The Age of Steam was steaming along merrily when the famous
Centennial Exposition was held at Philadelphia in 1876.
Consequently, steam engines and machinery powered by steam drew
tremendous attention from the crowds.
Machinery Hall was a major attraction from the very first day,
when President U.S. Grant and the Emperor of Brazil started the
machinery hall operating. George H. Corliss ascended the engine
platform with them.
A description is given in The Centennial Exposition by J. S.
Ingram. He wrote: ‘The President having taken hold of the
valve-lever of one engine and the Emperor of that of the other,
both gave the turn simultaneously; steam was on – the great
walking-beams began to ascend and descend; the engine was in
motion; eight miles of shafting and hundreds of machines of all
descriptions were in operation, and the International Exposition of
1876 was at that instant thrown open to the world.’
New inventions and new products were a prominent feature of the
Centennial. The telephone, developed by Alexander Graham Bell, was
given its first big introduction to the public. America’s
industrial might was amply demonstrated. Other nations also shared
many of their latest products.
Among those products shown, were many which would have
interested readers of our publications. We present pictures from
Ingram’s book, and some of the wording of his descriptions.
In an article on the Perpetual Hay Press, Ingram wrote that in
prior years, ‘baling has always been done by placing the
material for a bale in a large box and then pressing it into a
bale, this forming a bale at a time, and necessarily so much time
was consumed that only large bales are practicable, although they
have always been found exceedingly disadvantageous.’
The illustration showed an early baler, the Perpetual Hay Press
of the P. K. Dederick Co. of Albany, New York. This worked on an
entirely new plan, ‘forming, as well as discharging the bale
without any assistance, except pitching the loose material into the
hopper; and the operation being continuous, a whole stack or mow of
hay can be baled without stopping either to tie or remove the
bales.’ The engraving showed the press driven by a small
portable steam engine, both mounted.
The Blake Crusher, for crushing and breaking of stones was
illustrated in the book as it would appear in actual use. Made by
the Blake Crusher Co. of New Haven, Connecticut, this was designed
for constructing roads, ballasting railroads and for mining
operations. It apparently was able to apply pressure of over 27,000
pounds.
Use of straw as a fuel was made possible by one of the machines
of the Ames Iron Works of Oswego, New York, which was on display.
The book said:
‘This boiler is constructed on the return-flue principle,
with one large flue extending the entire length, forming the
fire-box, and a number of small tubes returning each side of the
large one, by which means perfect combustion of the straw is
obtained. In the front end of the large flue, or fire-box, are
placed the furnace doors, which are so arranged that a very slight
pressure of a fork in inserting the straw easily opens them; and
when the fork is withdrawn they are easily closed by means of a
handle at the top of the doors.
When it is desirable, these boilers can be used equally as well
with either wood or coal; and, in fact, are really superior to the
ordinary boiler, having more extended fire surface. The boiler is
so constructed that the fibre of the straw is entirely consumed,
and the heat so thoroughly extracted from the smoke that nothing
passes from the pipe but super flous gas. A very convenient and
desirable feature is, that the fire is instantly extinguished by
simply throwing open the doors. This is particularly desirable in
case of the discovery of low water in the boiler.’
A British engine was also featured in the book—-under the
heading of ‘Agricultural Locomotive Engine.’ This was an
Aveling & Porter, fitted with the firm’s patent side-plate
brackets, and designed expressly for steam cultivation, threshing,
sawing, pumping and removing farm produce.
The writer said: ‘It had a single steam-jacketed cylinder
mounted on the fore end of the boiler, to prevent priming and to
economize fuel. The bearings of the crank-shaft, countershaft and
driving axle were carried by the side plates of the fire-box
extended upwards and backwards in one piece for this purpose. The
patented arrangement is an improvement in the construction of
engines of very great value, as it saves the boiler from the strain
otherwise put upon it by the working parts, and minimizes the risk
from strained bolt holes. The driving wheels are of iron; the
engine is steered from the foot-plate, and in short, the general
characteristics of the agricultural locomotives are the same as
those belonging to Aveling & Porter’s road
locomotives.’
The Centennial commissioners used two of these, fitted with
cranes, to remove and lift heavy material.
Aveling & Porter also displayed a steam road-roller, which
was an adaptation of the ordinary road locomotives. A road
locomotive crane engine was also shown.
