Peerless Portable Traction Engine, circa 1895

01

Artifact Overview

Until reliable internal combustion engines became available, farmers depended on portable steam engines. They were efficient and affordable, and when mounted on wheels or skids, horses could pull them from farm to farm. The small engines powered agricultural machinery like grain threshers, sawmills, or corn shellers.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

circa 1895

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

86.18.112

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)
Linen (Material)

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 7.438 in
Width: 8.813 in

Peerless Portable Traction Engine, circa 1895