The
Haskins Machine Company.
38 - 42 Water Street
Fitchburg, Massachusetts.
Below
A sketch printed in the " Manufacturer and Builder " Journal
of an 1870's model " Haskins " four horse-power semi-portable stationary steam engine.
John F. Haskins produced engines from 1 to 40 horse-power, many of which were ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
specially adapted for use within steam yachts due to the lightness of design and fast speed.
They were made in the following ranges of horse-power - 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 30, 40 & 50
and were manufactured in the building below - The Fitchburg Steam Engine Company.
By 1897 the Haskins engines were available in Seven Styles and Twenty-six sizes.
Below - Part text from this journal of 1873 :-
On small engines, unless specially ordered otherwise, the valves are made to
cut off at a
point pre-determined; on others, an automatic cut-off, controlled by the governor, is applied,
insuring efficiency equal to the best. For driving the valve, the usual eccentric is made use of,
with the exception of its mode of construction and adaption to this particular engine. It was made
fast on the shaft, permanently, not with set screws or key, but is made an integral portion of the
shaft, and then on its periphery is shrunk a reinforcing ring, which can be replaced in case of
accident to its surface. No place is left for any adjustment of valve motion. Every part is made the
exact length desired, and pinned fast. No screw or nut can be changed to alter the desired results.
Thus is the perfection sought permanently secured, for as soon as a change is allowed in the valve
- motion of an engine just so soon are the results of the original engineering skill lost.
The main shaft-boxes are composition, lined with best babbit metal, and are made interchangeable.
Their wear does not, therefore, effect the framing or lining of the engine. The connecting-rod and
its pins are very large at the bearing points. The cross-head is provided with adjustable composition
gibs of very large surface, and self-centering. The piston-rods, and all the parts which require it,
are of the best steel.
The valves used on these engines are the piston-valves of Thomas S. Davis, long the superintendent
and manager of the Jersey City Locomotive Works, which, though first constructed and patented some
ten years since, have stood the test of time thoroughly and successfully. All boilers sold by this company
are inspected and insured by the Hartford Steam-Boiler Insurance Company. The engines are made up
of lots of ten at a time, of a given size, so that thirty to fifty of from one to thirty horse-power, are
constantly in process of construction.
The engines were all arranged to be self-contained, without the objection of having the engine
attached to the boiler, which is a serious one.
and Frederick Fosdick to head the Company - the engines were still manufactured and sold for many
years after his resignation.
Credit goes to Mr. Kim Goodwin of Fitchburg MA for this 1877 Advertisement featured below.
The advertisement comes from the inside cover of an 1877 Fitchburg directory.
From a 1898 advert
They have been awarded numerous Prizes, always the highest offered :
among them :
The Silver Medal ( and only one ) of the Mass. Charitable Mechanic Asso -
ciation, Boston, 1874 ; the Silver Medal of the New England and New
Hampshire Societies, at their Manchester Meeting, September, 1875 ; The
Silver Gilt Medal ( a special Commissioners' award ) of the Holland Agricul-
tural Society, at their September Meeting, at Zaandam, Holland, 1875 ; The
Silver Medal of the INTERNATIONAL EXIBITION at Luxembourg, October, 1875.
The 1876 Centennial Exhibition opened in Philadelphia on May 10th and carried through to November 10th of the same year.
Included at the Exhibition in the Machinery Hall was the much famed 1400 horsepower Corliss Steam Engine,
70 feet tall and weighing over 650 tons.
For a better look at the Machinery Hall
at the Centennial Exhibition
Click below
CLICK HERE
The above link is made possible through the 2001 Free Library of Philadelphia.
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