Research

INTRODUCTION. Researching old machines is part of the fun. For me, the research has two dimensions. First is the machine itself. When was it made? What patents were utilized? Where did it fit into the "state of the art" of its day? Why was it or wasn't it successful? Was it designed to take advantage of a related new technology (motor drive, v-belts, roller chain, high speed steel, ...). What market forces drove its development?

The second dimension is machine-specific and arises from my volunteer work at Tuckahoe Steam & Gas Assoc. . Most of the Tuckahoe machines were used locally, either on the Eastern Shore, or close by. So we research the history of the specific machine. For example, we know from word-of-mouth, confirmed by an old inventory, that one of Tuckahoe's large lathes came from a marine engine builder from Oxford, MD.

March, 2008 addition: the 1916 (7th) edition of the Carey Machinery Co. catalog. Carey was the major "industrial supply" distributor in Baltimore for many years. The catalog is 1200 pages. For a contemporary equivalent, think McMaster-Carr combined with a major machine tool vendor.