Article ID: CBB163746950

Reinventing the Waterwheel: Rediscovering the Knowledge of a Mid-Nineteenth Century Millwright in New England (2010)

unapi

In the basement of the American Precision Museum in Windsor, Vermont are the remains of the earliest waterpower system built for the historic Robbins & Lawrence Armory, a bustling center of precision machine tool design and manufacturing innovation in the mid-nineteenth century that attracted industrial onlookers from as far away as Great Britain. Before correcting a serious moisture problem in the basement, a HAER team documented what survived of the 1846 water power design in this rifle and machine tool factory. Since the original breast wheel was no longer there, and no record of its design remained, understanding the system's construction required research into period installations and reconstructions, as well as a thorough examination of in situ millwork. These efforts yielded measured and conjectural drawings, as well as archival photographs of the landmark factory. The project provides insight into the engineering mind of a mid nineteenth century New England millwright.

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Authors & Contributors
Gordon, Robert B.
Theodore Penn
John S. Wilson
Michael S. Raber
Roberta Wingerson
Robert L. Johnson
Concepts
Industrial archaeology
Water power
Water wheels
Sawmills
Dams
Comparison
Time Periods
19th century
20th century
Medieval
Ancient
Places
United States
New England (U.S.)
Canada
Massachusetts (U.S.)
Springfield Armory, Springfield, MA
Haciena Buena Vista
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