North Tonawanda in Niagara County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Herschell-Spillman Steam Boiler

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, July 9, 2014

1. Herschell-Spillman Steam Boiler Marker

Inscription. In 1872 the Armitage-Herschell Company established itself as an iron foundry in North Tonawanda. The Armitage-Herschell foundry forged iron farm equipment, storm sewer grates, and many other implements. Among the others, was the steam boiler which propelled many of the farm machines.

When Allan Herschell discovered an early carrousel in New York City, propelled by a steam boiler like the one he was manufacturing, he decided to start a carousel manufacturing business. Lumber was plentiful, German wood carvers lived in North Tonawanda, and rail and water transportation were nearby to ship out the finished product. In 1883 the first "Steam Riding Gallery" was shipped from the factory.

Disastrous real estate investments marked the demise of the Armitage-Herschell Company in the early 1900's. The assets of the Company were sold to the Herschell-Spillman Company which continued the production of steam operated carrousels and went on to become the world's largest producers of amusement rides of all kinds.

The following excerpt from an early company catalog describes the steam boiler pictured here: "The boiler and engine

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which we use to drive these machines (carrousels) are of a portable type, and the most convenient ever produced for this purpose. The boiler is 30 inches in diameter, 45 inches high, has 50 two-inch tubes, is stay bolted around the fire box, reinforced at the openings where steam pipes are attached, has a hand-hole that enables the crown sheet to be easily cleaned. The boiler is mounted upon good strong axles and springs, which in turn, are supported by the latest and most approved wide-tired iron wheels...The engine is a fine, newly designed, double engine, with two cylinders, two connecting rods, and a double-throw crank shaft...There is no part of the engine that is not adjustable."

Inside the museum is a video of the steam boiler powering a 1905 Herchell-Spillman Steam Riding Gallery at Prairie Village in Madison, South Dakota.

This steam boiler has been donated to the museum by The Baird Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1872.

Location. 43° 1.768′ N, 78° 52.351′ W. Marker is in North Tonawanda, New

Herschell-Spillman Steam Boiler and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, July 9, 2014

2. Herschell-Spillman Steam Boiler and Marker

Museum admission is required to enter this area.

York, in Niagara County. It can be reached from the intersection of Thompson Street and Vandervoort Street. Marker is located on the grounds of the Hershell Carrousel Museum along and inside a fence, separating it from the parking lot, facing away from the lot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 180 Thompson Street, North Tonawanda NY 14120, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York,

specifically in Western New York,

and in the Buffalo Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Once Around is Never Enough (within shouting distance of this marker); Allan Herschell Carousel Factory (within shouting distance of this marker);

Direct View Herschell-Spillman Steam Boiler and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, July 9, 2014

3. Direct View Herschell-Spillman Steam Boiler and Marker

Proud Tribute is Here Paid (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dedicated to the Memory of Those Who Made the Greatest Sacrifice (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sweeney Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); R.R. Signal Tower (approx. 0.2 miles away); Railroad Depot (approx. ¼ mile away); Theodore Roosevelt (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in North Tonawanda.

Also see . . .
1. Herschell Carrousel Museum. (Submitted on July 20, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)
2. Allan Herschell Carousel Factory - Wikipedia. (Submitted on July 20, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)

Herschell-Spillman Steam Boiler and Back of Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, July 9, 2014

4. Herschell-Spillman Steam Boiler and Back of Marker

The larger of two operating carrousels is in the building in the background.

Herschell-Spillman Steam Boiler Stack image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, July 9, 2014

5. Herschell-Spillman Steam Boiler Stack

See the boiler stack above this sign facing the parking lot?

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. This page has been viewed 879 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 20, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.