Screw Slotting Machine, circa 1850
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Artifact Overview
Rooted in a tension between human dexterity and dictated speed, this modest machine offers insight into both the possibilities and potential drudgery of volume production methods. While operation was simple (screw blanks, inserted by hand into the holes in the rotating drum, passed beneath spinning saw blades; slotted screws fell out into a waiting bin) it was also monotonously repetitive.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Screw-cutting machine
Date Made
circa 1850
Place of Creation
Location
at Henry Ford Museum in Made in America
Object ID
00.698.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Wood (Plant material)
Cast iron
Steel (Alloy)
Dimensions
Height: 37.5 in
Width: 32.625 in
Length: 22.75 in
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Related Content
SetAmerica's Industrial Revolution
- 24 Artifacts
Steam power initially spread in the United States via its adoption and adaptation in ships and boats. This early mill engine's layout and dimensions are firmly rooted in Mississippi riverboat practice, while its applied decorative detail and vibrant color scheme speak to the increasingly elevated status of steam technology as it found a firm footing in mills and factories.