Exhibit - Innovation in Vermont

Apple Peeler

Flat wooden board that narrows slightly at one end. On that narrower end are two pieces of wood carved to arch over another wooden cylinder. The two pieces are attached to the board with metal nails at either end.

The wooden cylinder has a handle at one end and metal tines at the other that appears to have been made from a dining fork.

1972.3.2

Made and used by Russell Hoyt of Craftsbury, VT

Apple Peeler

Metal device known as an apple peeler or parer.

On one end, a vise with a wingnut screw holds the device to a flat surface such as a table or counter. On the side a wooden handle turns a large gear. That gear is connected via two more gears to a center column on a spring, with a horizontal blade at the end. It is also connected to a central shaft at the top of the parer with a three-pronged end.

On the base gear, from which the center column extends, is written “Patented – By H. Keyes June 17 & Dec. 16, 1856.”

When the handle is turned, it activates both the blade and the pronged end. An apple held on the pronged end would rotate around its core while the central blade would move to peel different parts of the apple on a cycle.

2014.60.1033

Patented and produced by Horatio Keyes in Leominster, MA, 1856-1857.

Butter Churn

Yellow swing churn, bearing the stenciled label, "Davis Swing Churn/No. 5/Pat'd./Manufactured by/Vermont Farm Machine Co/Bellows Falls VT" in black paint on both long sides. The sides are further decorated with stenciled black decorative borders. There are two turned wooden handles across the top on either end, and metal brackets in the equivalent location on the bottom to attach the church to a wooden frame (now missing). The top of the churn has a door with a clear glass pane to view the contents. The churn has a 13 gallon capacity.

2012.42a-b

Manufactured by Vermont Farm Machine Company in Bellows Falls, VT.

Coin

Aluminum and brass coin, together with a wooden box. One side of the coin bears the inscription, "This combination coin will when adopted be good in all nations. Heal all differences between gold and silver men and fully settle all financial questions. Approved by all good business men." The other side of the coin bears the inscription, "Here is shown the value of our dollar in the coin of different nations of the world." Below that are eight connected circles, each giving the coin value of a different country, and below that: "Invented & protected by Dana Bickford. Brass insert in center reads "Dollar" with illegible words around it.

The box has a sliding cover and an indentation for the coin in the bottom.

2010.39.2a-b

Developed by Dana Bickford of Quechee, VT to be a universal monetary exchange medium.

Cyclometer

Handmade cyclometer consisting of a wooden box with six wooden gears and two metal gears.

The box sits in an outer metal case and is divided into two compartments. The narrower compartment on one side houses two offset metal gears connected to each other. The larger compartment houses six additional gears, also offset and connected to each other, three in a row. The gears are connected by two wooden center pieces that allow them to spin.

The wooden gears are also hand-numbered with various intervals specific to each gear.

1908.1

Made by Oren Cummins of Montpelier, VT in 1841.

Geiger Counter

Yellow geiger counter and instruction manual. The counter has a rectangular yellow case with curved ends. Each long side has a log consisting of a white triangle inside a blue circle with the letters "CD" in red. A dial on the top has a numerical range from 0 to 0.5., and is encased beneath a plastic cover, held on with screws. The printing on the top of the case reads, "FCDA / ITEM NO. / CD V-700 / MODEL NO. 3 / SERIAL NO. / 667 / MFRD. FOR / FCDA BY / CHATHAM / ELECTRONICS / LIVINGSTON / NEW JERSEY". There are two black plastic knobs and a yellow plastic plug on the top of the case. A U-shaped bar extends from the case to act a both a handle and a holster for a silver-toned tube, connected to the case by a rubber-encased cord, and capped on either end with rubber. The counter is accompanied by a 15-page manual entitled "Radiological Survey Meter / FCDA ITEM NO. CD V-700" printed in black and white on glossy paper.

2004.35.1a

Used by Dr. Oscar S. Peterson, Jr. while working with Civil Defense in Vermont

Globe

World globe printed on paper that is glued onto a hollow wooden sphere. The sphere rests in a stand made of wood and brass, and spins freely in two directions. The brass portion encircles the globe vertically, and is marked with measurement hash marks and numbers meant to indicate longitude. The wooden stand encircles the globe horizontally and on its flat surface there are more printed paper designs depicting astrological signs. The horizontal piece also includes measurement hash marks meant to indicate latitude.

The wooden stand is supported on four turned legs that are connected crosswise in the center. The globe can spin freely or be locked in place by making adjustments to the brass piece.

On the legend on the globe is printed the explanatory text: "A NEW / TERRESTRIAL GLOBE, / on which the / TRACTS and NEW DISCOVERIES / are laid down / from the Accurate Observations / made by / Cap.t. Cook, Furneux, Phipps & C. / By J. WILSON, VERMONT."

1921.16

Made by Wilson Manufacturing Company in Bradford, VT.

