Some engine clubs very kindly send copies of their own
newsletters to the Stemgas office so that we can keep up with their
news. One such newsletter is that of the Connecticut Antique
Machinery Association, a relatively new organization formed in
1983. Thanks to Bob Hungerford, club president, we were able to
compile the following short history of the club from back issues of
newsletters and club photo albums. We’ll gladly do such
articles on other clubs as well, since each club’s unique
events, exhibits, and individuals make interesting reading.
In October 1983, the first Connecticut Antique Machinery
newsletter provided some background on the then pending formation
of the association. The following goals had been established.
Establishment of a permanent antique engine park for members to
use and for the public to visit.
Semi-annual engine shows.
Preservation of antique machinery.
Encouragement of research, training, and education regarding
antique machinery.
To receive donations of antique machinery.
To receive permanent loans of antique machinery.
The original officers were: Robert Hungerford, president, Dudley
Die-bold, vice president, John Stauffer, treasurer, and Vincent
Reynolds, secretary. Serving as directors were Fred Dahl, Wesley
Schultz, and Walter Pritchard.
Bob Hungerford, Dick Greene, John Stauffer, Bob Current, Fred
Dahl, Frank Current, and Phil Mazzucco gather at one of the early
ground clearing sessions in the fall of 1984,
The first project of the new group was the acquisition of a
10-20 McCormick-Deering tractor donated by Jean Novacco.
By February of 1984, the club was well on the way to acquiring
land for its permanent museum, and the one item in its collection,
the 10-20, was joined by other pieces including early threshers,
gas engines, mowing machines, a seed drill, and fanning mill. By
September of that year, final lease arrangements were announced for
a museum site in Kent. A long-term renewable lease of 8.5 acres had
been negotiated with the state, with a 4.5 acre piece to be added
later.
The club’s wooded land is located adjacent to the
Sloane-Stanley Museum, operated by the Connecticut Historical
Commission. The Sloane-Stanley Museum is a collection of old iron
tools and early horse-drawn equipment. The name of the museum comes
from its benefactors: The late noted painter and author Eric
Sloane, who donated his extensive collection of tools to the state
in 1969, and the Stanley works, which donated the land. A common
entry gate is shared by the state’s museum and the engine club,
and both are bordered by the Housatonic River.
Also announced in 1984 was the donation of a Greene mill engine
from the Tiffany and Pickett Company of Winsted, Connecticut.
This engine was installed in the mill in 1904 and powered the
mill for approximately 50 years. Mr. Tiffany, an MIT graduate,
chose this engine and supervised its installation in the mill. He
was quite proud of the engine and had it kept in immaculate
condition. Along with the engine, we have received many spare
parts. This fall we plan to move the engine to our grounds in Kent.
First though, we will document the engine in the mill, with photos,
measurements and drawings.
The engine was painted a light chocolate color and has black and
gold striping, along with many polished pieces.
Transportation of the mill engine begins in Winsted with the
loading of the cylinder onto Dudley Diebold’s truck,
There is the possibility this engine was built in Bridgeport, CT
by the Pacific Iron Works, just south of Arctic Street. This
company was issued a license by Noble T. Greene to manufacture
Greene engines at their facility in Bridgeport.
The next few lines offer a brief history of the development of
the Corliss steam engine and the modifications by Noble T.
Greene.
1848 First Corliss Engine
1849 10 March, First Corliss Valve Patent
1850 Second Corliss Valve Patent
1852 Third Corliss Valve Patent
1858 Fourth Corliss Valve (not patented, nor often
used by him, but used on Harris-Corliss valve gear of 1867)
1859 Fifth Type, but called the Corliss Valve Gear of
1867
1875 Sixth type was applied to all engines after
1875
—- Seventh was basically a modification
of the Sixth Type
1985 brought additional growth to the young club. Numerous work
was being negotiated. Meanwhile, a smaller mill engine was being
sought.
An important committee was formed to develop a master plan of
the site so that the planning of permanent buildings could begin.
Fund raising appeals were successful in helping with start up and
acquisition days drew members to the museum site to clear the
field, remove and bury stumps, burn brush and plant grass.
Over the winter the engine from Tiffany and Pickett mill was
dismantled and removed, then placed in storage. Two 1936 Ford
trucks were donated, and the acquisition of a 1926
Buffalo-Springfield road-roller costs, the expenses for the 1984-85
fiscal year were just under $2100.00. A Fall Festival was planned
for late September at the club’s grounds.
By the end of 1985, the club had purchased the yard office of
the Taylor Lumber Company in New Mil-ford, and moved it to the club
grounds, where it was mounted on skids and painted. The building
will serve as a tool shed/site office until permanent buildings can
be considered.
A well was put in with the help of member Bob Pitcher, electric
service was installed at the site by Richie La Russo, and land fill
was added to some low areas. Many stumps were pulled by Phil
Mazzucco who, along with Bob Pitcher, donated services of their
tractors and backhoes and who put in many hours on them.
On Sunday, September 29, 1985, the first show was held at the
site, and drew over 1500 spectators. ‘Operational exhibits
included: threshing of oats on the 1880’s barn thresher given
to the museum by the Weiland family of Clinton Corners, NY, and
powered by Mike Nott’s 1914 4 HP Titan International Harvester
engine. Roxbury Historical Society was represented with their wood
planer and many a board was put thru the machine during the day.
Power for the planer came from Loye Mason’s John Deere AR
tractor. Dudley Diebold’s 10-20 McCormick-Deering was belted to
the shingle mill and later was replaced with his John Deere D.
Robert and Bob Current were busy sawing wood with their cordwood
saw and supplied Sam Smith’s wood splitter with many bolts of
wood. Ollie Olsen made apple cider with his early cider press. As a
Beckwith brought over an operational blacksmith forge and tools and
was busy making cowbells during the day. We had 8 craftspeople
demonstrating and selling their wares and the Housatonic Valley
Association brought in their display booth.’
In addition, the club was working to acquire two buildings which
formed the Cream Hill Agricultural School in Cornwall, Connecticut,
the first agricultural school in the United States.
In February 1986, the club’s board voted to engage the land
planning services of the Housatonic Valley Association to help
develop the master site plan.
Construction priorities were established, and the first building
to be erected will be ‘Industrial Hall’ to house the
Tiffany and Pickett steam engine. This building will have a
temporary end wall which will be moved out as exhibits expand and
will incorporate restrooms.
Meanwhile, funding was being pursued to move the Cream Hill
buildings and a storage shed was being planned. Later exhibits to
be added included a sawmill, farm power house, blacksmith shop,
hand tool exhibit, railroad stop, quarry exhibit, cider mill, sugar
house, water tower and windmill, along with other miscellaneous
barns and sheds.
In addition, the Housatonic Railroad planned to extend their
summer excursion service to the museum site, beginning this
summer.
Also, the club worked with the Connecticut Department of Public
Safety to rewrite the state boiler code to include the operation of
antique steam boilers. The result was state senate bill #24, which
included amendments to the state boiler code.
Another acquisition still in the works at press time is a
windmill in the New Milford area.
Half of the fly wheel outside the old mill building, ready to be
taken to its new home. It was winched out the window to the left
with barely enough clearance.
Mike Nott, Dick Greene, Fred Dahl, John Stauffer, and Kevin
Shail pose with a 7 HP Sattley gas engine donated by Kevin.
The first Connecticut Antique Machinery Association show in
September, 1985, drew 100 exhibitors and 1500 visitors. Some of the
steam equipment an Olmstead engine and duplex pump.
