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Nelson W. Twiss - Nelson W. Twiss, The Twiss Automatic Patent Cut-Off Engine

7/7/2026 12:27:50 PM

Manufacturer: Nelson W. Twiss
Title: Nelson W. Twiss, The Twiss Automatic Patent Cut-Off Engine
Source: The Mechanical Engineer, V11, 08 Mar, 1886, pg. 49

Description: THE TWISS AUTOMATIC PATENT CUT OFF ENGINE. Our engravings represent an automatic engine winch has been in use for sums time in certain localities, with excellent results as regards economy and regularity of motion. It peculiarity consists in the valves and valve-motions, which engineers will understand by reference to the engraving. As will be seen, the valves arc at the bottom of the cylinder, thus affording thorough drainage of the same. Also, that the live steam-valve and exhaust-valve are in one piece. On the back of the live steam-valves are the cut-off valves, which are operated in the usual way, by eccentrics in both cases, one stem passing through the other. The cut-off valve, as will be seen by the arrows, has a double port, whereby the travel for the admission of a given volume of steam is much reduced; both cut-off and main valves are under direct pressure, and in engines of large size the eccentric-rod on the main valve has a hook which can be disconnected at once to work the engine backward if required. The automatic regulation of the engine is effected by the interposition of a link, the block in it being raised or lowered by the governor, thus varying the point of cut-off; the range of this is from zero to five-eighths of the stroke of piston. Change of regulation is effected while the engine is running by adding or removing the weights on the governor-bob. These engines have given excellent satisfaction wherever introduced; the mechanical details being of the very best material and superior workmanship. Having no trips, or disengaging apparatus, all parts being positively connected, the repairs required are reduced to their lowest terms. They are built from 20 h.p. to 100 h.p., and are warranted to perform the duty stated for them. The builder also furnishes small, plain slide-valve vertical engines, and yacht engines with link-motions, of superior quality. Address for pricelists, Nelson W. Twiss, 25 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, Conn. US Patent: 1,006,808 https://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?number=1006808&typeCode=0

Nelson W. Twiss - Nelson W. Twiss, The Twiss Corliss Engine Valve Gear

7/7/2026 12:30:18 PM

Manufacturer: Nelson W. Twiss
Title: Nelson W. Twiss, The Twiss Corliss Engine Valve Gear
Source: The Engineer, V38, 15 Jun., 1901, pgs. 216-217