Hair Dryer

Blue metal electric hair dryer on a stand. Dryer removes from the stand to become a hand-held model. There are two switches, one for ON/OFF and one for HOT/COLD. A metal plate attached to the hand-held piece identifies this as a HANDY-HANNAH electric Hair dryer from the Standard Products Corp, Whitman, Mass. It states 215 watts - 110 - 20 volts, A.C. only, 50-60 cycles, Cat No. 595. It also has the UL symbol. The handle is a light colored wood. The electric cord is blue.

a= dryer
b=stand

2008.59.5a-b

Label Printer

Crank printing press for stamping out price tags, with drawer at bottom containing price type (numbers and letters).

The main unit is black metal with an inside space for housing a roll of blank price tags. On the right side is a circular crank with a wooden knob. The type is inserted into a mechanism at the top, which contains rollers and an ink pad. The tags thread through to the front where they may be individually torn off. Along side this is a metal attachment which reads: "Insert ticket strip here and push to here" with an arrow indicating direction. The blank price tags are imprinted at the top: "The Homer Fitts Co./ Barre, Vermont". A circular metal green label with black printing is attached to the metal crank on the side and imprinted: "MONARCH PATHFINDER" with a lion's heads on each side, and printed in the center: "A Product of THE MONARCH/ Marking System Company/ Dayton, Ohio. L.A. Calif." This metal unit sits on a wooden base and has a metal label attached to front which reads: "THE/ MONARCH/ MARKING SYSTEM COMPANY" and gives factory locations, patent numbers and model number.

A drawer in the wooden base holds the metal letters and numbers.

2006.61.25a-b

Used in the Homer Fitts Store in Barre, Vermont

Patent Model

Patent model for a maple sap evaporator, in three parts.

There are two trays that rest on top of a base piece. The two trays hook together in the center. The left tray has some figured piping and the bottom of the pan is slats with gaps between them. It is divided horizontally into two parts. The right tray is divided horizontally into three parts, with a sealed base.

The base piece is supported by two legs on its left side and a rectangular base on its right side. On the left side, above the legs, it extends past the left tray and has a small oval opening. The base piece is formed generally into an arch. The left side of the base is a shallow pan, with a slant down to a deeper section that has slats at the bottom.

The entire model is metal, painted silver, and features the label “SOULES KING EVAPORATOR AND ARCH / Mfg By / GEO. H. SOULE CO. / St. Albans, Vt.

1985.21.1a-c

Made by George H. Soule Company in St. Albans, VT

Patent Model

Patent model of a new system for sleigh brakes.

The model is of the chassis system of a sleigh only, constructed from metal and wood. The wood is painted blue. The sleigh rails are in two pieces, and the chassis can pivot at the center. The braking system can be activated from the middle of the chassis, and drops a metal hook down from the rear of the chassis to drag into the snow.

On a strip of wood at the front of the chassis is a small metal plaque with the inscription “B.F. WHEELER’S / PATENT JULY 21ST 1868”

1966.19.1

Made by Benjamin F. Wheeler of Calais, Vermont

Label from an exhibit says, "The brakes were constructed so that as the horses slowed, they applied a stopping force equal to the forward pressure of the load. If the driver wanted to back up, the brakes could easily be readjusted."

Patent Model

Patent model of a new system for carriage brakes.

The model is just the chassis and wheels of the carriage, in two pieces. The pieces are held together through a pin that connects the front axle to the body of the chassis.

The whole chassis is made of wood and metal, with four wheels, the front pair smaller than the rear. The braking system is activated when the carriage rolls backward, or by a hand brake that is connected to a lever at the left front of the chassis.

The brakes themselves are in front of the rear carriage wheels, held in place by a strip going horizontally across the width of the chassis. When the lever is activated, the wood strip slides backwards and engages the brakes.

1966.19.2a-b

Made by Benjamin F. Wheeler of Calais, VT

From a label in an exhibit: "The self-acting brake no longer stopped forward motion, but prevented a wagon from rolling backward when it was ascending a hill."

Product Model

Sales sample for a Cooley Creamer, manufactured by the Vermont Farm Machinery Company.

Wooden box painted green, gold, and black with a tin lined interior. On the outside of the box are elaborate painted decorations as well as the lettering “COOLEY CREAMER” at the top front in black letters shadowed with gold. On the front gold panels are the words “MANUF’D BY / VERMONT FARM MACHINE CO / BELLOWS FALLS, VT, U.S.A. / PATENTS ISSUED / FEB 10 1877, AUG 28 1877, JULY 17, 1883” There is also a metal slot on the top of the front panel above the words. The whole box is held off the ground by two pieces of wood on the bottom. On the right hand side is a crank connected to three gears as well as two additional levers.

On the underside of the lid, the words “INVENTED BY / WILLIAM COOLEY / OF WATERBURY, VT.” are painted in black. The lid is held open by two chains connecting diagonally to the box. Inside the box, four metal cylinders rest on a platform that raises or lowers with a system of gears. The cans have spigots and gauges and removable lids.

1957.19

William Cooley of Waterbury patented this creamer in the 1870s as the dairy industry began booming, and it was sold and distributed nationally by the Vermont Farm Manufacturing Company of Bellows Falls.

Radio

Large table with radio built into it.

