Call the Engineer: The Mill’s Signal System to the Engine Room

Over a decade ago, Mill researcher Tom Calderwood set out to photograph and identify as much of the Old Schwamb Mill’s contents as he could. Among his many interesting finds was a wooden “door bell” style button in the corner of the glue room. Beside the bell were the words: 1 Bell Call Engineer 2   … Continue reading Call the Engineer: The Mill’s Signal System to the Engine Room

Engineering, Then and Now: Peter Schwamb and the Construction of the Mount Wilson Telescope

In December of this year, NASA will try to launch the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). This project has suffered from delays, technical problems, and budget woes. In that respect, it is typical of Big Science endeavors. A century ago, the world's largest telescope was under construction in greater Boston and going through the same … Continue reading Engineering, Then and Now: Peter Schwamb and the Construction of the Mount Wilson Telescope

Animal Hide Glue: Go-To Adhesive in the Schwambs’ Frame-making Process

The Old Schwamb Mill’s glue room is one of its timeless interior spaces. Located at the northwest corner of the main building’s second floor, its windows overlook Mill Brook and Mill Lane. Indeed, the glue room is a time capsule illustrating a key step in the frame-making process: the gluing of the frame quadrants. Here, … Continue reading Animal Hide Glue: Go-To Adhesive in the Schwambs’ Frame-making Process