Description: THE TWISS-NELSON W. TWISS. The Twiss engine is of the automatic cutoff type, and resembles the Corliss engine in many respects that is, in the general design of the frame, crosshead, connecting rod, governor and in minor details. The general arrangement of the valves in the Twiss engine is shown in fig. 183, which represents a sectional view of the cylinder and the main and cutoff valves. The main valve, which is cylindrical in form, is fitted to the bore of the chest, and is bored out so as to form the cutoff valve seat on its inner surface, the cutoff valve being contained within the main valve as shown. The stem of the main valve is also hollow, through which passes the cutoff valve stem. The stems are connected to the valve in the manner shown in fig. 184. The several parts of the releasing mechanism are placed on the valve stems, outside of the bonnet, in the following order (note fig. 185): Next to the bonnet is placed stop A and the knockoff cam a, which is actuated by the governor; then comes the long lever B, to which is attached the hook c, then the bell crank lever D, which is attached to the cutoff valve stem, and at the outer end of the cutoff valve stem is the spring case e, containing a spring as shown. The operation of this gear may be understood by referring to fig. 186 which shows the knockoff cam, lever B and the bell crank lever D, which actuates the cutoff valve. The other members have been omitted to avoid confusion. The three parts mentioned now occupy their proper positions at the commencement of the stroke. Fig. 187 represents the relative positions of the parts when the lever b has reached its extreme position to the left (in the drawing), and the cutoff valve as having been closed. The lever D is actuated by the spring in the spring case, the spring being now relaxed. When the lever b returns to the position shown in fig. 186, it winds up the spring, so that by the time the hook c engages the catch block d the spring will be wound up and ready to move the lever when it shall again be released by the hook. The movement of lever D is stopped at the proper point by the fixed stop a, on the end of the bonnet. This stop, however, only comes into play with a very early cutoff. It will also be noticed that as lever b returns to engage lever D, fig. 186, the piston in the dashpot is drawn outward, in other words the cylinder is drawn to the left and away from the piston, and remains so until the latter lever is released by the hook, when it is pushed into the cylinder and by the compression of a certain quantity of air its motion is cushioned, thereby avoiding any jar when it reaches the fixed stop A, on the bonnet. The operation of the valves in the chest corresponding to the movements of the releasing gear just described may be readily understood by the inspection of fig. 183, which represents the relative positions of the main and cutoff valves at the head end and at the commencement of the stroke of the piston. SETTING THE VALVES. To set the valves, first place the crank on the dead center nearest the cylinder. Then remove the bonnets on the front side of the engine. If marks representing the valve and port do not appear at the ends of the valves and on the valve seat they should first be made. Then place the valves in their proper center nearest the cylinder. Then remove the bonnets on the front side of the engine. If marks representing the valve and port do not appear at the ends of the valves and on the valve seat they should first be made. Then place the valves in their proper positions in the chests and have the eccentric turned from one dead center to the other to see that the valves open the ports wide, or an equal amount, at each end of the cylinder. If they do. the eccentric rod will be the proper length, but if one port is opened farther than the other the eccentric rod must be lengthened or shortened, as the case may be. until both ports are opened an equal amount when the eccentric occupies the dead centers. Now turn the eccentric to the dead center nearest the cylinder. The port at the head end of the engine will now be wide open. Have the eccentric turned around on the shaft in the opposite direction to that in which the engine is to run until the main valve shall have dosed the port to within one-thirty-second inch. Have the eccentric fixed to the shaft at this point. Then turn the crank to the opposite dead center and see if lite opposite steam port—the one nearest the crank—is open an equal amount. If it is not, but is open too far or not quite enough, adjust it by moving the valve and by lengthening or shortening the eccentric rod. Care must be exercised in doing this, however, for if the lead is not right on the crank end and is adjusted by altering the length of the eccentric rod, it must be evident that this will disturb the valve at the head end. Therefore, when an adjustment of the valve mentioned is made, the crank must be again turned to the dead center nearest the cylinder and the lead of the valve at the head and adjusted by means of the right and left connections between the two vertical levers on the main valve stems. When the crank is on the center nearest the cylinder, the hook should have just engaged the catch block on the bell crank lever and the cutoff valve must then have opened the ports in the main valve wide. The stop next to the bonnet should be adjusted as to permit the hook to engage the catch block and no more. If this has been properly attended to and the main valves properly set. the ports in the main valve (not the cylinder) will be found to be open wide. To equalize the cutoff turn the engine slowly in the direction in which it is to run until the cutoff, say on the head end occurs. Measure along the guides the distance the piston has moved and lay off the same distance beginning at the opposite end of the guides. Now have the crank turned in the same direction as before, past the center, until the crosshead reaches the line where the cutoff should occur. If it does not occur at the proper point, the governor rod connected to the knockoff cam corresponding to the valve, which fails to cut off properly must be lengthened or shortened until, upon bringing the crosshead slowly up to thee line, the valve finally closed at the proper point. This may require a few trials before exact results are attained. The speed of the engine may be varied by adding to or taking from the weights suspended from the governor. To reverse the direction of rotation in this engine, proceed in the same manner as previously described, remembering that when setting the eccentric, it is to be turned in the opposite direction to that in which it is desired to have the engine run. US Patent: 1,006,808 https://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?number=1006808&typeCode=0

