Lathe, Used by the Wright Brothers, circa 1895

THF156316 / Lathe, Used by the Wright Brothers, circa 1895
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Artifact Overview

The Wright brothers' bicycle shop contained several large power tools primarily used for making and repairing bikes. Some were also used to build their early gliders and airplanes. The shop building did not have electricity, so the Putnam lathe, Crescent band saw and Barnes drill press were powered by overhead belts and shafts connected to a single-cylinder gas engine.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Lathe

Date Made

circa 1895

Location

at Greenfield Village in Wright Cycle Shop

Object ID

37.814.2

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Steel (Alloy)
Iron (Metal)
Leather

Color

Black (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 48.0 in
Width: 32.0 in
Length: 78.0 in

Inscriptions

Cast on Base: Putnam Machine Co. | Stamped on bed: 1588 | Cast on headstock: Putnam Machine Co. / Fitchburg, MASS. U.S.A.
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