Photo Index - Chase Turbine Manufacturing Co. - Foundry Patterns

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Chase Turbine Manufacturing Co.
West Concord, VT: Orange, MA

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Other
Machine Size:	small to large
Submitted By:	Benjamin Campbell

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Foundry Patterns
Date of Manufacturer:	1860's to 1890's
Serial Number:
Last Updated	8/16/2005 6:54:38 PM

Comments:

These foundry patterns are still a sore subject with me. Just as I was becoming interested in this stuff in the late 80s or early 90s the antique market was flooded with literally tens of thousands of casting patterns from the Chase Turbine Manufacturing Company of Orange Massachusetts and their predecessor "The Turbine Water Wheel Manufacturing Company". Machine frames, bearing hangers and their accompanying bearings in graduated sizes (some with huge fluted columns), saw mill patterns representing every little change made over the years. Graduated bevel gears for turbines from small to six feet and over, curved spoke pulley patterns, wood, iron, and aluminum patterns. A company's entire product line from start to finish.

When Chase went out the patterns were sold by the truck load to a number of antique dealers. While the most decorative pieces sold quickly, thousand of others languished in the back of warehouses, the rain, and eventually even ended up fueling a few dealer's wood stoves.

By the time I came across them the most decorative pieces had sold but there were still thousands of pieces of interest to the more esoterically minded. Aside from missing the initial offering, my only regret is that I did not purchase many many more.

How cool would it have been to construct life size models of shapely planers, etc., entirely of wood, by making a few alterations and assembling the appropriate parts?

To make matters worse, it happened all over again just a few years ago. Someone had had the foresight to purchase all of the hydraulic turbines patterns in graduated sizes from those for 12 inch turbines up to their massive 80 inch wheels. Again, dealers got a hold of the lot before I was aware or their existence and cut them up for mirror frames and so on. I guess we can't save it all!

Photo 1:

Comments: Bearing patterns and one for a hanger. How many hours of labor?
Source: Note the graduated set of turbine top bearings which took lignum vitae inserts

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Photo 2:

Comments: 3 patterns for 12inch turbine c. 1875
Source:

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Photo 3:

Comments: 3 part ring oiler bearing battern with oil cellar
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