The table has six legs, ornately turned, and connected by a central bracing system at the floor level. There are two plug outlets in two of the table legs. The table itself is shaped as a hexagon, with two long sides making it more oval-shaped. There is deep and elaborately decorated trim around the tabletop.

One side piece drops horizontally to expose a radio face with dials and band indicator. The trim and legs are painted black.

The tabletop is stained wood grain, and lifts up to expose the radio at the interior. The radio itself, an Atwater Kent Model 55C, takes up most of the interior space of the table. The radio is labeled Serial #4380032.

1978.14.1a-c

Made by Atwater Kent Manufacturing Company

Rowing Machine

Chromed metal rowing machine consisting of a leather seat on a long metal pole and a bicycle wheel with plastic sheets to create air resistance. The machine rests on the ground in two places: at the end of the horizontal pole, and at the joint between the horizontal and diagonal poles. The base at the far end has holes for bolting the machine down, while the base at the join has rubber caps. There are two wooden footrests attached at a forty-five degree angle at the join. The butterfly-shaped seat is oriented toward the wheel and moves relatively freely along the base pole. At the midpoint of the diagonal pole is a wooden stand with turned handle, a maker's label, and a speed gauge. At the end of the pole is a bicycle wheel with black plastic rectangles attached within the spokes.

2012.8

Developed and manufactured by Concept2 in Morrisville, Vermont.

Sap Bucket

Folded birch bark sap bucket, also called a “quick basket.” The bucket is made of several layers of birch bark, folded together to form a holding vessel. The white part of the birch bark faces the exterior of the basket.

A piece of wood crosses the top of the bucket and pierces the birch bark at the top of the folds. Metal wire is attached to the piece of wood. The wire would have been hung on a wooden sap spile for collecting maple sap.

2017.3.7

According to the donor, this 19th century birch bark sap bucket, or “quick basket,” was used to collect maple sap for sugaring in northern Vermont.

Steam Engine

Steam engine patent model. A tin cylinder with soldered edges, closed off on all sides, with two concave metal handles creates the majority of the model. The drum has two openings: the steam outlet and a brass feed opening. The steam outlet ends in a t-shape that balances a rotating piston and rods.

1900.2

Invented by Samuel Morey of Fairlee, who used it to power a small boat, this was one of the earliest working piston steam engines in America.

Still Bank

Still bank in the form of a Vermont Castings, Inc., Defiant wood stove. Has four legs and has the outline of doors on the front and on the side panels. Imprinted at the top on each side panel: "DEFIANT" and on the back along the bottom: "VERMONT CASTINGS INC". All sides, the top, and the bottom are cast separately and are puzzled together and held in place by a long bolt inserted into the bottom and threaded into the top interior. The coin slit is inside the short chimney.

2008.38.6

Produced by Vermont Castings, Inc. in Randolph, VT.

Television

Gray and black metal television with a small glass screen on the front. The rectangular screen is placed behind a round, slightly convex piece of glass set into the proper left side of the machine. The top half of the front as well as the body is covered in silver metal punched throughout with small holes to allow both sound from the speakers and heat from the machine to escape. The lower half of the front panel is black metal with three large openings for knobs (now missing) and fourteen small openings for knobs (still in place). The front is labeled in two places with the manufacturer's logo and name, "the hallicrafters co."

2007.51

Used by George Dilley in his first and second attempts to watch TV atop Burke Mountain; described as one of the first televisions in Vermont. Vermont did not have a TV Station/Signal until 1954 when WCAX built the first transmitter atop Mt. Mansfield.

Theodolite

Metal theodolite, a device used to measure angles between points on a horizontal and vertical plane.
Central telescope attached to a central rod that can be turned by use of a wheel on one side. The rod is mounted on four metal legs that rest on a flat disc. On that disc are a two levels and a compass, all made of metal and glass.

On the compass is the inscription “BUFF & BUFF MFG CO / 31596 / BOSTON” as well as the directional indications for E, W, and S. There is no north, indicated instead by a stylized diamond and fleur-de-lis design with “BUFF” in the center.

The disc rests on more metal legs that rest on another disc, which is attached to a wooden base. All are adjustable so the central telescope can move in any possible direction. The wooden base rests on a wooden tripod.

2011.6.1.1

Used by the Vermont Agency of Transportation while laying out the interstate highway system.

Tufting Machine

A 9.5" long tool with a 3.5"x1.125"x0.625" black enameled handle. A wooden handled crank which turns an arm is set in the center of the tool The movement drives one of four adjustable hollow tubes. The tool is contained within a red cardboard box along with three additional needles, three pattern gauges, and a threading wire.

2014.60.269a-j

Typewriter

Early typograph, or typewriter. Small rectangular metal box with six convex keys at one end in two rows, three to a row. The other end of the box is curved. The lid of the box opens to reveal an internal printing mechanism, with a roller for paper, printing keys, and levers. The device is broken and many of the internal components are loose; it’s not clear precisely how they would have fit together.

1982.6.1

Made and used by Benjamin Livermore of Hartland, VT.