C. H. Brown and Company
Main Street, Fitchburg.

~ Manufacturer of the Brown Automatic cut-off Steam Engine ~

One of Fitchburg's Steam Engine Companies
with an Interesting Past
&
some very Famous People
&

~ A Patented Putnam Engine ~

Charles H. Brown was born in Blackstone, Massachusetts:March 9 - 1820.

Charles. H. Brown settled in Fitchburg in 1849, he found work with the
Putnam Machine Company working as a machinist, not long after he was
joined by an old friend in the name of " Charles Burleigh ". After a short
period working together they were later to "patent" an engine under the
name of the " The Putnam Engine " but due to bad health Charles Brown
had to retire from the Putnam Company and later started his own small
business manufacturing Automatic cut-off steam engines in different makes
and models and known as the " Brown Engine Company " - in Main Street.
Charles Burleigh was to later go off and start his own business :-
See -Burleigh Rock Drill Company.

Seen Below
An interesting photo taken from the HENRY FORD Museum
of "Thomas Alva Edison" and "Henry Ford" inspecting one of
the C.H. Brown Companies range of Engines. Thomas Edison
had earlier purchased a similar engine after viewing one at the
Boston Mechanical Exhibition held in 1877.

Thomas Alva Edison had purchased the engine to power the generator he
used at Menlo Park, New Jersey as he went along the path of inventing the
World's first incandescent light - 1879. He was later to develop and build
centralized electric plants and form the Edison Illuminating Co. in Detroit
later to be joined by Henry Ford who became Chief Engineer of the plant
among all of his other interest's in the Automobile and development work.

The photo above shows a different model and is on display
at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.

From The Fitchburg Historical Society - A Stell engraved portrait of this fine Engineer.
~ The portrait dates back to 1820 ~

For a more detailed history -

Click below

1875 C.H. Brown Stationary Steam Engine

The above link is made possible through the archives of steamtraction.com

For a look at the Magnificent nearly totally restored engine -

Click below

Diebold Agricultural Hall - CAMA

The above link is made possible through the webpages of the Connecticut Antique Machinery Association, Inc

And looking back to the Highlights of the 1998 Show at Orange Airport
a 1909/10 C. H. Brown engine was on display -

Click below

Diebold Agricultural Hall - CAMA

The above link is made possible through the webpages of The Central Massuchusetts Steam, Gas and Machinery Association

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