Author Topic: American Precision Museum Model Engineering Show (Read 16415 times)

sshire · « **on:** August 22, 2013, 12:21:05 PM »

I've been threatening to visit the American Precision Museum in Windsor, Vermont. They are having their 14th Annual Model Engineering Show on Saturday, Oct. 12.
I'm going to pack up some engines and make the drive. Anyone interested?
They're having a few issues with the link to the show registration page, but they assure me it will be up next week.
http://www.americanprecision.org/

Best
Stan

b.lindsey · « **Reply #1 on:** August 22, 2013, 12:31:20 PM »

Wish I could...it looks like a great show and location. Hope you will take some pictures while there Stan. Unfortunately that is the same weekend as our local antique engine festival here in NC.

Bill

RonGinger · « **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2013, 12:55:56 PM »

I have gone to the show on many years, but last year they changed to the Columbus Day weekend, instead of the last weekend in Oct. That weekend is prime 'leaf peeper' season and the area hotels go nuts- a room I used to get for $70 was over $130. everything was also booked weeks ahead. If you want to go book a room now. I have usually stayed up in White river Junction, about 15 miles north. There are several motels there.

It is also a very small show. The last couple year have had only 1 or 2 vendors, and just a few tables of exhibits.

However, the museum is worth a visit, and doing it the weekend of the show adds a bit. They hold a reception for the exhibitors on Friday night, with wine and cheese and an open time in the museum. On some years they take tours up into the storage areas which is really interesting.

sshire · « **Reply #3 on:** August 22, 2013, 02:18:14 PM »

Pictures will be a definite. Bridgeport #1 among other goodies.

b.lindsey · « **Reply #4 on:** August 22, 2013, 03:11:48 PM »

Yeah, I saw that on the web page. Can't tell for sure but the table looks as if it has holes (threaded perhaps) for hold down rather than tee slots...could just be the picture though. Other than that they have changed surprisingly little over the years.

Bill

sshire · « **Reply #5 on:** September 14, 2013, 09:13:15 PM »

Just a reminder for anyone planning on going. The online registration link is on this page. Pre Oct 1 exhibitor fee is $10. After that, $12.
Just PayPal'd my 10 bucks.

http://www.americanprecision.org/2012-01-18-16-22-51/model-engineering-show

steamer · « **Reply #6 on:** October 04, 2013, 09:09:33 PM »

I'll be there Stan....I'm not sure about the rest of the clan at the moment. But...

See you there

Dave

Tennessee Whiskey · « **Reply #7 on:** October 04, 2013, 09:22:18 PM »

Stan, don't be letting Dave have all our 12 year old now ya heah. You boys have fun and don't get into any trouble. It's to far to come to be bailing you boys out

I'm sooooooooooooooooo jealous. There better be a whole lotta piccy evidence.

Whiskey

sshire · « **Reply #8 on:** October 04, 2013, 09:33:29 PM »

12 year old? I use that to rinse out the glasses before I pour in the good stuff. Look for pics on Sunday.

sshire · « **Reply #9 on:** October 09, 2013, 09:55:16 PM »

Road Trip!!

I'm off to the model engineering show at the American Precision Museum in Windsor, Vermont. Should be meeting up with Steamer (Dave) and Vascon (Chris).

Spent some time getting the engines ready. The Pumping Engine is already packed. This is the last lot, getting a lube and polish.

Reading material came yesterday from a used bookseller in the UK. Royal Mail seemed to find the colonies without issue.

The car is packed and gassed up. Ready for a 9am departure

First stop will be Bridgeport, Connecticut for lunch and a look at the corner of Capitol Ave and Lindley Street where my Bridgeport mill was built nearly 45 years ago. I'll post pix from there.

steamer · « **Reply #10 on:** October 10, 2013, 12:13:03 AM »

Looking forward to seeing you Stan!....I've got to figure out what I'm bringing myself....probably the engines I'm working on and my boat engine.

Got work to do!

Dave

Dave Otto · « **Reply #11 on:** October 10, 2013, 01:01:48 AM »

Have a good trip guys; and try to take more pictures than I did at the GEARS show.

Dave

Don1966 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 10, 2013, 02:51:32 AM »

Man! I am missing another show, you all have fun for me and drink a couple for me also. Be safe and watch that traffic.

Don

steamer · « **Reply #13 on:** October 10, 2013, 03:00:13 AM »

Quote from: Don1966 on October 10, 2013, 02:51:32 AM

Man! I am missing another show, you all have fun for me and drink a couple for me also. Be safe and watch that traffic.

Don

I'll be thinking of you buddy!

I'll take pictures!

