American Precision Museum Model Engineering Show

[Sshire]

I've been threatening to visit the American Precision Museum in Windsor, Vermont. They are having their 14th Annual Model Engineering Show on Saturday, Oct. 12.

I'm going to pack up some engines and make the drive. Anyone interested?
They're having a few issues with the link to the show registration page, but they assure me it will be up next week.
http://www.americanprecision.org/

Best
Stan

 

[RonGinger]

I have gone to the show on many years, but last year they changed to the Columbus Day weekend, instead of the last weekend in Oct. That weekend is prime 'leaf peeper' season and the area hotels go nuts- a room I used to get for $70 was over $130. everything was also booked weeks ahead. If you want to go book a room now. I have usually stayed up in White river Junction, about 15 miles north. There are several motels there.

It is also a very small show. The last couple year have had only 1 or 2 vendors, and just a few tables of exhibits.

However, the museum is worth a visit, and doing it the weekend of the show adds a bit. They hold a reception for the exhibitors on Friday night, with wine and cheese and an open time in the museum. On some years they take tours up into the storage areas which is really interesting.

 

[Sshire]

Thanks Ron
I've already made reservations, I had a bunch of Holiday Inn points accumulated over the years so the room was not too outrageous.
My main purpose was visiting the museum (especially anxious to see my mill's grandfather; they have Bridgeport #1). The show was an extra incentive.
Good point about the scheduling over the holiday. I'll talk to my contact when I'm there and mention that.

 

[wieking]

Well, I'm committed to the APM Show. I thought it was going to be bigger but we can do some "leaf-peeping" also. Going to connect it with a "Road Scholar" class on History of Railroading in the area(White River Junction).

We're coming from Washington state--what is the weather like then?

The hard part will be the trans US flight!
Bob in Ellensburg

 

[Sshire]

Prime fall color season. You can expect mid 60's daytime and upper 30s at night.

 

[Sshire]

Bob
Let me know when you are arriving. Perhaps we can get together for dinner.

 

[vascon2196]

Stan...I visited the museum early this summer and it was great. I now own a T-shirt with "Bridgeport #1" on it as well as other things I could not help buying!

I may pack up my engines as I have never displayed them at this show (its about 3 hours away from me), the show in Rhode Island is only 45-minutes.

However, if I can make it, I will see you there!

 

[Sshire]

Chris
I really need one of those shirts. Gift shop will be my first stop.
Love to see some forum members there.

 

[Rustkolector]

The busy holiday weekend may actually be a plus for attendance to the museum and show. I have never visited the APM. However, it coincides this year with a planned trip to VT. We will only be 1.5 hrs away. So I am planning to visit the museum and show this year, but you all have me thinking of packing a few of my engines also. The wife has plans also, so all day at the show will likely not be possible. Sounds like there might be a few new exhibitors. Stan, will we get to see that beautiful new pumping engine? Hope to meet some forum members.

Jeff

 

[Sshire]

Jeff
I had planned to bring the pumping engine. Hope to get the pumps packed.

 

[RonGinger]

The busy holiday weekend may actually be a plus for attendance to the museum and show. I have never visited the APM. However, it coincides this year with a planned trip to VT.

This was exactly why the museum staff moved the date, hoping the more active time would attract more visitors. It plays against a cheapskate like me that knows the hotel prices will be double what they would be the next week. I guess I just need to suck it up and pay the cost. I do enjoy the show. All this talk of new visitors has decided me, I will book a room and be there.

 

[Sshire]

Just a reminder for anyone planning on going. The online registration link is on this page. Pre Oct 1 exhibitor fee is $10. After that, $12.

http://www.americanprecision.org/2012-01-18-16-22-51/model-engineering-show

 

[Sshire]

Road Trip!!

I'm off to the model engineering show at the American Precision Museum in Windsor, Vermont. Should be meeting up with Steamer (Dave) and Vascon (Chris).

Spent some time getting the engines ready. The Pumping Engine is already packed. This is the last lot, *getting a lube and polish.

Reading material came yesterday from a used bookseller in the UK. Royal Mail seemed to find the colonies without issue.

The car is packed and gassed up. Ready for a 9am departure

First stop will be Bridgeport, Connecticut for lunch and a look at the corner of Capitol Ave and Lindley Street where my Bridgeport mill was built nearly 45 years ago. I'll post pix from there.

 

[vascon2196]

See you Saturday!

 

[Sshire]

Road Trip 2

Two and a half hours after leaving, I stopped for lunch in Bridgeport, CT.
As promised, I made a stop at the factory where my BP was built and.....
OH-NO!! It's a vacant lot. Sad.

After the shock wore off, I had lunch and continued on.

This must be Vermont. As far as I can see, the whole state seems to be one big forest.

Bigger post tomorrow. Show setup and the long-awaited visit to the American Precision Museum. Stay tuned for pix and a post.

 

[vascon2196]

I wish I could view the pictures...I have not been able to view any pictures for the past 2 days???

 

[dreeves]

Stan, I went to that show serveral years ago. It was a great show for being small. I loved the machine museum. Enjoy you trip.

Dave

 

[Sshire]

Road Trip - 3

I setup my engines early. Next, to the museum.
Amazing. Not large but the collection is excellent.

It's in this factory building

For some reason, I was magnetically attracted to this.

Nice serial number

And a few details.

Some of the other machines

The original factory was water-wheel powered and, apparently, *it wasn't a union shop or they had a toilet paper shortage.

The museum is having a reception for exhibitors tonight along with a "behind the scenes" tour. Apparently they have much more machinery in storage and in various stages of restoration that we're going to see.

Show tomorrow. Post to follow.

 

[Sshire]

Road Trip - 4

The museum had a very nice reception for exhibitors: Vermont chesses, wine and local craft beers. In addition, we got the tour of the "attic"

The first stop was the library where they have nearly every issue of "American Machinist" which began publishing shortly after the American Civil War.

Then, perhaps one of the most fascinating collections of rare machinery and tools I've ever seen. They have about 100 machines on display and rotate others in and out. The total collection numbers over 4,000 pieces including very early examples of devices with interchangeable parts: typewriters, sewing machines and machinery. Lots of machinery. When it was built not just for function, but also for beauty.

The watt-hour meter from Thomas Edison's lab.

A Norden bombsight from WW2

An indexing engraver to produce machinist's scales.

I didn't get a shot of the logarithmic indexing engraver used by Keuffel and Esser to manufacture slide rules. They also have a horizontal rotary indexing engraver used in the manufacture of surveyor's transits.

Of particular interest is the collection of miniature tools by John Aschauer. This steam plant was started when he was an apprentice at age 14 and completed 4 years later. Everything runs.

And one for Brian

They have a 155 pound bench micrometer made by Brown and Sharpe in 1878 to measure their gauge blocks. It's accurate to 1/100,000"

Much of this and more is on the website. Worth a look.

http://www.americanprecision.org/

 

[Sshire]

Road Trip -5

Machine Porn

The show was very well attended for a small show. I'm guessing about 20 exhibitors, one of my favorite vendors (New England Brass and Tool) and a bake sale from the local high school. Exceptional brownies!!

I'm just going to dump all of the machine porn on you.

Finally had a face-to-face with Chris (Vascon2196). It's great putting a face to a name.

A fascinating talk by Bill McCarthy about his, absolutely perfect, replicas of Civil War Merrill Carbines. The tooling that he's made and the castings are first-rate.

Bill's rifle then the original

That's all. Going out to dinner. Single malt and a large NY Strip.
Great trip!