What is this early steam engine gadget? (engraved on pre-Civil War Seated half)
lordmarcovan
Posts: 43,673 ✭✭✭✭✭
It was so intriguing and unusual, I scooped it up. The host coin is a No Motto Seated Liberty half dollar from the New Orleans mint, so pre-1861. The engraving was done on the obverse of the host coin. The name is "A. F. Barnes".
8
Comments
Appears to be a stationary steam engine.Searched around for A.F Barnes-Closest thing I came to was inventor of the fitted best sheet.It does seem he holds a number of patents from the Golden Age.
Yeah, I couldn't pin him down, either, though I've only just done a quickie search so far.
They are beautiful machines.I had the chance to see one run at the Henry Ford museum many years ago.They can be quite ornate so the fact that it has the filigree on the the base is cool.Really nice find!
From the Wikipedia page:
Given the period, and the New Orleans mintmark on the (pre-1861) host coin, I'm thinking Southern ... which makes me think cotton mill ...
Could be a steam engine for a cotton mill. We have a couple of shows a year in the area where people bring out their old steam powered stuff and demo it. It hardly ever explodes.
Probably unrelated but Lance Barnes had a working steam engine show in Belgrade MT for 35 years.
END OF AN ERA: This year’s steam show Barnes’ last
By Michael Tucker, staff writer Aug 22, 2008 (0)
Like the machinery to be on display, this weekend will be the end of an era.
After 35 years of putting on the Barnes Steam and Power Show, Lance Barnes will pull the plug.
“We’re kind of going to give up,” he said Thursday. “It’s too much work.”
http://www.belgrade-news.com/news/end-of-an-era-this-year-s-steam-show-barnes/article_7211db3b-d781-5040-9a1c-4cc982317d79.html
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb, Ricko
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
This is a drawing of Franklin Peale's first engine for the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. [Details are in JNR issue #2 (Spring 2013, 135 pages) Benjamin Franklin Peale – Inventions and Innovations for the United States Mint, 1835 to 1852]
Those things are really neat! Steam is the second most powerful force (nuclear power is #1)
Pete
That's where the expression "Balls Out" came from. When this steam engine would start turning high RPM's the balls swing way out when they turn. Thus- Balls out
I didn't know what that expression meant for a long time.
Believe it or not I have restored a couple of old steam engines. I got paid to to it and it was a labor of love.
I do believe the one on your coin is a stationary piece. It would be used in factories back in the day to put other machinery into motion by way of long belts that can run more than just one piece of machinery. VERY COOL
For what it's worth, my first impression upon seeing your engraving was: "Lathe"
There appears to be a chuck at the left, and several tool rests along the length.
So, I took a shot and Googled, "Barnes Lathe", and got some interesting hits. But they seem to reference vintage tools made by a "W. F. & John Barnes", instead of "A. F. Barnes".
Might be worth poking around....
Interesting engraving... sure seems to be a steam engine.... Cheers, RickO
A lot of interesting historical info on steam engines posted above.
At first it reminded me of the time machine from the 1960 movie based on H. G. Wells.
Maybe a steam powered one.
.
.
"To Be Esteemed Be Useful" - 1792 Birch Cent --- "I personally think we developed language because of our deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
Nice.
About 20 minutes from where I used to live is a small town, Portersville, PA.
There is an exhibit every spring, 'The Spring Gas Up' where collectors bring their steam engines, thrashers, bailers, etc.
It is very friendly and open, always fun to talk to the exhibitor-owners.
A lot of them are SAD, they have no one interested in carrying the torch when they can no longer participate.
Also a lot of 'hit and miss' flywheel engines.
They have a HUGE one, the 'muffler' is a pipe that goes into and old well.
Swoosh, BOOM!
It shakes the earth around you!
@lordmarcovan
Just found this one, looks familiar.
atlasnumismatics.com/1044947/
These old machines were great. Fun stuff.
Wow! Neato! Thanks!
Love the picture of Rod Taylor and his machine. IIRC that time machine sold a few years back (seems to me, not that much money either). It was in a sad state of disrepair and needed some serious restoration. Man, I would have NEVER let it get to that state.
Would love to have seen that huge hit-miss engine.
I caught a steam show about 30 years ago in Gunns Corners, NY. It was just up the road from the Clayton, NY coin show (what I was doing in the first place, beside fishing), in the 1000 Islands. I picked up a couple of small models at that show. Both home built, and very well done. One steam and one a Sterling engine. They have since been sold, but they were quite cool. Probably made as much on them as I made at the coin show......
So cool, thanks for the info
@TommyType said: "For what it's worth, my first impression upon seeing your engraving was: "Lathe. There appears to be a chuck at the left, and several tool rests along the length."
I agree - steam run Lathe. The engine on the coin above has a cylinder, this has machine has a chuck!
Plot thickens. NO mint connection? Perhaps an employee?
Cool token, Rob!
My YouTube Channel