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

Gabriel Rotary Steam Engine, Patent Model

This model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office with the application for the patent issued to Matthias Gabriel, of Newark, NJ, August 6, 1867, no.
Description
This model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office with the application for the patent issued to Matthias Gabriel, of Newark, NJ, August 6, 1867, no. 67527.
The engine represented in the model is one of a great many similar designs for rotary steam engines, in which a vane or paddle on a rotary drum fits closely in the annular chamber between the drum and an outer casing and is driven around the chamber by the pressure of steam expanding between the paddle and an abutment that temporarily closes the chamber back of the paddle.
This engine has two sliding abutments, which are moved in (to close the chamber) and out (to clear the paddle as it passes) by means of a cam on the shaft of the engine and a system of followers and yokes. A plain D-slide valve is operated by pinions and rack from an eccentric on the shaft. Two expansions per revolution are obtained.
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
1867
patent date
1867-08-06
inventor
Gabriel, Matthias
ID Number
ER.309196
accession number
89797
catalog number
309196
patent number
67,527

Patent Model of a Hand Operated Printing Press

This patent model demonstrates an invention for a hand-operated printing press which was granted patent number 32242. This press, the Chatauqua Jobber, was a self-inking bench-top press along the lines of the A. and B.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a hand-operated printing press which was granted patent number 32242. This press, the Chatauqua Jobber, was a self-inking bench-top press along the lines of the A. and B. Newbury Mountain Jobber of 1859 (Patent 24655).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1861
patent date
1861-05-07
maker
Dean, George R.
ID Number
GA.89797.032242
patent number
032242
accession number
089797
catalog number
GA*89797.032242

Hand stamp

Date made
1867
circa 1867
patent date
November 19, 1867
maker
Willbur, J. M.
ID Number
1971.293320.2983
accession number
293320
patent number
071105
catalog number
1971.293320.2983
1971.293320.2983

Carhart Balanced Valve, Patent Model

This model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office with the application for the patent issued to John W. Carhart, of Troy, New York, March 27, 1866, no.
Description
This model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office with the application for the patent issued to John W. Carhart, of Troy, New York, March 27, 1866, no. 53410.
The model represents a conical plug valve with an annular exhaust space between the plug and the valve and a steam passage through the hollow core of the plug. The peculiar feature of the valve is the provision of recessed annular spaces in the valve, which, with the valve seat, form small pistons and cylinders designed to balance the valve longitudinally when connected to the steam passages. Screw adjustments on the valve stem and the small end of the valve are provided for setting the valve in a position giving proper contact with the minimum of friction.
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
1866-03-27
inventor
Carhart, John W.
ID Number
ER.308671
accession number
89797
catalog number
308671
patent number
53,410

Patent Model of a Lithographic Printing Press

This patent model demonstrates an invention for a self-inking scraper press, in which the stone was moved beneath the stationary scraper, was granted patent number 80771. The stone was dampened by hand.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a self-inking scraper press, in which the stone was moved beneath the stationary scraper, was granted patent number 80771. The stone was dampened by hand.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1868
patent date
1868-08-04
maker
Shackford, Amaziah G.
ID Number
GA.89797.080771
accession number
089797
patent number
080771
catalog number
GA*89797.080771

Richards Balanced Valve, Patent Model

This model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office with the application for the patent issued to Thomas Richards, of Lansingburg, New York, May 22, 1866, no.
Description
This model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office with the application for the patent issued to Thomas Richards, of Lansingburg, New York, May 22, 1866, no. 54959.
This model represents a slightly conical plug valve fitted within a conical valve housing, which is provided with eight equally spaced steam ports so arranged that diametrically opposite ports are connected together in pairs. The result is that the pressure on the valve due to the steam or exhaust pressure in each pair of ports is perfectly balanced.
Three adjoining ports in the valve housing are continued through the housing, which is provided at that point with a flat surface that permits the valve to be placed against the ordinary valve seat of a D-slide valve engine, the three ports registering with the steam passages to the ends of the cylinder and with the exhaust passage at the center of the seat. The valve is constructed with four equally spaced longitudinal recesses with four alternate bands. The valve is operated by rocking it a part of a turn in each direction from the center.
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
1866-05-22
ID Number
ER.308676
accession number
89797
catalog number
308676
patent number
54,959

Oil-Wick Miner’s Lamp Patent Model

This oil-wick lamp is a patent model constructed by W. G. Dowd of Scranton, Pennsylvania that received patent number 90,434, on May 25, 1869. The patent filing is for the wick raiser on this lamp seen on the outside of the spout.
Description (Brief)
This oil-wick lamp is a patent model constructed by W. G. Dowd of Scranton, Pennsylvania that received patent number 90,434, on May 25, 1869. The patent filing is for the wick raiser on this lamp seen on the outside of the spout. Dowd claimed as his invention “a wire bent over the outer edge of the wicktube with its outer portion sliding in the guide, and its inner portion bent to form an eye to which are hung the fork,” so as to raise the wick by the sliding of the wire.
Location
Currently not on view
patent date
1869-05-25
patentee
Dowd, W. G.
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-9744
accession number
88881
catalog number
MHI-MN-9744
patent number
090434

