Primarily technical papers by Timken engineers, presented in journals and meetings of professional societies. The papers concern the use of Timken roller bearings and other products in locomotives and other rolling stock on U.S. railroads and rapid transit systems. Also articles from trade magazines and brochures advertising Timken products, and a 1925 U.S. Bureau of Mines study of friction in mine-car wheels.
The material in this collection primarily consists of technical papers written by Timken engineers which were presented in journals and meetings of professional societies. The papers all deal with the use of Timken roller bearings and other products in locomotives and other rolling stock on U.S. railroads and rapid transit systems. In addition to professional papers, there are also articles from trade magazines and brochures advertising Timken products. A 1925 U.S. Bureau of Mines study of friction in mine car wheels is also included.
Biographical / Historical:
The Timken Roller Bearing Co., of Canton, Ohio, produced its first tapered roller bearings in the 1890s. The bearings were first used in horse drawn vehicles and later in automobiles. As automobiles improved in design, power, and endurance, Timken made improvements in its bearings to compensate. The company soon realized that the only way to ensure quality in its product was through the production of its own special alloy steel. It organized the Timken Steel & Tube Company to supply both itself and other manufacturers with high grade steel. In the late 1920s, the company entered the railroad equipment supply market with special tapered bearings for use in locomotives. Timken continued to supply components for use in the railroad rolling stock, automotive, and other manufacturing industries. It set high standards for such products, both in engineering and materials quality.
The Timken Roller Bearing Co., Canton, Ohio, produced its first tapered roller bearings in the 1890s. The bearings were first used in horse-drawn vehicles and later in automobiles. As automobiles improved in design, power, and endurance, Timken made improvements in its bearings to compensate. The company soon realized that the only way to ensure quality in its product was through the production of its own special alloy steel. It organized the Timken Steel & Tube Company to supply itself and other manufacturers with high-grade steel. In the late 1920s, the company entered the railroad equipment supply market with special tapered bearings for locomotives.
Provenance:
This collection was donated to the Archives Center, National Museum of American History, on September 25, 1990, by Frank G. Pauly. Mr. Pauly had been employed as a Sales Engineer in Timken's Railroad Division, working out of the Chicago Sales Office, which was closed in 1966.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
These records document the rebuilding of locomotives by the Southern Iron & Equipment Company during the period circa 1903-1960. They consist of one folder of "Memorandum of Locomotive Numbers" and a number of 4" x 6" cards recording sales of rebuilt locomotives. The "Memorandum," (forty-eight pages) lists the locomotives by number and shows the company from which it was purchased, type of locomotive, manufacturer, and to whom it was sold. The cards, alphabetically arranged by purchaser, record the type of locomotive, manufacturer, its number, and the purchase price. The cards contain the most complete information on the period circa1903-1924; after that, only the number of the locomotive was noted on the card.
Arrangement:
The collection is divided into two series.
Series 1: Locomotive Sales Cards
Series 2: Photographs
Biographical / Historical:
The Southern Iron & Equipment Company, a family owned business located in Atlanta, Georgia, was a major reconditioner of locomotives in the period ca. 1900 1960. The company purchased locomotives, refurbished them, and then sold them. In addition, the company did repair and reconditioning work on behalf of various railroads.
Provenance:
The written and photographic records of the Southern Iron & Equipment Company were purchased from the company at the time of its dissolution by Mr. Witbeck, a collector of railroad photographs. The records were subsequently purchased from him by Mr. Edward Bond of Marietta, Georgia. Mr. Bond donated them to the National Museum of American History in December 1988.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Transportation Search this
Extent:
9 Cubic feet (4 drawers)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Technical drawings
Erection drawings
Place:
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Pennsylvania
Date:
1870-1890
Summary:
Collection consists of 202 assembly drawings of locomotives and tenders, prepared to check the clearances and major component parts of the locomotive and retained for engineering reference.
Scope and Contents note:
202 assembly drawings of locomotives and tenders, prepared to check the clearances and major component parts of the locomotive. When work was slow, draftsmen hand-colored the drawings. They were not used in the shop but were retained for engineering reference.
