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 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 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 Schuyler Colfax facing left. The legend reads: SCHUYLER COLFAX.
Reverse: The legend reads: LOYALTY SHALL GOVERN WHAT LOYALTY HAS PRESERVED.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1868
depicted
Colfax, Schuyler
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1617
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1617
The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this token in 1863. 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 in 1863. 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: Image of a George Washington equestrian statue. The legend reads: FIRST IN WAR, FIRST IN PEACE/1863.
Reverse: U.S. shield surrounded by four flags, wreath with one side of palm and one of oak. The legend reads: UNION FOR EVER.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1863
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1599
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1599
This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1860. 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 1860. 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: Tintype photograph of Stephen Douglas, labeled “Stephen A. Douglas.”
Reverse: Tintype photograph of Herschel Johnson, labeled “Herschel V. Johnson.”
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1860
depicted
Douglas, Stephen A.
Johnson, Herschel V.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1080
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1080
This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1872. 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 1872. 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: ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 1860. \
Reverse: The legend reads: FREEDOM NATIONAL SLAVERY SECTIONAL.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1872
depicted
Lincoln, Abraham
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1209
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1209
This medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut in 1868.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 in 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.
This medal’s design was done by Hugues Bovy of Geneva, Switzerland.
Obverse: Raised bust of Ulysses S. Grant facing left. The legend reads: GENERAL U.S. GRANT/ (1868) HUGUES BOVY FECIT GENEVE (SUISSE).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1868
depicted
Grant, Ulysses S.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1577
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1577
The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this token in 1863. 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 in 1863. 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: Wreath around the rim. The legend reads: Union
Reverse: Wreath around the rim. The legend reads: Liberty
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1863
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1598
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1598
This badge 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 badge 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 badges. This badge has a hole in the frame so that it could be worn.
Obverse: Tintype photograph of John C. Breckinridge, labeled J.C. BRECKINRIDGE.
Reverse: Tintype photograph of Joseph Lane, labeled JOSEPH LANE.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1860
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1127
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1127
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 Horatio Seymour and Francis Blair facing right. The legend reads: H. SEYMOUR. F.P. BLAIR.
Reverse: The legend reads: NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES 1869-1873/ FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1869
depicted
Seymour, Horatio
Blair, Jr., Francis P.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1191
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1191
This presidential campaign badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1860. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer, and is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This presidential campaign badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1860. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer, and is still in business today. Scovill is an important example of early American industrial manufacturing that adapted armory machines to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign badges.
Obverse: Tintype photograph of John Bell, labeled John Bell, set into red cloth.
Reverse: Tintype photograph of Edward Everett, labeled Edward Everett, set into red cloth.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1860
depicted
Bell, John
Everett, Edward
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1302
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1302
This campaign 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 campaign 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: ABRAHAM LINCOLN 1860.
Reverse: Legend reads: OUR POLICY IS EXPRESSLY THE POLICY OF THE MEN WHO MADE THE UNION NO MORE, NO LESS. Below, in smaller letters the words: JENSCH & MEYER, CHICAGO.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1860
depicted
Lincoln, Abraham
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1205
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1205
This campaign 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 campaign 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 campaign medals.
Obverse: Bust of Abraham Lincoln facing left. The legend reads: ABRAHAM LINCOLN REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT 1860.
Reverse: Legend: THE GREAT RAILSPLITTER OF THE WEST MUST & SHALL BE OUR NEXT PRESIDENT. The legend is surrounded by a rail fence with animals sitting on the rails.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1860
depicted
Lincoln, Abraham
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1211
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1211
The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this token around 1867. 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 around 1867. 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: Image of a woman on a globe, stepping on the head of a snake. The legend reads: CAFETAL DE LA VIRGEN PETAPA.
Reverse: The legend reads: PEDRETTI Y TONEL 1867.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1867
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1552
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1552
This 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 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 medals.
Obverse: Bust of Schuyler Colfax facing forward. The legend reads: SCHUYLER COLFAX 1868
Reverse: Shield of the United States with a star above it that is wreathed by two laurel branches. The legend reads: LOYALTY SHALL GOVERN THE NATION.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1868
depicted
Colfax, Schuyler
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1202
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1202
This 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 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 Schuyler Colfax facing forward. The legend reads: SCHUYLER COLFAX/ 1868.
Reverse: Shield of the United States with a star at the top, surrounded by a wreath. The legend reads: LOYALTY SHALL GOVERN THE NATION.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1868
depicted
Colfax, Schuyler
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1568
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1568
The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this advertising 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 advertising 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: The legend reads: REDEEMED EXCHANGED & DEAN ST'S 1863 ALBANY N.Y.
Reverse: The legend reads: JOHN THOMAS JR. PREMIUM MILLS COFFEE & SPICES.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1863
referenced
Thomas, Jr., John
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1527
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1527
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 is an important example of early American industrial manufacturing that adapted armory machines to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign badges.
Obverse: Profile image of Horatio Seymour and Francis P. Blair facing left. Legend reads: SEYMOUR & BLAIR, 1868.
Reverse: Legend reads: GENERAL AMNESTY, UNIFORM CURRENCY, EQUAL TAXES & EQUAL RIGHTS.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1868
depicted
Seymour, Horatio
Blair, Jr., Francis P.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1246
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1246
This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company 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 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 badges. The reverse legend is a quote by Grant when he was asked to accept a conditional surrender.
Obverse: Profile image of Grant facing left. Legend reads: GENERAL U. S. GRANT 1868.
Reverse: Legend reads: I PROPOSE TO MOVE IMMEDIATELY ON YOUR WORKS.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1868
depicted
Grant, Ulysses S.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1075
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1075
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 medals.
Obverse: Bust of Ulysses S. Grant facing right. Legend reads: GRANT.
Reverse: Bust of Schuyler Colfax facing left. The legend reads: COLFAX.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1868
depicted
Grant, Ulysses S.
Colfax, Schuyler
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1111
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1111
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.
Obverse: Tintype photograph of Ulysses S. Grant in a brass frame. The legend around the rim reads: OUR CHOICE FOR PRESIDENT.
Reverse: Tintype photograph of Schuyler Colfax in a brass frame. The legend around the rim reads: FOR VICE PRESIDENT.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1868
depicted
Grant, Ulysses S.
Colfax, Schuyler
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1089
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1089
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 and Schuyler Colfax facing left, the legend reads: GRANT & COLFAX 1868.
Reverse: A wreath around the rim, with a legend that reads: “LET US HAVE PEACE."
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1868
depicted
Grant, Ulysses S.
Colfax, Schuyler
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1086
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1086
This medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1866.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 1866.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 Andrew Johnson facing left. The legend reads: ANDREW JOHNSON/ PRESIDENT U.S.
Reverse: The legend reads: NATIONAL UNION CONVENTION HELD AT PHILA: AUG. 14. 1866/ THE PEOPLE MUST BE TRUSTED WITH THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1866
depicted
Johnson, Andrew
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1571
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1571
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 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 medals. This badge has a photo set into a bronze circle with a pink and lucent inset.
Obverse: Tintype photograph of Horatio Seymour and Francis Blair on the obverse, the photos are labeled, “SEYMOUR” and “BLAIR.”
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1868
depicted
Seymour, Horatio
Blair, Jr., Francis P.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1166
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1166

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