1711. A Baker Fan, built by A.D. Baker Co. to show the power of their steam engines. The faster you turn the fan, the more load is put on the engine or tractor and the harder it is to turn. The fan's purpose was to break-in engines at the factory, it works on the principle that the power required to displace air varies as the cube of the speed of displacement, in other words, it takes eight times the power to double the speed.

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They are currently used for demonstrations at antique machinery shows.


























1712. A porthole frame from a ship:

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1713. This was part of the ventilation of a corn crib, it was placed over a hole in the floor so that air could flow and dry the corn. Some of the cribs were elevated above the ground, others had a trench under them going to the ventilation hole.

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1714. A sugar devil or fruit auger, used at the general store to loosen compacted sugar or dried fruit from a barrel. Patent number 166,171:

This tool was priced at $185, lots of entertaining guesses for it can be found at Neatorama.


Two other versions of it:



Patent number 177,863:






















1715. A clip on spout for a gallon or quart container, patent number 5,758,804:




























1716. A portable blacksmith's forge and blower, connected by an air blast pipe:




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The fire is only located directly above the the firepot:




















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Last week's set is seen below, click here to view the entire post.








More discussion and comments on these photos can be found at the newsgroup rec.puzzles. Glenwood Gardens Park