Biographical/Historical note:
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was the largest and most successful locomotive building firm in the world. It was begun as a machine shop owned and operated by Matthias W. Baldwin in 1831. Baldwin turned out its first locomotive engine from its shop in Philadelphia in 1832; within a few years the company was producing two a month and employed 240 men. By 1852, 500 engines had been produced; by 1861, 1,000; and by 1868, 2,000. At that point, the company employed between 1,600-1,700 men, and was one of the very largest machine works in the nation. In 1906 Baldwin began construction of a large auxiliary plant in Philadelphia suburb of Eddystone. In 1928 the Broad Street plant was closed and all work transferred to the Eddystone Plant.
Baldwin had been forced by hard financial times to take on a series of partners between 1839 and 1846, and the firm's name changed repeatedly as a result. It was known as Baldwin, Vail & Hufty (1839-1842); Baldwin & Whitney (1842-1845); M.W. Baldwin (1846-1853); and M.W. Baldwin & Co. (1854-1866). After Baldwin's death in 1866 the firm was known as M. Baird & Co. (1867-1873); Burnham, Parry, Williams & Co. (1873-1890); Burnham, Williams & Co. (1891-1909); it was finally incorporated as the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1909.
The company's phenomenal growth ended with in the mid-1920s as the U.S. railroad industry began its long decline. Despite various mergers and acquisitions--and an increased attention to the development of diesel engines--a slow but sure decline set in. Baldwin declared bankruptcy in 1935. World War Two brought a temporary respite, but after the war the steam locomotive was obsolete and orders rapidly diminished. The Westinghouse Corporation bought Baldwin in 1948 but was unable to turn the company around. In 1950 the Lima-Hamilton Corporation and Baldwin merged but in 1956 the last of some 70,500 locomotives were produced and the company's long history came to an end.
Sources
History of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1831-1902
A Short History of American Locomotive Builders in the Steam Era, John H. White, (1982).
Related Archival Materials:
Archives Center #157, the Baldwin Locomotive Works Collection, consists of Engine Registers and Order Books for locomotives, 1833-1956. In addition, a six-reel microfilm edition of collection #157 is located in the NMAH Library (mfm-720).
Photographs relating to Baldwin are in the Railroad and Firefighting History Photographic Collection, Division of Work and Industry.
The DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University has a collection of 8,500 original Baldwin engineering drawings and has published three guides to their records.
Provenance:
Collection donated by H.L. Broadbelt, July 1959-November 1960.
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Transportation Search this
Extent:
1 Item (Ink on paper., 4.2" x 7.3".)
Type:
Archival materials
Documents
Date:
undated
Scope and Contents:
Illustrated with bird's-eye view of the factory.
Arrangement:
In series ?, box ?, folder ?.
Local Numbers:
AC0164-0000001 (AC scan no.)
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Transportation Search this
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Transportation Search this
Author:
Winans, Ross, 1796-1877 (railroad equipment supplier) Search this
Extent:
0.15 Cubic feet (1 volume)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Letter books
Place:
Maryland
Date:
1850-1851.
Scope and Contents:
Letterbook contains copies of 417 business letters, arranged chronologically, relating to the manufacture and sale of railroad equipment including locomotive engines, tenders, and car wheels. These letters were replicated in a process similar to carbon copies in an almost perfectly uniform handwriting.
Biographical / Historical:
Winans was an inventor, mechanic, and builder of locomotives and railroad machinery, including wheels, axels, bearings trucks and carriages. In 1828 he developed a friction wheel with outside bearings which established a "distinctive pattern for railroad wheels for the next one hundred years or so. In the late 1820s also he became associated with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, eventually entering their service as an engineer. He retired from the locomotive business in 1860. When Winans died he left an estate worth over twenty million dollars.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Winans, Ross, 1796-1877 (railroad equipment supplier) Search this
Collection Collector:
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Transportation Search this
Collection Author:
Winans, Ross, 1796-1877 (railroad equipment supplier) Search this
Extent:
1 Item (Ink on paper., 11.5" x 9.2".)
Container:
Box 1, Folder D
Type:
Archival materials
Letter books
Date:
January 7, 1850 to March 28, 1851
Local Numbers:
AC0155-0000001 (AC scan no.)
