Name/Title
Textile Machine Gears/PartsEntry/Object ID
2023.14.11Description
Brass replacement textile machine gears/parts. Machined at either the Willimantic Linen Company or, more likely, its successor the American Thread Company in Willimantic, CT.Use
Used to replace broken parts in industrial textile production machinery.Context
Both the Willimantic Linen Company (1854-1898) and its successor the American Thread Company (1898-1985) in Willimantic had their own machine shops where they machined replacement parts using lathes and casts. An example of vertical integration, both the WLC and ATCO -- although purchasing their textile machines from manufacturers like Whitin, Saco-Lowell, etc., attempted to both lower repair costs and speed up the time it took to make repairs by machining new parts themselves. This was a multi-step process. (1) First, ATCO had its engineering department produce detailed diagrams of machines and parts. (2) Then, ATCO had its carpentry department construct exact-size wooden replicas of various machine parts. These wooden replicas were called "patterns." Often, they were stained light brown to indicate that the originals were turned brass or steel, and black to indicate that the originals were cast iron. (3) If an original part broke, a replacement could be machined by using the patterns as models, either by using them to create plaster casts or as templates for turning metal on a lathe. It is believed that these brass gears and parts were machined but never used, either because they had defects or because they were surplus inventory.Collection
American Thread Company CollectionMade/Created
Manufacturer
American Thread CompanyTime Period
20th CenturyPlace
Neighborhood
Willimantic, CTCity
Windham, CTContinent
North AmericaRegion
NortheastInscription/Signature/Marks
Type
Die MarkTranscription
W715; H888; M55M; M56M; M250B; M61MLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Primary Object Term
GearNomenclature Sub-Class
Power Transmission ComponentsNomenclature Class
Energy Production T&ENomenclature Category
Category 05: Tools & Equipment for Science & TechnologyOther Names and Numbers
Other Numbers
Number Type
ATCOOther Number
W715; H888; M55M; M56M; M250B; M61MLocation
Location
Room
Dugan Mill Factory Floor ExhibitBuilding
Duagn BuildingCategory
ExhibitDate
May 10, 2023Provenance
Provenance Detail
American Thread CompanyAcquisition Method
Found objectAcquisition Date
circa 1990Outgoing Loans
Notes
New Britain Industrial Museum, Returned 3/3/2023Created By
historian@millmuseum.orgCreate Date
May 7, 2023Updated By
historian@millmuseum.orgUpdate Date
May 10, 2023