Ernst Plank Toy Steam Engine

Ernst Plank Toy Steam Engine

Usage conditions apply
Downloads
Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Ernst Plank Company of Nuremburg, Germany during the early 20th century. There is a small metal plate on the toy’s wooden base that reads “Hercules,” possibly the model name of this engine. The toy has a pressed metal firebox below the boiler. The boiler powers a vertical slide valve engine shafted to a flywheel, with a flyball governor.
Ernst Plank founded his company in Nuremburg, Germany in 1866. The company was well known for manufacturing a variety of metal toys like steam locomotives, stationary steam engines, early photography equipment, and magic lanterns until its dissolution in 1935.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
toy, steam engine and boiler
steam engine and boiler, toy
date made
ca 1900
place made
Germany
Physical Description
white metal (overall material)
wood (base material)
Measurements
flywheel: 2 7/8 in; x 7.3025 cm
boiler: 7 in x 3 1/2 in x 3 1/2 in; 17.78 cm x 8.89 cm x 8.89 cm
base: 10 3/4 in x 4 3/4 in; x 27.305 cm x 12.065 cm
overall: 8 1/2 in x 10 5/8 in x 5 in; 21.59 cm x 26.9875 cm x 12.7 cm
ID Number
MC.329007
catalog number
329007
accession number
278175
Credit Line
Bequest of the Estate of Greville I. Bathe
See more items in
Work and Industry: Mechanical and Civil Engineering
Family & Social Life
Engineering, Building, and Architecture
Engineering Steam Toys and Models
Data Source
National Museum of American History
Nominate this object for photography.   

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.

Note: Comment submission is temporarily unavailable while we make improvements to the site. We apologize for the interruption. If you have a question relating to the museum's collections, please first check our Collections FAQ. If you require a personal response, please use our Contact page.