Faber Steam Engine, 1827
name: label: maker
content: F. and W. M. Faber
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: The F. & W. M. Faber stationary steam engine was built in Pittsburgh during the 1850’s. Stationary steam engines such as this one could be used to power multiple machines in a shop or factory.
label: Description
content: The F. & W. M. Faber stationary steam engine is a rare survivor of pre-1860 American steam power. With a horizontal cylinder and separate bases for the flywheel and engine, the Faber displays features from the dawn of steam usage inside American factories.
label: Description
content: Although exceedingly rare today, this engine was offered as an "off-the-shelf" stock engine in 1850s Pittsburgh, where it was built. The engine features exceptional refinement in the degree of ornamentation on the flywheel and the flyball governor, evoking the novelty and wonder of early steam power.
label: Description
content: The physical beauty of the Faber engine masks its relative energy inefficiency compared with engines of the period of more robust construction. In addition, records indicate this pretty engine performed the bulk of its actual service inside tanneries in Ohio and Kentucky, where the smells and wet hides and dank darkness would have belied the visions that inspired this engine's elegant design and fabrication.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: Place Made
content: United States: Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Mechanical and Civil Engineering
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content: Energy & Power
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content: Industry & Manufacturing
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content: Machine Shop
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of ASME
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1980.0227.01
label: catalog number
content: 1980.0227.01
label: accession number
content: 1980.0227
objectType: label: Object Name
content: steam engine
label: Object Name
content: engine, steam, faber, ca. 1850
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: cast iron (cylinder material)
label: Physical Description
content: wood (frame material)
label: Measurements
content: timber bed: 186 in; x 472.44 cm
label: Measurements
content: bore: 6 in; x 15.24 cm
label: Measurements
content: shaft: 76 1/2 in; x 194.31 cm
label: Measurements
content: flywheel: 79 in; x 200.66 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall height: 65 in; 165.1 cm
label: Measurements
content: stroke: 24 in; x 60.96 cm