Westinghouse Portable Steam Engine No. 345, Used by Henry Ford

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Artifact Overview

Portable steam engines like this powered grain threshers, sawmills, or corn shellers. Horses pulled them from farm to farm. In 1882, 19-year-old Henry Ford was able to make this engine run well when an older man could not; his first accomplishment in the adult world. Thirty years later Ford tracked down the engine, bought it, and returned it to operating condition.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Steam engine (Engine)

Date Made

circa 1881

Location

at Henry Ford Museum in Agriculture

Object ID

13.1.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Brass (Alloy)
Metal

Dimensions

Height: 120 in
Width: 77 in
Length: 119 in
Diameter: 46 in
Wheelbase: 67.25 in
Horsepower: 10 hp (7.46 kW)

Inscriptions

Plate on right side in front of boiler marked: PATENTED/AUG 12 1879/SEPT 27 1881/NO. 345. Plate on rear of boiler marked: G.WESTINGHOUSE & CO,/SCHENECTADY,/N0 N.Y. 345. Firebox door marked: G.W. & CO. 10 H.P.