Nelson W. Twiss - 1868 text ad - Twiss, Pratt & Hayes, engineers and machinist

7/5/2026 6:51:57 PM

Manufacturer: Nelson W. Twiss
Title: 1868 text ad - Twiss, Pratt & Hayes, engineers and machinist
Source: 1868 Benham's New Haven City Directory page 369

Description:

Nelson W. Twiss - 1869 text ad - Twiss, Pratt & Hayes

7/5/2026 6:49:41 PM

Manufacturer: Nelson W. Twiss
Title: 1869 text ad - Twiss, Pratt & Hayes
Source: 1869 Benham's New Haven City Directory

Description:

Columbian Vise & Manufacturing Co. - 1926 Article - Incorporation Filed

7/5/2026 1:58:12 PM

Manufacturer: Columbian Vise & Manufacturing Co.
Title: 1926 Article - Incorporation Filed
Source: The Plain Dealer, May 11, 1926, pg. 11

Description:

Mackies (1921) Ltd.; Mackies Engineering Co. - 1925 ad - MackieS (1921) Ltd., hand jointer

7/5/2026 9:54:22 AM

Manufacturer: Mackies (1921) Ltd.; Mackies Engineering Co.
Title: 1925 ad - MackieS (1921) Ltd., hand jointer
Source: June 1925 Indian and Eastern Engineer page xxvii

Description:

John Adt & Son - 1884 ad - Hardware Manufacturers' Machinery

7/5/2026 8:25:16 AM

Manufacturer: John Adt & Son
Title: 1884 ad - Hardware Manufacturers' Machinery
Source: 1884 New Haven City Directory page 16

Description:

E. E. Garvin & Co. - 1884 ad - No. 2 Power Milling Machine

7/5/2026 8:21:23 AM

Manufacturer: E. E. Garvin & Co.
Title: 1884 ad - No. 2 Power Milling Machine
Source: 1884 New Haven City Directory page xviii

Description:

Campbell, Whittier & Co. - 1884 ad - Whittier Machine Co.

7/5/2026 8:16:10 AM

Manufacturer: Campbell, Whittier & Co.
Title: 1884 ad - Whittier Machine Co.
Source: 1884 New Haven City Directory

Description:

Nelson W. Twiss - Nelson W. Twiss, The Twiss Corliss Engine Valve Gear

7/5/2026 4:21:43 PM

Manufacturer: Nelson W. Twiss
Title: Nelson W. Twiss, The Twiss Corliss Engine Valve Gear
Source: Power & the Engineer, V30, 08 Jun., 1909, pg. 1035

