Miniature Bell Helicopter Rotor Mechanism

Miniature Bell Helicopter Rotor Mechanism

Craftsman: Marvin Johnson

Catalog #: 2011.13.4

Donor: Ed Wright, Wright Family Trust

This is a unique brass and aluminum miniature of a Bell helicopter rotor mechanism. Marvin Johnson built a complete working mechanism of the main and tail rotors.

Miniature Cam Grinder

Miniature Cam Grinder

Craftsman: Ron Schindele

Knapp Collection #: 448

Catalog #: 2016.8.26

Contributor: Paul Knapp

The unique feature of Ron’s cam grinder is an indexing cog gear that automatically controls the down-feed of the grinding wheel at about .001 per revolution of the cam.

Miniature Carousel

Miniature Carousel

Craftsman: Birk Petersen

Catalog #: 2016.15.70

Donor: Mark Petersen

Birk Petersen built this working miniature carousel with hand-carved wooden horses for his family.

Miniature Child’s Iron

Miniature Child’s Iron

Craftsman: Unknown

Catalog #: 2011.12.1

Donor: Dr. Francis Rigney

This miniature child’s iron was made by slave blacksmiths in the late 1700s or early 1800s. It represents “miniature engineering” under the most extreme circumstances.

Miniature Spark Plugs

Miniature Spark Plugs

Craftsman: Dale Detrich

Knapp Collection #: 295

Catalog #: 2011.27.43

Contributor: Paul Knapp 

Dale Detrich uses Corian for the insulators in his miniature spark plugs. Due to popularity, Dale made several styles available to model engine builders.

Miniature Turbocharger

Miniature Turbocharger

Craftsman: Frank Kurz

Knapp Collection #: 261

Catalog #: 2011.27.33

Contributor: Paul Knapp 

Frank Kurz machined this small turbocharger from aluminum and steel bar stock, and he tested the turbo on a small engine, but the test results are unknown.

Miniature Violin and Case

Miniature Violin and Case

Craftsman: Marvin Johnson

Catalog #: 2011.13.2

Donor: Ed Wright, Wright Family Trust

This miniature violin and bow in a fitted case are hardly larger than a US quarter.

Miniature Wooden Printing Press

Miniature Wooden Printing Press

Craftsman: Loren Scheer

Catalog #: 2023.1.3

Donor: Leslie Sayers & Lorie Phillips

Loren Scheer crafted this miniature wooden printing press. The tiny wooden press hearkens back to a time long before the digital age.

Open Segmented Wooden Sphere Vase

Open Segmented Wooden Sphere Vase

Craftsman: Eckhard Fadtke

Catalog #: 2019.17.6

Donor: Eckhard Fadtke

Eckhard Fadtke handcrafted this ornate open segmented wooden sphere vase.

Pepe Gyroscopic Governor

Pepe Gyroscopic Governor

Craftsman: Birk Petersen

Catalog #: 2016.15.51

Donor: Mark Petersen

This is a demonstration model of a gyroscopic governor called “Pepe.” The mechanism is hand cranked.

Piston from 1979 Blue Max AA/Funny Car

Piston from 1979 Blue Max AA/Funny Car

Craftsman: Venolia

Catalog #: 2014.36.1

Contributor: Craig Libuse

This interesting piston came from the Blue Max AA/Funny Car record run. The time of the record run was 6.02 seconds.

Polished Copper Oil Can

Polished Copper Oil Can

Craftsman: Phillip Duclos

Catalog #: 2013.50.11

Donor: George and Dorlene Root

The beautiful simplicity and fine finish on this small oil can is a great illustration of Phil Duclos’ metalworking skill.

Puddle Weld Sculptures

Puddle Weld Sculptures

Craftsman: Peter Renzetti 

Catalog #: 2018.37.1 ; 2018.37.2 ; 2018.37.3

Donor: Peter Renzetti 

To create his sculptures, Peter Renzetti used a jeweler’s oxy-acetylene torch to build melted puddles of welding rod drop on top of drop.

Showing 20 of 102 exhibits.

Presented by The Joe Martin Foundation for Exceptional Craftsmanship