Dave

sshire · « **Reply #14 on:** October 10, 2013, 11:28:55 PM »

Road Trip 2

Two and a half hours after leaving, I stopped for lunch in Bridgeport, CT.
As promised, I made a stop at the factory where my BP was built and.....
OH-NO!! It's a vacant lot. Sad.

After the shock wore off, I had lunch and continued on.

This must be Vermont. As far as I can see, the whole state seems to be one big forest.

Bigger post tomorrow. Show setup and the long-awaited visit to the American Precision Museum. Stay tuned for pix and a post.

swilliams · « **Reply #15 on:** October 11, 2013, 05:01:45 AM »

Cool Stan

You should have done an excavation in the vacant block. Never know what you might find

Steve

steamer · « **Reply #16 on:** October 11, 2013, 11:27:57 AM »

Quote from: swilliams on October 11, 2013, 05:01:45 AM

Cool Stan

You should have done an excavation in the vacant block. Never know what you might find

Steve

YUP....I would a done it!

Maryak · « **Reply #17 on:** October 11, 2013, 11:39:42 AM »

Hi Stan,

Sad photo another iconic factory turned to dust.

The road could do with a facelift as well. Or is that all the old castings edging their way to daylight.

Have a safe trip, a great weekend, (don't get Dave too drunk); and remember Photos please.

Best Regards
Bob

steamer · « **Reply #18 on:** October 11, 2013, 11:41:28 AM »

YUP

Bridgeport CT is the former home of Bridgeport and still the home of Moore Tool......neither is in a good neighborhood.

Those days are looooong gone

Dave

sshire · « **Reply #19 on:** October 11, 2013, 09:07:46 PM »

Road Trip - 3

I setup my engines early. Next, to the museum.
Amazing. Not large but the collection is excellent.

It's in this factory building

For some reason, I was magnetically attracted to this.

Nice serial number

And a few details.

Some of the other machines

The original factory was water-wheel powered and, apparently, *it wasn't a union shop or they had a toilet paper shortage.

The museum is having a reception for exhibitors tonight along with a "behind the scenes" tour. Apparently they have much more machinery in storage and in various stages of restoration that we're going to see.

Show tomorrow. Post to follow.

Tennessee Whiskey · « **Reply #20 on:** October 11, 2013, 09:21:02 PM »

Great so far Stan. Same time, same channel, I'm watching. Told Dave to bring you a metal detector to use on the trip back thru Bridgeport. I bet a magnet would stick to that piece of dirt. Y'all have fun.

Whiskey,

Mosey · « **Reply #21 on:** October 11, 2013, 10:50:01 PM »

Stan,
Good going.
You are to make the Starrett tour on your way home, and Steamer will put you up I'm sure.

Mosey

Don1966 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 12, 2013, 12:20:34 AM »

Wow! Stan it's just like being there, awesome photos. Love it so far and will be waiting for more this weekend.

Don

ttrikalin · « **Reply #23 on:** October 12, 2013, 12:27:36 AM »

I am jealous... I have to work this w/e otherwise it would be a trip to Vermont! I am just a few hours away...

Tom in MA, who will spend his w/e in RI...

steamer · « **Reply #24 on:** October 12, 2013, 12:28:59 AM »

Sorry to hear Tom....I think I'll bring some scraping stuff too.....

Dave

swilliams · « **Reply #25 on:** October 12, 2013, 12:43:14 AM »

Loving the photos Stan, fantastic thread

Steve

sshire · « **Reply #26 on:** October 12, 2013, 03:08:35 AM »

Road Trip - 4

The museum had a very nice reception for exhibitors: Vermont chesses, wine and local craft beers. In addition, we got the tour of the "attic"

The first stop was the library where they have nearly every issue of "American Machinist" which began publishing shortly after the American Civil War.

Then, perhaps one of the most fascinating collections of rare machinery and tools I've ever seen. They have about 100 machines on display and rotate others in and out. The total collection numbers over 4,000 pieces including very early examples of devices with interchangeable parts: typewriters, sewing machines and machinery. Lots of machinery. When it was built not just for function, but also for beauty.

The watt-hour meter from Thomas Edison's lab.

A Norden bombsight from WW2

An indexing engraver to produce machinist's scales.

I didn't get a shot of the logarithmic indexing engraver used by Keuffel and Esser to manufacture slide rules. They also have a horizontal rotary indexing engraver used in the manufacture of surveyor's transits.

Of particular interest is the collection of miniature tools by
John Aschauer. This steam plant was started when he was an apprentice at age 14 and completed 4 years later. Everything runs.