Description: The Twiss Corliss Engine In Fig. 1 is shown the general lines of the Twiss Corliss engine manufactured by Nelson W. Twiss, 28 Whitney Avenue, New Haven. Conn. The frame is of the well-known Corliss girder type, the cylinder. frame and pillow block being cast separately and bolted together. The cylinder is provided with four double-ported Corliss valves the exhaust valves bring of the plug type with exhaust ports cored through them, thus securing a minimum amount of clearance. The steam valves are constructed to raise from their seats whenever the pressure in the cylinder exceeds the pressure in the steam chest. The valves are driven by means of suitable lugs or project ions on the valves and corresponding recesses in the valve stems. The exhaust valves are operated by arms keyed to the outer ends of the valve stems, the arms being connected by an adjustable rod and operated through suitable connections, as is usually found in the Corliss type of engine. The main feature of this engine is the construction of the steam-valve gear, which is shown in Fig. 2. In Fig. 3 are shown all of the parts found in the valves and valve-gear construction. An explanation of the valve gear follows: On a fixed extension of each steam bonnet, a bell-crank lever is journaled, the two being connected by an adjustable rod and operated by means of an eccentric rod: the eccentric rod not being shown in Fig. 2. On the arm of each bell- crank is pivoted the steam hook which engages with the steam arm keyed to the valve stem. The bell-crank levers engage the steam-valve hook as is usual with Corliss engines; that is. when one of the steam hook is engaged with die steam arm it opens the steam valve until the inner leg of the hook comes in contact with the trip toe on the knockoff lever, when it is di-engaged and the valve immediately closed by a spiral spring on the extension of the valve stem. The inner end of each spring is connected with the outer end of each steam bonnet, the outer end being connected to the cup which covers the spring and is secured to the valve stem by set screw- This provides a convenient method of adjusting the tension of the springs, and in order to do this it is only necessary to unscrew the set screws, shown in the cup, and with a small rod placed in the hole, shown on the right-hand valve, move the cup in the desired direction to adjust the spring with either more or less tension, as the case may demand. On the Twiss engine no dashpots are employed, as the valves are closed by means of the wound spring, shown in Fig. 3, which is enclosed in the cup, shown at the end of the valve gear, Fig. 2. To ensure noiseless closing of each steam valve, an air-tight piston is secured to the steam arm of each, as shown, fitted with a suitable adjusting snap ring and fitted in the cylinder which is supported by a bracket secured to the outer end of each steam bonnet. The bottom of each air pot is fitted with a leather washer, having a hole in it communicating to the pet cock screwed in the bottom. In the side of the air cylinder, not over ½ inch from the bottom, is drilled a ?-inch hole which is covered before the plunger reaches the bottom of the cylinder, but as the plunger is raised above the hole, air is admitted which permits the plunger to travel the rest of its movements without undue force being exerted upon it. As the spring closes the valve, the plunger is forced down into the cylinder with a free, easy movement until it passes the hole in the bottom of the cylinder, when air is entrapped and is then compressed, thus preventing any shock in the seating of the steam valve. The amount of air confined in the cylinder and compressed is regulated by a pet cock screwed in the bottom but not shown in Fig. 2. By adjusting this pet cock the valve can be made to close practically noiselessly. The knock-off levers are connected with the governor which regulates the point of cutoff as in all Corliss-engine construction. The exhaust valves are operated by a separate eccentric. This valve gear can be placed upon any Corliss engine without making other changes. It is simple, does away with the cumbersome dashpot and admits of high speed for Corliss-engine operation. US Patent: 1,006,808 https://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?number=1006808&typeCode=0

Nelson W. Twiss - 1874-76 ads - Nelson W. Twiss, steam engines

7/4/2026 12:04:08 PM

Manufacturer: Nelson W. Twiss
Title: 1874-76 ads - Nelson W. Twiss, steam engines
Source: 1874-5 and 1875-6 Benham's New Haven City Directory

Description:

Morse Twist Drill & Machine Co. - Morse Twist Drill & Machine Co., Face Grinding Machine

6/1/2026 11:32:00 PM

Manufacturer: Morse Twist Drill & Machine Co.
Title: Morse Twist Drill & Machine Co., Face Grinding Machine
Source: Morse 1904 Catalogue, pg. 244

Description:

Kröner & Reimer - 1901 ad - Kröner & Reimer

5/2/2026 1:25:20 PM

Manufacturer: Kröner & Reimer
Title: 1901 ad - Kröner & Reimer
Source: 1901-01-01 Central Zeitung fu¨r Optik und Mechanik, page 1

Description: "Alleinige Specialität / Exacteste Ausführung / Preisblätter kostenfrei" translates to "Exclusive specialty / Most precise design / Price lists free of charge".

Delta / Rockwell Mfg / Rockwell-Delta - 1965 ad - Holzbearbeitung von A bis Z mit den weltberühmten Rockwell-Maschinen

4/27/2026 2:00:56 AM

Manufacturer: Delta / Rockwell Mfg / Rockwell-Delta
Title: 1965 ad - Holzbearbeitung von A bis Z mit den weltberühmten Rockwell-Maschinen
Source: Selbst ist der Mann, January 1965

Description: German ad for Rockwell machines in the German DIY magazine "Selbst ist der Mann"

Robert H. Lash Ltd. - 1917 ad - Lathe chucks, drill chucks

4/25/2026 8:47:40 AM

Manufacturer: Robert H. Lash Ltd.
Title: 1917 ad - Lathe chucks, drill chucks
Source: 1917-10-05 Engineering Supplement, page xxx

Description:

McIlvanie Machine Works - McIlvanie Machine Works

4/21/2026 3:33:20 PM

Manufacturer: McIlvanie Machine Works
Title: McIlvanie Machine Works
Source: Scandinavian American, Sunday Feb 1, 1948. Pg. 9

Description: An ad in the newspaper describing the manufacturing line of this company.

