The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts manufactured the Weeden model number 14 from the 1890s until the 1940s. The toy consists of a brass boiler with safety valve, whistle, and chimney stack (that was not original to the engine). The horizontal slide valve engine has an ornamental flyball governor and powers an iron flywheel. The boiler and engine is attached to a six-legged cast iron frame that is painted green. The side of the boiler has bears the Weeden crest logo that reads “W MFG. CO.” While this item is similar to object MC*328959 and is the same model, this engine has concave boiler ends and green iron base, pointing to an earlier manufacturing date. The later stack replaced an early style lever safety valve and there is no sight glass.
The Weeden Manufacturing Company was founded in New Bedford, Massachusetts by William M. Weeden in the early 1880s, originally producing a variety of tinplate household items. In 1884 it introduced the Weeden No. 1 Steam engine as “a new and great premium for boys” who were subscribers to the Youth’s Companion magazine. Weeden made over a hundred different models of toy steam engines until the company ceased operations in 1952.
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