or using a paper label. The invention was granted patent number 56593.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for printing directly on glass or metal with elastic type instead of using the common practice of stenciling on the surface or using a paper label. The invention was granted patent number 56593. The rubber printing block of the patent model has hardened and perished. In 1860 Isaac Miles had bought shares in the rights of two other printing patents: Samuel Lowe's cone press (Patent 15429, 1856) and Charles Hawkes's platen press (Patent 7855, 1850).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1866
patent date
1866-07-24
maker
Miles, Isaac L.
ID Number
GA.89797.056593
patent number
056593
accession number
089797
catalog number
GA*89797.056593

Patent Model of a Type-dressing Machine

This patent model demonstrates an invention for a machine for dressing and finishing the four sides, the shoulders, and the edges of type; the invention was granted patent number 60450.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a machine for dressing and finishing the four sides, the shoulders, and the edges of type; the invention was granted patent number 60450.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1866
patent date
1866-12-11
maker
Welch, Patrick
ID Number
GA.89797.060450
patent number
060450
accession number
089797
catalog number
GA*89797.060450

Patent Model of a Typesetting and Distributing Machine

This patent model demonstrates an invention for a typesetting and distributing machine; the invention was granted patent number 85251. The patent details improvements to earlier patents taken out by Timothy Alden (1857), and Henry Alden and William Mackey (1866).
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a typesetting and distributing machine; the invention was granted patent number 85251. The patent details improvements to earlier patents taken out by Timothy Alden (1857), and Henry Alden and William Mackey (1866). This patent related to the distribution of type. It allowed for the use of any ordinary type in the distributer, instead of the special type required previously. The patent was assigned to the Alden Typesetting and Distributing Company.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1868
patent date
1868-12-22
maker
Slingerland, John T.
ID Number
GA.89797.085251
patent number
085251
accession number
089797
catalog number
GA*89797.085251

Patent Model of a Type Breaker

This patent model demonstrates an invention for a type breaker which was assigned patent number 86968. This device broke the jets from the bodies of newly cast type and was intended to be attached to a typecasting machine.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a type breaker which was assigned patent number 86968. This device broke the jets from the bodies of newly cast type and was intended to be attached to a typecasting machine. The patent was granted to Philip Heinrich, proprietor of the Ph. Heinrich type foundry in New York.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1869
patent date
1869-02-16
maker
Baer, Charles
ID Number
GA.89797.086968
patent number
086968
accession number
089797
catalog number
GA*89797.086968

Patent Model of a Machine for Cutting the Front of Books

This patent model demonstrates an invention for a machine to cut the fronts of books to a concave form; the invention was granted patent number 59229.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a machine to cut the fronts of books to a concave form; the invention was granted patent number 59229.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1866
patent date
1866-10-30
patentee
Jones, Isaac
ID Number
GA.89797.059229
patent number
059229
accession number
089797
catalog number
GA*89797.059229

Patent Model of a Bookbinder's Sewing Table

This patent model demonstrates an invention for a bookbinders' sewing table that was vertically adjustable, so the sheets could be lowered to a convenient height for the sewer as the pile grew.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a bookbinders' sewing table that was vertically adjustable, so the sheets could be lowered to a convenient height for the sewer as the pile grew. This avoided the usual practice of “putting blocks or boxes of increasing thickness in the operator's chair." The invention was granted patent number 59240.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1866
patent date
1866-10-30
maker
Lincoln, Marshall T.
ID Number
GA.89797.059240
patent number
059240
accession number
089797
catalog number
GA*89797.059240

Patent Model of a Bookbinders' Roll

This patent model demonstrates an invention for a bookbinder’s roll where the type was formed in a ring that attached to the circumference of the wheel. The invention was granted patent number 76065.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a bookbinder’s roll where the type was formed in a ring that attached to the circumference of the wheel. The invention was granted patent number 76065.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1868
patent date
1868-03-31
maker
Feely, John
ID Number
GA.89797.076065
patent number
076065
accession number
089797
catalog number
GA*89797.076065

Russian porcelain vase

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
c. 1860s
ID Number
CE.P-535
catalog number
P-535
accession number
225282

Patent Model of a Printing Press for Uneven Surfaces

This patent model demonstrates an invention for a printing press for uneven surfaces which was granted patent number 62646. The patent describes relief printing from a vulcanized rubber plate with fluid pressure, such as air pressure.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a printing press for uneven surfaces which was granted patent number 62646. The patent describes relief printing from a vulcanized rubber plate with fluid pressure, such as air pressure. Patentee Alfred Leighton was from London, England.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1867
patent date
1867-03-05
maker
Leighton, Alfred
ID Number
GA.89797.062646
patent number
062646
accession number
089797
catalog number
GA*89797.062646

Patent Model for a Rotary Perfecting Press

This patent model demonstrates an invention for the first of a generation of fast web perfecting presses which was granted patent number 38200. On this press, unlike its successors, the paper was cut into sheets before being printed. According to Stephen D.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for the first of a generation of fast web perfecting presses which was granted patent number 38200. On this press, unlike its successors, the paper was cut into sheets before being printed. According to Stephen D. Tucker’s History of R. Hoe & Company, the web cutting knife had been used years before on a Hoe press, but the concept had not been patented.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1863
patent date
1863-04-14
maker
Bullock, William
ID Number
GA.11027
catalog number
GA*11027
accession number
49064
patent number
038200
catalog number
GA*49064.038200

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