On This Date in Minnesota History: November 6

November 6, 1875 – The new steam engine invented by James W. Wright of Minneapolis—the patent owned by Wright and Dr. Rogers—was tested today at the North Star Iron Works.

The steam was turned on and a steam indicator applied. According to a watch held by Mr. Bush, foreman of North Star Iron Works, the engine reached 2,325 revolutions per minute. A belt was then run over the pulley, to which was attached a large grind stone and a machine lathe in which a large shafting was being turned, and it ran easily, as though nothing was attached. Other tests were applied, and engine performed nobly.

The advantages claimed are, first, cheapness of construction, not costing more than one-third as much as an ordinary engine.

Second, economy of space.

Third, continuous power, having no dead entries.

Fourth, value with no friction.

Fifth, greater power and speed.

Two-thousand revolutions per minute is the greatest speed ever attained up until now by a cylinder engine, while this engine easily reached 2,300, and the owners feel confident of its making 3,000 under favorable circumstances.


Minneapolis Daily Tribune; “The New Steam Engine. The Keeley Motor Eclipsed by a Minneapolis Invention.”; Nov. 7, 1875; p. 1.

North Star Iron Works
http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~22479~740095:North-Star-Iron-Works,-Washburn,-Da?sort=pub_list_no_initialsort%2Cpub_date%2Cpub_list_no%2Cseries_no&qvq=w4s:/where%2FMinneapolis%2B(Minn.);sort:pub_list_no_initialsort%2Cpub_date%2Cpub_list_no%2Cseries_no;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=10&trs=26

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