Object Details
- J. I. Case Company
- Description
- The first steam engine produced by the J.I. Case Company in 1869, "Old Number One," produced eight horsepower and was used primarily to run threshing machines and sawmills. Its boiler produced 80 pounds of steam per square inch, and ran more quietly than most automobiles. The Case #1 Portable Steam Engine was designed to be horse-drawn. When moved from place to place by a team of horses, its stack folded down, providing a seat for the driver and allowing him access to the rear brakes.
- The Case Company discovered this engine on a Minnesota farm in 1925. It was featured in a plethora of farming exhibitions before being donated to the Smithsonian in 1962. "Old Number One" represents a wave of steam-powered agricultural machines that replaced operations formerly powered by horse, wind, or man. Steam engines were enormously popular-hitting a sales peak in 1912-before effective, accessible, and affordable gasoline engines became popular.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- Gift of J.I. Case Company
- 1869
- ID Number
- AG.62A10
- catalog number
- 62A10
- accession number
- 246139
- Object Name
- Engine, Steam, Portable
- Place Made
- United States: Minnesota
- United States: Wisconsin, Racine
- See more items in
- Work and Industry: Agriculture
- Agriculture
- National Museum of American History
- Record ID
- nmah_857023
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a6-aeb0-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
