* Exhibit Pages are Under Construction
The Vista Forge of the California Blacksmith Association offers classes in blacksmithing at several skill levels, providing the opportunity to try an ancient craft, make some useful and decorative pieces, and learn classic techniques of both tool making and architectural ironwork. We meet on the grounds of the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, where we are surrounded by steam traction engines, threshers, huge old Caterpillars and other marvels of the mid-19th to 20th century technologies. Our barn up on the hill (Building G) has 17 forging stations, and shares space with a wheelwright shop and a line shaft powered machine shop. During twice-annual fairs, the single-cylinder kerosene engine in the Blacksmith barn is fired up allowing the blacksmiths to use the 200 pound Bradley Helve power hammer. Gas Engine Row
Gas Engine Row displays the Museum’s collection of large gas and diesel engines, some of which are the only existing examples left. Engines like the ones at the Museum were used from the 1890’s to the 1940’s for powering everything from farms to factories. After the 1940’s there was a lessening need for many of these engines as electricity became more available and higher horsepower electric motors were developed. As a result many of the engines from that time were left abandon or sent to the Scrap yard. Steam Engine Row
Displayed on Steam Engine Row at the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum are more than 20 fully operational steam engines dating back to the 1860's. They range in size from 10HP to 300 HP including vertical and horizontal engines, using many different types of valve mechanisms. A number of Steam driven oil and water pumps are included along with steam driven air compressors. Steam is provided for the displays operation from two horizontal trane return flue boilers and a back up Duton Vertical Boiler. Currently a "Ball Steam Engine" that powered the first electrical power plant on Santa Catalina Island in 1902 is being restored. The engine was donated by Southern California Edison Company. Engine manufactures include: Allis Chalmers, Green Field, Vilter, Worthington, Skinner, Ohmen, Star, Peerless, Union, Farrar and Trefts, Jamos Leffer, Nagel, Wachs, Idea Ajax, Orr & Sembower, Frost, Ball and Many More.
Imagine walking into the past and seeing weaving looms used by women and men during the Civil War. Also imagine the same place where there are over 50 weaving looms stretching from those Civil War times to modern times with computer operated looms. The Weaving Barn focuses on connecting the past with the future with examples of equipment to spin and weave. On display is also outstanding award winning woven pieces by a renowned artist Bill Rafnel, the weaving barn’s facilitator. Check out some pieces for sale by the over 25 weavers who meet most Thursday to weave and teach each other. Weaving classes are available. | Farmhouse & Parlor
Representing the turn of the century the Museum Farmhouse with its antique furnishings gives a peek back in time to how things might have been. Starting with the kitchen we can see a gorgeous cast-iron and enamel wood burning stove surly the envy of all. To learn to cook on this stove takes patience, a stove like this can take thirty to forty minutes to reach a good cooking heat, the lady of the house would need to master fueling as well as how to adjust the drafts and dampers. Furniture as storage in a kitchen was not only practical it gave an area to showcase some of the more collected items like the Yellow -ware bowls, crocks, and enamel ware. Lots of things that might have been found in a kitchen would have been a butter churn, ice box and a wash board. How about a work table that kept flower and sugar and if you were lucky you might also have an inside pump for water. Most farmhouses would have “eat in kitchens” like this one for family meals. A special furniture item would be a Step-back which held the families day to day dishes below and grandmas’ blue and white china above for all to see. The parlor here is filled with furniture from the turn of the century from the velvet tufted settee to the needle point covered side chairs, tables and for warmth a wood burning parlor stove. For the family’s entertainment a Victorian pump organ, what a wonderful way to spend a nice evening. The museum's collection of treadle sewing machines is to the right of the parlor as well as the sizable antique quilting rack, where the ladies would gather for quilting sessions.
The Short Track Railroad is an N' Scale model railroad club. We have four (4) layouts housed in our building. We are currently constructing an accurate scale model of the Southern Pacific crossing of the Donner Pass. The location modeled is between Roseville, CA and Sparks, NV. We have a large portable layout constructed to the N' Track standard. Boy Scouts, earning their merit badges for model railroading, constructed another layout. The last and smallest layout is dedicated to children. We allow responsible children to actually operate a train. The Short Track Railroad is open every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and during most special events. Steam Traction Engines
These Steam Traction Engines are a part of the American industrial revolution. These tractors replaced the horse for the heaviest work on the American farm and allowed a farmer to work much larger farms than they could with horses. The growing of more food was needed to support the growing population. They could be bought new from about 1860 through 1924. Gas & Diesel Tractors
Many of the earliest applications of the internal combustion engine were stationary power plants used in farming and industry. By the early 1900’s horsepower began replacing horse power on the farm and in construction. The museum hosts an extensive collection of kerosene, gasoline and diesel tractors covering the era of early experimentation in mobile power through the hey-day of the mechanized family farm in the 1950’s. |
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