Monday, October 1, 2018

Monday Mystery, Patent model


This appears to be a model of some 19th century steam powered device. The auction description was that it was American-made to illustrate an alleged patent infringement. The explanatory tag that accompanied it went missing and now we have a bit of a mystery! 
A boiler supplies steam to a steam engine which appears to provide motion to the wheels by means of a worm gear. Two pulleys might transfer power via flat belts (missing) to a front mounted shaft with what look like hammers placed to drive pins downwards.   Although the wheels do not have flanges, this might have been a self propelled railroad tool to drive railway spikes? The spacing doesn't seem to be right for fastening rails but perhaps that could be adjusted. 
All guesswork but perhaps someone might recognize what it really is?





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