Birk built this working model of Henry Ford’s first engine, made from plumbing and other fittings. It is often referred to as the “Kitchen Sink” engine because of its component parts. Birk built his rendition on a weathered wooden board to resemble the original by Ford. Another version of Ford’s first engine built by Butch Wilson is also on display in the museum.
Mr. 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.