Page 37 – The Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum

Miniature 7-Cylinder Radial Engine

Craftsman: Pius Job

Knapp Collection #: 86

Catalog #: 2008.16.14

Contributor: Paul Knapp

This engine burns methanol (with oil mixed in for lubrication) on glow ignition and turns a 24-10 propeller at 6,000 rpm. The engine is 10”-long, 9”-wide, and 15”-high (on stand).

Miniature 7-Cylinder Radial Engine

Craftsman: Pierre Blais

Knapp Collection #: 83

Catalog #: 2009.9.11

Contributor: Paul Knapp

This 7-cylinder radial engine burns a methanol/castor oil mixture on glow ignition. The engine is 10”-long, 11”-wide, and 12”-high.

Miniature 7-Cylinder Radial Engine

Craftsman: Lee Root

Knapp Collection #: 101

Catalog #: 2009.9.14

Contributor: Paul Knapp

This miniature 7-cylinder radial engine was machined entirely from bar stock. Mr. Root’s 7-cylinder was ahead of its time and more advanced than most miniature engines made today.

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 Blacksmith’s Vise

Craftsman: Birk Petersen

Catalog #: 2016.15.120

Donor: Mark Petersen

Birk Petersen built this miniature blacksmith’s vise with support to transfer energy into the floor.

Miniature Bolt and Wrench

Craftsman: Jerry Kieffer

Donor: Jerry Kieffer

At the center of the bezel is a .25 x .075 x 2mm bolt and .4mm wrench built by Jerry Kieffer.

Miniature Brass Oscillating Steam Engine

Craftsman: Birk Petersen

Catalog #: 2016.15.65

Donor: Mark Petersen

This miniature brass oscillating steam engine is smaller than a US quarter.

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

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 Cement Mixer and Wheelbarrow

Craftsman: Birk Petersen

Catalog #: 2016.15.30

Donor: Mark Petersen

Birk Petersen built this miniature cement mixer from plans by Rudy Kouhoupt.

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 Dynamo

Craftsman: Rudy Kouhoupt

Donor: Susan Alvaro

Rudy Kouhoupt built this direct current dynamo, which delivers 9 amps at 10 volts.

Miniature Engine and Generator

Craftsman: Birk Petersen

Catalog #: 2016.15.77

Donor: Mark Petersen

This miniature engine runs a tiny generator to produce electricity.

Miniature Flash Steam Engine

Craftsman: Unknown

Knapp Collection #: 371

Catalog #: 2016.8.5

Contributor: Paul Knapp

The builder and date for this miniature flash steam engine are unknown. All of the castings are iron and have numbers on them indicating it might have been built from a kit.