This piece is entitled, “8 Stomp ‘Ore Mill,” and it features four figures jumping rope. Two bells are rung with each turn of the handwheel. On the top, a bird flies on the left side while a small carousel turns on the right. Birk made all the castings and carved the figures himself.
Birk Petersen created a vast array of projects over his lifetime, ranging from miniature engines to hand-cranked animations and more. He built functional miniatures like a 1/3 scale Gatling gun or a 1/4 scale Case steam tractor, but he also built mechanical creations for the fun and enjoyment of his family. When Birk passed away in 2015, his family graciously donated over 150 items from his collection for display at the Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum, where they are currently on display. We thank the Petersen family for sharing his extensive collection, which demonstrates the broad interests and many talents of Birk Petersen.