Marvelous Machines

One of the great things about the Charles River Museum of Industry, according to our visitors, is that many of the objects we have on display are somewhat mysterious.

Scattered throughout the museum is an assortment of machines that perform various tasks that many folks rarely encounter. A vintage machine that makes 40,000 candy bags per hour. A behemoth of a machine that makes tiny tacks and the rivets you find in blue jeans. A player piano with its works exposed, and a piano player, designed to mechanically tickle the ivories of one's own parlor piano.

Add to these a glass lathe, a water wheel governor, an Edwardian-era telephone booth, switchboard, and a foot-powered printing press, and you'll agree that the Charles River Museum of Industry has a delightful surprise around every turn. Each is fascinating and in its own way beautiful. You'll never think about machines the same way again!

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Marvelous Machines

Paper bag machine,
circa 1920

Tack machine, circa 1890

Chase & Baker player piano, circa 1885

Simplex piano player, circa 1930

Pearl printing press, 1907

Raytheon glass lathe

Lombard water wheel governor, circa 1900

Long distance telephone booth/switchboard