EARLY METAL WORKING

From the early days of our Country's beginning, few skills were more valued and vital than those of the Blacksmith.  Before the Industrial Revolution, the Blacksmith was primarily responsible for making tools, weapons, etc.  Few communities in that era could have survived without the Blacksmith.  Also, the electric motor was not invented until almost 1900, so as early as the 17th century manufacturers powered multiple industrial machines such as lathes using a "line shaft" mechanism.  Doing so made possible operating dozens or more machines off a single steam engine, water wheel or other power source.  Only much later were the internal combustion engine and electric motor developed. To showcase how a line shaft mechanism works, visitors can view our operational line shaft setup and watch it power several pieces of equipment, including a metal sander and grinder, a pedestal grinder, a very early metal hacksaw, a vintage air compressor and more.