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site, except that slides may be in cold storage and require warm-up period. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Millholland, James A., Jr. , 1824-1893 Search this
Extent:
1 Item (Graphite on paper., 2.6" x 1.8".)
Container:
Box 1, Folder 4
Type:
Archival materials
Notebooks
Date:
August 1882
Local Numbers:
AC0163-0000001.tif (AC scan no.: one page from notebook?)
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Millholland, James A., Jr. , 1824-1893 Search this
Extent:
1 Item (Silver albumen on paper., 8.8" x 8.2".)
Container:
Box 1, Folder 6
Type:
Archival materials
Portraits
Photographs
Albumen prints
Date:
1870
Scope and Contents:
Signed "Clark" at lower right.
Local Numbers:
AC0163-0000002.tif (AC scan no.)
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Millholland, James A., Jr. , 1824-1893 Search this
Extent:
1 Item (Silver albumen on paper., 3.4" x 2.1".)
Container:
Box 1, Folder 6
Type:
Archival materials
Portraits
Photographs
Date:
1865
Local Numbers:
AC0163-0000003.tif (AC scan no.)
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Millholland, James A., Jr. , 1824-1893 Search this
Extent:
1 Item (Silver albumen? on paper., 3.4" x 2.1".)
Container:
Box 1, Folder 6
Type:
Archival materials
Cartes-de-visite
Portraits
Photographs
Date:
August 16, 1869
Scope and Contents:
Carte-de-visite?
Local Numbers:
AC0163-0000004 (AC scan no.)
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Millholland, James A., Jr. , 1824-1893 Search this
Extent:
1 Item (Silver albumen on paper, mounted on card., 6.1" x 4.1".)
Container:
Box 1, Folder 6
Type:
Archival materials
Cabinet prints
Cabinet photographs
Photographs
Albumen prints
Portraits, group
Place:
Pennsylvania -- 19th century
Reading (Pa.)
Date:
December 28, 1884
Scope and Contents:
Photographer imprint ("Haber"?) and "Reading, Pa." on mount below print.
Local Numbers:
AC0163-0000005 (AC scan no.)
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Millholland, James A., Jr. , 1824-1893 Search this
Extent:
1 Item (Silver gelatin on paper., 3.0" x 2.9".)
Container:
Box 1, Folder 7
Type:
Archival materials
Albumen prints
Photographs
Date:
May 12, 1864
Local Numbers:
AC0163-0000006 (AC scan no.)
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Millholland, James A., Jr. , 1824-1893 Search this
Extent:
1 Item (Silver albumen on paper., 3.8" x 3.4".)
Container:
Box 1, Folder 7
Type:
Archival materials
Albumen prints
Photographs
Date:
May 3, 1865
Local Numbers:
AC0163-0000007 (AC scan no.)
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Millholland, James A., Jr. , 1824-1893 Search this
Extent:
1 Item (Ink on paper., 11.1" x 6.2".)
Container:
Box 1, Folder 10
Type:
Archival materials
Drawings
Technical drawings
Date:
March 1888
Scope and Contents:
Diagram of the 1852 design built for Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, published in the National Car and Locomotive Builder, March 1888, p. 38, top.
Local Numbers:
AC0163-0000008.tif (AC scan no.)
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Millholland, James A., Jr. , 1824-1893 Search this
Extent:
1 Item (3.3" x 6.9".)
Type:
Archival materials
Albumen prints
Photographs
Stereographs
Date:
Circa 1865
Arrangement:
In series ?, box 1, folder 7.
Local Numbers:
AC0163-0000009 (AC scan no.)
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Transit Sales Corp. (Dallas, TX ; US Distributor) Search this
Notes content:
city-bus (mini-transbus) ; Steyr axle box bearings for railways ; report by Standard Motor Co. Ltd. on Steyr V8 air-cooled automobile engine design and performance (includes report on oil-strainer by Auto-Klean Strainers Ltd)....this comprises the uncataloged portion.
Includes:
Trade catalog and photographs
Black and white images
Color images
Physical description:
14 pieces; 2 boxes
Language:
English
Type of material:
Trade catalogs
Trade literature
Place:
Vienna, Austria
Date:
1900s
Topic (Romaine term):
Automobiles and automotive equipment (including trucks and buses) Search this
Engines and motors: steam; oil; gas; etc. Search this
Railroad; streetcar; subway and tramway equipment and supplies Search this
