Answer: "What Is It" 3/26/20

In answering the question to our latest “What Is It” post on March 26, we’d like to introduce you to the Weeden Manufacturing Company. Weeden Manufacturing opened its doors in New Bedford Massachusetts in 1883 where they made and sold toy steam trains until closing their doors in 1952. The interesting part we received as a donation is called a “candlestick” upright boiler steam engine.

Upright candlestick steam boiler engine donated to us.

Another type of steam boiler engine with flywheel mounted on side.

Original location of Weeden Mtg in New Bedford.

Weeden was also involved in the manufacturing of miniature cars, steamboats, and what is now highly coveted by collectors and very rare, mechanical banks like these:

If you'd like to read more about Weeden Manufacturing just click on their name and be redirected to lots more interesting facts and even early design drawings. You can also watch, and hear! a steam engine in working order here on You Tube. 

As always, a big thank you to our hard working volunteers for their diligent research and findings!

What Is It?

Beautifully unique pieces like this one above, often find their way into our hands from donors before we can ask what it is, or get more information about it. This almost steampunk like gadget could be a valve of some kind? A vintage Swedish espresso maker? Who knows? Once it's safe to be up and running again after this Covid-19 isolation, we'll be researching it until we find it! Thanks to our volunteers who help run the Stop N Shop, we have the ability to bring you both unique and every day housewares, etc...while we have fun doing it!