Steam Archives - Page 2 of 4 - The Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum

Coombs Table Engine

Craftsman: Birk Petersen

Catalog #: 2016.15.96

Donor: Mark Petersen

Birk built this black Coombs table engine. It’s a taller engine with vertical slide.

Corliss Horizontal Steam Engine

Craftsman: Birk Petersen

Catalog #: 2016.15.37

Donor: Mark Petersen

Birk’s miniature Corliss horizontal steam engine. He made all the patterns and castings, and did all of the machining as well.

Corliss Steam Engine

Craftsman: Ramon Hoagland

Knapp Collection #: 615

Catalog #: 2019.33.12

Contributor: Paul Knapp

This Corliss steam engine was made by Ramon Hoagland, of Colorado, in 2008.

Cretors Flyball Steam Engine

Craftsman: Ramon Hoagland

Knapp Collection #: 693

Catalog #: 2022.8.4

Contributor: Paul Knapp

This Cretors flyball steam engine was built by Ramon Hoagland.

Cretors Oscillating Steam Engine

Craftsman: Ramon Hoagland

Knapp Collection #: 692

Catalog #: 2022.8.3

Contributor: Paul Knapp

This Cretors oscillating steam engine was made by Ramon Hoagland.

Cretors Popcorn Wagon Engine

Craftsman: C. Cretors & Co.

Catalog #: 2011.4.17

Donor: Les Cade

The Cretors Company in Chicago invented the use of steam engines to pop popcorn and roast nuts in horse drawn vending wagons in the 1890s.

Custom 2-Cylinder Steam Engine

Craftsman: Builder unknown; Restored by Ron Schindele

Knapp Collection #: 604

Catalog #: 2019.33.5

Contributor: Paul Knapp

This small steam engine measures 6-1/2-inches long (including the crankshaft), 2-7/8-inches wide, 7-inches tall, and sports a 3-inch flywheel.

Double Compound Elbow Engine

Craftsman: Joe "Speedy" Sciarratta

Catalog #: 2013.44.1

Donor: Joe "Speedy" Sciarratta

This double compound elbow engine has only five moving parts. Three pairs of pistons (each pair 90° between the two) move in holes in a round valve cylinder to drive the flywheel.

Elbow Steam Engine

Craftsman: Birk Petersen

Catalog #: 2016.15.105

Donor: Mark Petersen

This elbow engine produces an unusual motion.

Frisbee Toy Steam Engine Replica

Craftsman: Birk Petersen

Catalog #: 2016.15.104

Donor: Mark Petersen

Birk built this replica of a Frisbee toy steam engine, including all of the castings.

Geared Oscillating 2-Cylinder Steam Engine

Craftsman: Birk Petersen

Catalog #: 2016.15.36

Donor: Mark Petersen

Birk Petersen’s miniature 2-cylinder geared oscillating steam engine.

Grasshopper Half Beam Engine

Craftsman: Birk Petersen

Catalog #: 2016.15.87

Donor: Mark Petersen

This Grasshopper steam engine get its name from the beam that goes up and down to drive the flywheel.

Horizontal Ball Piston Steam Engine

Craftsman: Les Cade

Catalog #: 2011.4.12

Donor: Les Cade

This horizontal ball piston steam engine was built by Les Cade. As the title suggests, the piston is made from a steel ball.

Horizontal Steam Engine

Craftsman: Les Cade

Catalog #: 2011.4.9

Donor: Les Cade

This single-cylinder, reversing steam engine was built from bar stock using Sherline miniature machine tools. It was scaled up from plans for a smaller engine.