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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this token during the early 20th century. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens.
The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this token during the late 19th century. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens.
Obverse: Space for an engraving in the center. The legend reads: GERMANIA CLUB/Cts./BRENHAM
The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this token during the early 20th century. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens.
Obverse: Image of a distillery. The legend reads: A.V.
The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this token during the early 20th century. Scovill was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill is an important example of early American industrial manufacturing that adapted armory machines to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens.
The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this token during the late 19th century. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens.
The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this token during the early 20th century. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens.