1869, Boston US – Exhibition of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics Association (11th)

Forward to 1869, San Francisco US – Industrial Exhibition of the Mechanics’ Institute (7th)
Back to 1869, Amsterdam NL – International Exhibition of Domestic Economy
Back to Getting Noticed – Back to VOLUME II Index – Back to bobdenton.com home

1869 Boston

Name:	Exhibition of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics Association (11th)
Dates:	15 Sep – 6 Oct 1869
Days:	22 days
Venue:	Faneuil and Quincy HallsFaneuil and Quincy Halls
Theme:	American trade and industry
Exhibitors:
Awards:
Visitors:
Legacy:

The organiser was the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics’ Association with Charles E Emery as its General
Superintendent of the Fair.

This was the eleventh in the series of Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics’ Association events.

Machinery featured prominently, but the number of exhibits caused the event to open late as an extension to the venue was necessary to enable the required drive shafts. There were three boilers used to provide the steam energy – Root of NY, Harrison of Philadelphia and Salisbury.

Fishkill Landing Machine Works exhibited a 30hp horizontal engine, and Babcock & Wilcox and Corliss both showed an 80hp engine. There were comparative test runs during the event.

Lyall’s positive motion loom was much commented upon. A Scientific American, article on it was reported as
extensively copied in American and foreign papers and periodicals.

Several planing, tongueing and grooving machines were on show:

Sewing machines were something of a feature. Wheeler & Wilson Company of Connecticut produced more machines in the 1850s and 1860s than any other manufacture. Wilson also invented the four-motion feed mechanism that is still seen on every sewing machine today. This had a forward, down, back and up motion, which drew the cloth through in an even and smooth motion. Wheeler & Wilson won many prizes at various exhibitions and used ‘The Best in the World’ in its advertising. There were many patent infringements at this period and some refer to this period as the ‘Sewing Machine War’.