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Ernst Plank Toy Steam Engine

National Museum of American History

Object Details

Description (Brief)
This toy steam engine was manufactured by the Ernst Plank Company of Nuremburg, Germany during the early 20th century. There is a small metal plate on the toy’s wooden base that reads “Hercules,” possibly the model name of this engine. The toy has a pressed metal firebox below the boiler with a pressure gauge and steam whistle. The boiler powers a vertical oscillating engine shafted to a flywheel.
Ernst Plank founded his company in Nuremburg, Germany in 1866. The company was well known for manufacturing a variety of metal toys like steam locomotives, stationary steam engines, early photography equipment, and magic lanterns until its dissolution in 1935.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Bequest of the Estate of Greville I. Bathe
ca 1900
ID Number
MC.329006
catalog number
329006
accession number
278175
Object Name
toy, steam engine and boiler
steam engine and boiler, toy
Physical Description
white metal (overall material)
tin (stack material)
wood (base material)
Measurements
flywheel - from catalog card: 2 7/8 in; x 7.3025 cm
boiler - from catalog card: 7 in x 3 1/2 in x 3 1/2 in; 17.78 cm x 8.89 cm x 8.89 cm
tin stack - from catalog card: 12 in; 30.48 cm
base - from catalog card: 10 3/4 in x 4 3/4 in; x 27.305 cm x 12.065 cm
overall: 13 3/8 in x 4 7/8 in x 10 3/4 in; 33.9725 cm x 12.3825 cm x 27.305 cm
place made
Germany
Related Publication
Maass, Eleanor A.. Greville Bathe's "Theatre of Machines": The Evolution of a Scholar and His Collection
See more items in
Work and Industry: Mechanical and Civil Engineering
Family & Social Life
Engineering, Building, and Architecture
Engineering Steam Toys and Models
National Museum of American History
Record ID
nmah_847158
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a6-84a4-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
E. P. Toy Steam Engine and Boiler
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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