The New England Wireless and Steam MuseumNEWSM Logo


1300 Frenchtown Road
East Greenwich, RI 02818 USA
Telephone: 401-885-0545
Robert W. Merriam, Director




Colt Fire Arms
William Baxter Steam Engine
This single cylinder engine has the cylinder located in the top of a three pass vertical fire tube boiler to minimize heat loss. It has a 7" bore, an 8" stroke and produces 10 HP. It has three eccentrics on the crankshaft for the slide valve, the feed pump, and an optional cut-off control. It was designed by William Baxter and built by the Colt Fire Arms factory in Hartford CT about 1868. Colt lost much of their firearm business after the Civil War and manufactured steam engines as an attempt to diversify their business. It was a very popular design and almost 300,000 were built between 1868 and1898. This engine was later used as a heating boiler by the Faxon Company in Quincy, MA and subsequently donated to the museum. It was restored by George King III.

Front view of engine and boiler

Close-up of engine

For more information please e-mail: Robert W. Merriam, Director
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Web page comments and suggestions to: Michael Thompson.