Miner’s Safety Lamp Patent Model

This safety lamp is a patent model constructed by Joseph Defossez of Paris, France that received patent number 36,341 on September 2, 1862.
Description (Brief)
This safety lamp is a patent model constructed by Joseph Defossez of Paris, France that received patent number 36,341 on September 2, 1862. In his patent filing, Defossez claimed as his invention “the pneumatic locking device in combination with the oil reservoir, top plate, and chimney” constructed to avoid the risk of mining explosions.
Location
Currently not on view
patent date
09-02-1862
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-9741
catalog number
MHI-MN-9741
accession number
088881
patent number
036341

Friedman Injector, Patent Model

This model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office with the application for the patent issued to Alexander Friedman, of Vienna, Austria, April 6, 1869, no.
Description
This model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office with the application for the patent issued to Alexander Friedman, of Vienna, Austria, April 6, 1869, no. 88620.
The model represents a steam injector designed for elevating or forcing water and reducing the shock produced by the sudden condensation of steam when brought into contact with the water.
The injector is of the usual form with the addition of a small auxiliary steam jet, or ejector, which serves to draw water into the mixing chamber before the main steam valve is opened. A safety cock is also provided, which permits a part of the water to escape as the pressure is being raised to the degree sufficient to overcome the resistance against which the injector is working.
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
1869
patent date
1869-04-06
inventor
Friedmann, Alexander
ID Number
ER.308679
accession number
89797
catalog number
308679
patent number
88,620

Sèvres porcelain sauceboat and stand

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1846
1864
ID Number
CE.P-117ab
catalog number
P-117ab
accession number
225282

Patent Model of a Machine for Cutting Paper Collars

This patent model demonstrates an invention for a machine for cutting paper collars and simultaneously indenting them with imitation stitches or printing them with ornamental devices; the invention was granted patent number 56679.J. F.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a machine for cutting paper collars and simultaneously indenting them with imitation stitches or printing them with ornamental devices; the invention was granted patent number 56679.
J. F. Tapley, a bookbinder and a prolific inventor, founded the bookbinding J. F. Tapley Company in 1850. The company survived until its merger in 1970.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1866
patent date
1866-07-24
maker
Tapley, Jesse F.
Tapley, George W.
ID Number
GA.24592
patent number
056679
accession number
1977.0968
catalog number
GA*24592

Shoemaker's Knife

Cornelius Hinds used this channel knife as a shoemaker in Templeton, Massachusetts during the mid-19th century. The knife is part of a large accession documenting the numerous tools necessary to make shoes by hand before the mechanization of the industry.
Description
Cornelius Hinds used this channel knife as a shoemaker in Templeton, Massachusetts during the mid-19th century. The knife is part of a large accession documenting the numerous tools necessary to make shoes by hand before the mechanization of the industry. The shoemaker used a variety of knives to cut the raw leather by hand and mold it into the necessary shapes to make a shoe.
date made
1840 - 1860
ID Number
AG.A.6312A
accession number
153037
catalog number
A006312A

William Mont Storm Engine, Patent Model

This model formed part of the application to the U.S. Patent Office for the patent issued to William Mont Storm on July 11, 1865, no.
Description
This model formed part of the application to the U.S. Patent Office for the patent issued to William Mont Storm on July 11, 1865, no. 48777.
This is a 3-cylinder engine of a radial type, designed to produce rotary motion with compactness and simplicity.
The engine consists of two horizontal, opposed, single-acting cylinders and one vertical double-acting cylinder. The pistons of the horizontal cylinders are extended and joined to form a slotted crosshead in which one crank of the crankshaft moves. The piston in the vertical cylinder has a much shorter stroke and the piston rod from it extends to a second cross head and crank. D-slide valves are operated by a very small crank at the end of the crankshaft, in a valve chest located at the center of the engine. The engine is reversible.
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
1865
patent date
1865-07-11
inventor
Storm, William Mont
ID Number
MC.309195
catalog number
309195
accession number
89797
patent number
48,777

Patent Model of a Platen Printing Press

This patent model demonstrates an invention for a platen press in which the platen had, in addition to the usual rocking motion, a straight-line approach that took it perfectly parallel to the type bed for the impression.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a platen press in which the platen had, in addition to the usual rocking motion, a straight-line approach that took it perfectly parallel to the type bed for the impression. The invention was granted patent number 32130.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1861
patent date
1861-04-23
maker
Gordon, George Phineas
ID Number
GA.22837
accession number
249602
patent number
032130
catalog number
GA*22837

