Weeden No. 23 Hot-Air Engine Toy
Weeden No. 23 Hot-Air Engine Toy
Usage conditions apply
- Description (Brief)
- The Weeden Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts produced this number 23 “hot air” engine from the 1890s until 1916. The engine is not a steam engine, as no water is heated. Instead the firebox heats air which expands and moves a piston to create useful mechanical work. The toy consists of a vertical firebox, with a nickel-plated horizontal engine that drives a 2.25-inch flywheel all mounted on a cast iron base.
- 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.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- engine, hot air
- engine, hot air, toy
- date made
- ca 1900
- Measurements
- overall - from catalog card: 8 in x 4 in; x 20.32 cm x 10.16 cm
- flywheel - from catalog card: 2 1/4 in; x 5.715 cm
- overall: 7 1/8 in x 8 1/8 in x 4 in; 18.0975 cm x 20.6375 cm x 10.16 cm
- ID Number
- MC.329053
- catalog number
- 329053
- accession number
- 278175
- Credit Line
- Bequest of the Estate of Greville I. Bathe
- See more items in
- Work and Industry: Mechanical and Civil Engineering
- Engineering Steam Toys and Models
- Engineering, Building, and Architecture
- Family & Social Life
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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