Menlo Park Machine Shop

Summary

The presence of a machine shop (and of foreman / head machinist John Kruesi) was fundamental to the success of Menlo Park. This well-equipped facility -- built to replace the small machine shop originally installed in the laboratory -- enabled Edison and his associates to not only rapidly prototype iterations of experimental devices but also facilitate their eventual, profitable manufacture.

The presence of a machine shop (and of foreman / head machinist John Kruesi) was fundamental to the success of Menlo Park. This well-equipped facility -- built to replace the small machine shop originally installed in the laboratory -- enabled Edison and his associates to not only rapidly prototype iterations of experimental devices but also facilitate their eventual, profitable manufacture.

Artifact

Machine shop

Subject Date

circa 1879

Creators

Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village 

Place of Creation

United States, Michigan, Dearborn 

Creator Notes

Built in Greenfield Village in 1929. Replica of the original 19th century building.

Greenfield Village
 On Exhibit

at Greenfield Village in Edison at Work District

Object ID

29.3048.3

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Brick (Clay material)
Glass (Material)
Wood (Plant material)

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