Mammoth wood timbers support the bed of this metal turning lathe. European machines of the period were built entirely of cast iron, while American machines were built from a less costly combination of wood, cast iron, and steel. This lathe was made during the 1830s and would have been useful in turning large pieces such as carriage axles and piston rods for steam engines.
A blacksmith uses bellows on a forge to provide additional air to the fire, resulting in a higher rate of combustion, making the forge hotter. This bellows is made of wood and leather and was used in the recreation of the Augustus Alfred Machine Shop in the Engines of Change exhibit at the National Museum of American History.
This metalworking lathe was built in New Ipswich, New Hampshire in the 1820s. The lathe is remarkable because of its unusual gearing arrangement. In typical lathe construction the gearing is located near the lathe’s drive pulleys, this lathe’s gears are at floor level. Such a variation in gear placement suggests that the builder of this lathe was influenced by similarly designed textile machines of the period. The bed length on this lathe is 45.5 inches, and it has 10 inches of swing.
The Robbins and Lawrence Company of Windsor, Vermont built this metal-turning lathe in the 1850’s. The Robbins and Lawrence Armory and Machine shop was founded in 1846, and became a National Historic Landmark in 1966. The lathe bears a patent plate stamped with the name of Frederick W. Howe, the shop superintendent who was responsible for many of the company’s innovations in machine-tool design. A metal-turning lathe, such as this one, would be an important addition to any machine shop due to its ability to shape metal into a variety of cylindrical surfaces. The bed of the lathe has a length of 100 inches, with 16 inches of swing.
This type of vice takes its name from the leg-like extension that stretches from the jaw to the floor. A leg vice such as this one was employed in the shaping and finishing of metalwork by a blacksmith or machinist.
This type of vice takes its name from the leg-like extension that stretches from the jaw to the floor. A leg vice such as this one was employed in the shaping and finishing of metalwork by a blacksmith or machinist.
John H. Gage made this iron planer in his shop located in Nashua, New Hampshire. Gage’s shop is considered to be the first shop in the nation devoted to the manufacture of machinist's tools. On a planer the cutting tool stays stationary while the workpiece moves back and forth. This configuration allows for precise work on large jobs. The table’s bed length is 44 and 5/16 inches long and 11 and 7/16 inches wide. The table is driven by a 2 inch diameter screw of 1.25 inch pitch.
The F. & W. M. Faber stationary steam engine was built in Pittsburgh during the 1850’s. Stationary steam engines such as this one could be used to power multiple machines in a shop or factory.
Description
The F. & W. M. Faber stationary steam engine is a rare survivor of pre-1860 American steam power. With a horizontal cylinder and separate bases for the flywheel and engine, the Faber displays features from the dawn of steam usage inside American factories.
Although exceedingly rare today, this engine was offered as an "off-the-shelf" stock engine in 1850s Pittsburgh, where it was built. The engine features exceptional refinement in the degree of ornamentation on the flywheel and the flyball governor, evoking the novelty and wonder of early steam power.
The physical beauty of the Faber engine masks its relative energy inefficiency compared with engines of the period of more robust construction. In addition, records indicate this pretty engine performed the bulk of its actual service inside tanneries in Ohio and Kentucky, where the smells and wet hides and dank darkness would have belied the visions that inspired this engine's elegant design and fabrication.
The machinist Augustus Alfred constructed this press in his Connecticut shop around 1850. Like many Americans of the time, Alfred did a lot of different work. He was a part-time clock maker, part-time farmer, and part-time machinist. Alfred likely built this particular press to form lightweight watch parts and other metal pieces required for his work. This press has a hand-actuated 38 inch flywheel with four inch stroke, a slide guiding system, and was belt-driven at some point in its history.
This standing desk has a hinged top and a drawer. Both the top compartment and the drawer can be locked. Even 19th century machine shops required record keeping, such as order information, costs, and inventory.
This shaper was built by Ezra Gould in his Newark, New Jersey shop, the shop later became Gould and Eberhardt, a major builder of machine tools. This shaper was used to machine flat surfaces in metal. On a shaper the cutting tool moves and the workpiece stays stationary. Conversely, in a planer the workpiece moves and the cutting tool stays stationary. This design difference allows for precise work on small pieces. This shaper could plane 6 inches long and 14 inches wide.
Since early machine tools were not individually powered, many machine shops were run from a single source. The single power source would power the main line, and by connecting counter shafts to the main line with flat leather belts, and the belts to individual machines, shops provided power for multiple machines from a single source.