Carpenter's Combination Tool, Patent Model

This combination bevel and try-square tool served as a model for patent application number 70,547 submitted by John Graham of Ludlow, Vermont November 5th, 1867.
Description
This combination bevel and try-square tool served as a model for patent application number 70,547 submitted by John Graham of Ludlow, Vermont November 5th, 1867. The tool combines several carpentry tools including a bevel, marker, gauge, try-square, and level (what Graham describes as an “indicator”). When the square was placed upon a surface, the indicator would point vertically to 12 o’clock if the surface was level, varying to the left or right if not. The indicator was Graham’s main claim to invention in his patent, but he additionally claimed “the combination of one or more supplemental movable or adjustable squares, with a try-square.” This claim in the patent essentially made Graham’s invention an early multi-tool, a carpenter’s Swiss-army knife of bevels, levels, and squares.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1867
maker
Graham, John
ID Number
MC.210834.01
accession number
210834
patent number
70,547
catalog number
210834.01

The Trusty Servant jug

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1860s
ID Number
CE.P-1098B
catalog number
P-1098B
accession number
225282

Patent Model of a Platen Printing Press

This patent model demonstrates an invention for nippers for holding the paper on a platen jobbing press and then delivering it after printing; the invention was granted patent number 29554.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for nippers for holding the paper on a platen jobbing press and then delivering it after printing; the invention was granted patent number 29554. Charles Wells and Henry Barth were owners of the Cincinnati Type Foundry, the company to which this patent was assigned. The patent represents improvements to the CTF Wells Jobber. Henry Barth was later famous for the Barth Type Caster.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1860
patent date
1860-08-07
maker
Wells, Charles
Barth, Henry
ID Number
GA.22841
accession number
249602
patent number
029554
catalog number
22841
GA*22841

Patent Model of a Platen Printing Press

This patent model demonstrates an invention for a platen printing press which was granted patent number 87185. The patent covered various improvements on the inventor's earlier Universal press, a popular platen jobber in which the platen had a parallel approach to the bed.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a platen printing press which was granted patent number 87185. The patent covered various improvements on the inventor's earlier Universal press, a popular platen jobber in which the platen had a parallel approach to the bed. Merritt Gaily (born 1838) was apprenticed to a printer at 11, and he built a cylinder and a platen press while in his teens. In 1869 he set up a factory to build his new Universal press.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1869
patent date
1869-11-23
maker
Gally, Merritt
ID Number
GA.89797.097185
patent number
097185
accession number
89797
catalog number
GA*89797.097185

Patent model for nickel-faced type

This patent model demonstrates an invention for electroplating printers' type, electrotype plates, or stereotype plates with nickel; the invention was granted patent number 95053.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for electroplating printers' type, electrotype plates, or stereotype plates with nickel; the invention was granted patent number 95053. The patent improved on a patent for nickel plating of type taken out earlier in 1869 by Isaac Adams, Jr.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1869
patent date
1869-09-21
patentee
Smith, Luther L.
ID Number
GA.89797.095053
patent number
095053
accession number
089797
catalog number
GA*89797.095053

Meissen porcelain plate

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
Nineteenth century
late nineteenth century
1860s
maker
Meissen Manufactory
ID Number
CE.P-1046
catalog number
P-1046
accession number
225282

Patent Model of a Lithographic Printing Press

This patent model demonstrates an invention for improvements to the inking and printing mechanisms on a scraper machine; the invention was granted patent number 41862. The patent related to the press patented by George Reynolds in 1863.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for improvements to the inking and printing mechanisms on a scraper machine; the invention was granted patent number 41862. The patent related to the press patented by George Reynolds in 1863.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1864
patent date
1864-03-08
maker
Reynolds, Edwin
ID Number
GA.89797.041862
accession number
089797
catalog number
GA*89797.41862

Match Safe

Souvenir metal match safe with hinged lid from Gettysburg, Pa. A wrap-around celluloid label shows a color image of the High Water Mark Monument on one side, and the house where Jennie Wade was shot, on the reverse.
Description (Brief)
Souvenir metal match safe with hinged lid from Gettysburg, Pa. A wrap-around celluloid label shows a color image of the High Water Mark Monument on one side, and the house where Jennie Wade was shot, on the reverse. Jennie Wade was the only civilian killed during the Battle of Gettysburg.
Description
Match safes were designed to hold friction matches. This one, made of metal covered with celluloid, has a photograph of the High Water Mark Monument in Gettysburg one side, and the Jennie Wade house on the other. High water here refers to the deepest penetration of Confederate troops into the Union Line. Jeannie Wade was a civilian shot at the Battle of Gettysburg.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1908
ID Number
2006.0098.0996
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0996

Patent Model for a Hand Stamp

This patent model demonstrates an invention for a hand stamp which was granted patent number 34166.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a hand stamp which was granted patent number 34166. The patent details a percussion stamp for marking the backs of railroad tickets with the ticket remaining face up, and for perforating tickets printed on strips of paper.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1862
patent date
1862-01-14
maker
Shaffer, John
Spencer, Edward
ID Number
GA.89797.034166
patent number
034166
accession number
089797
catalog number
GA*89797.034166

Babcock and Wilcox Valve Gear, Patent Model

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

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