And one for Brian

They have a 155 pound bench micrometer made by Brown and Sharpe in 1878 to measure their gauge blocks. It's accurate to 1/100,000"

Much of this and more is on the website. Worth a look.

http://www.americanprecision.org/

ths · « **Reply #27 on:** October 12, 2013, 08:37:42 AM »

A great museum there Stan, and what a beautifully worded sign. I wonder if they had 'closet inspectors'?

Hugh.

steamer · « **Reply #28 on:** October 12, 2013, 11:55:29 AM »

Stan I've got some personal things that have come up that I need to address at home, so unfortunately I won't be able to attend today.

Sorry man. Next time.

Dave

sshire · « **Reply #29 on:** October 12, 2013, 12:31:22 PM »

Dave
Home stuff always comes first. Sorry we couldn't get together.
Cabin Fever?

steamer · « **Reply #30 on:** October 12, 2013, 01:57:40 PM »

I might do that Stan...never been there...I should go.

Dave

Tennessee Whiskey · « **Reply #31 on:** October 12, 2013, 05:17:14 PM »

I think you should. Would be a great trip for you and William. We might could even walk a nearby battlefield together, the blue and gray. Hey, I don't hold grudges forever

Whiskey

steamer · « **Reply #32 on:** October 12, 2013, 08:48:08 PM »

I would be honored to walk that with you. but maybe not in the winter...hey?

Dave

sshire · « **Reply #33 on:** October 12, 2013, 10:00:18 PM »

Cabin Fever is in April. Hardly the winter.
Gettysburg is only 40 minutes from Cabin Fever in York, PA and I'm a pretty fair battlefield guide and purveyor of useless (and some interesting) facts about the battle.
Let's do it.

sshire · « **Reply #34 on:** October 12, 2013, 10:37:01 PM »

Road Trip -5

Machine Porn

The show was very well attended for a small show. I'm guessing about 20 exhibitors, one of my favorite vendors (New England Brass and Tool) and a bake sale from the local high school. Exceptional brownies!!

I'm just going to dump all of the machine porn on you.

Finally had a face-to-face with Chris (Vascon2196) from HMEM . It's great putting a face to a name.

A fascinating talk by Bill McCarthy about his, absolutely perfect, replicas of Civil War Merrill Carbines. The tooling that he's made and the castings are first-rate.

Bill's rifle then the original

That's all. Going out to dinner. Single malt and a large NY Strip.
Great trip!

steamer · « **Reply #35 on:** October 12, 2013, 10:50:21 PM »

Hey Stan

Check your email when you get the chance....Interesting read.

Dave

metalmad · « **Reply #36 on:** October 13, 2013, 12:31:46 AM »

There is some mind boggling stuff there Stan, Amazing !
Love the last Pic though

Pete

smfr · « **Reply #37 on:** October 13, 2013, 12:40:16 AM »

Those triple expansion engines are fantastic. And the corliss!

Simon

Dave Otto · « **Reply #38 on:** October 13, 2013, 01:00:41 AM »

Great Pictures Stan!

Thanks for sharing.

Dave

Don1966 · « **Reply #39 on:** October 13, 2013, 01:03:50 AM »

Love the photos Stan. Like Simon I particularly like the triple expansion engines. What date is Cabin Fever coming up?

Don

sshire · « **Reply #40 on:** October 13, 2013, 01:27:38 AM »

Cabin Fever 2014
Setup April 11
Show April 12-13

b.lindsey · « **Reply #41 on:** October 13, 2013, 02:45:07 AM »

Thanks for all the pictures Stan...looks like an amazing show!! I like that last picture too.

Bill

jwcnc1911 · « **Reply #42 on:** October 13, 2013, 04:00:32 AM »

Quote from: b.lindsey on October 13, 2013, 02:45:07 AM

Thanks for all the pictures Stan...looks like an amazing show!! I like that last picture too.

Bill

Yeah, that old machine is still capable of some great work, bet that Bridgeport will still get it too!

I'm very jealous right now, too far for me to go to these. Makes me want to start a show down here in the SEC.

smfr · « **Reply #43 on:** October 20, 2013, 05:50:00 PM »

reddrryder on YouTube recently uploaded a long movie from the show, with many of these engines running:

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMnzxQ75H20" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMnzxQ75H20</a>.

Simon

Dave Otto · « **Reply #44 on:** October 20, 2013, 06:45:01 PM »

Thanks for the link Simon!

I enjoyed being able to see a great overview of the show.

Dave

steamer · « **Reply #45 on:** October 20, 2013, 07:22:54 PM »

At 16:47 , my friend Greg Young's model of Sabino's engine is on display. It's modeled as a section view, but what isn't show, is that the sections missing bolt on, and it runs!

He's was a fellow volunteer engineer on Sabino.

Dave

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Author Topic: American Precision Museum Model Engineering Show (Read 16415 times)