Automac (Automated Tool & Machinery Co., Ltd.) - 1983 ad - Receivership sale, Automac-Plada Machinery Ltd.

4/14/2026 11:38:22 PM

Manufacturer: Automac (Automated Tool & Machinery Co., Ltd.)
Title: 1983 ad - Receivership sale, Automac-Plada Machinery Ltd.
Source: June/July 1983 Toronto Globe & Mail

Description:

Stone & Hazelton - 1879 article - New wire chuck (collet chuck)

3/24/2026 11:15:03 AM

Manufacturer: Stone & Hazelton
Title: 1879 article - New wire chuck (collet chuck)
Source: 1879-08-23 American Machinist, pages 4-5

Description:

Boston Planing Saw Co. - 1878 ad - Boston Planing Saw Co., 19 Spring Lane, Boston

3/23/2026 9:59:16 PM

Manufacturer: Boston Planing Saw Co.
Title: 1878 ad - Boston Planing Saw Co., 19 Spring Lane, Boston
Source: 1878 The Boston Directory, color ads page J

Description:

Stone & Hazelton - 1878 text ad

3/24/2026 10:28:28 AM

Manufacturer: Stone & Hazelton
Title: 1878 text ad
Source: November 1878 American Machinist page 15

Description: STONE & HAZELTON, 13 Bowker Street, Boston Manufacturers of Improved Specialties for Machinists, Spring Chuck Lathes, Combination Turning and Screw Tool, Chaplin's Patent Power Planer, Improved Caliper Square. ? Send for Circular.

Stone & Hazelton - 1877 ad - Hazelton's improved caliper squre, Hazelton's combined tool and rest, improved lathes

3/23/2026 4:32:38 PM

Manufacturer: Stone & Hazelton
Title: 1877 ad - Hazelton's improved caliper squre, Hazelton's combined tool and rest, improved lathes
Source: 1877 Boston Directory page 1308

Description:

Fulton Machine & Vise Co. - 1915 Catalog - Star, F & R Vises

3/21/2026 5:34:59 PM

Manufacturer: Fulton Machine & Vise Co.
Title: 1915 Catalog - Star, F & R Vises
Source: J. M. Warren & Co. 1915 catalog, pg. 293

Description:

Duff Machine Co. - 1897-1899 ads for Armstrong-Duff Machine Co. and Duff Machine Co., unrelated to the Haverhill business

3/17/2026 10:09:28 AM

Manufacturer: Duff Machine Co.
Title: 1897-1899 ads for Armstrong-Duff Machine Co. and Duff Machine Co., unrelated to the Haverhill business
Source: As indicated below each ad

Description:

Production Manufacturing Co. - 1947 Article - New Shaper Introduced

2/18/2026 4:11:43 PM

Manufacturer: Production Manufacturing Co.
Title: 1947 Article - New Shaper Introduced
Source: "Wood: The Magazine of the Forest Products Industry". Vol. 2, Nov. 1947. Pg. 30

Description: The article lists features of the shaper and mentions the inventor.

Sidney Tool Co. - 1915 article - Sidney's new 17" and 19" double back-geared engine lathes

1/12/2026 9:36:12 AM

Manufacturer: Sidney Tool Co.
Title: 1915 article - Sidney's new 17" and 19" double back-geared engine lathes
Source: December 1915 Machinery page 339

Description: