Wooden Foundry Patterns from Hackett's Machine Shop in Brewer, Maine

Willowbrook was in Bangor yesterday to receive a quantity of old wooden foundry patterns. These came from Hackett's Machine Shop in Brewer, ME originally, were donated to Leonard's Mills in Bradley and put into storage in Bangor in the 1980s. Given the quantity of stuff these had been offered to several museums. The Curran Homestead, in Orrington, took a number of  patterns which will be shared for the purpose of casting projects with Willowbrook. Willowbrook took two vehicles full of these patterns which include patterns for parts for shingle mills, planers, woodworking and lumber equipment. The handmade wooden patterns date from a period when you would go to your local machine shop to have broken pieces of your machinery replicated. In the photo of the tag from Hackett's Machine Shop in Brewer, you see that things like shingle mills needed replacement parts made. The destination for these patterns will be our new machine shop scenario at the museum. These will cover the walls, and it is likely that we might cast a few of these patterns in one of our metal casting classes in the near future. Classes in metal casting are available. Contact us, we will set a date for a class.

 

The patterns were stored in the basement of a building on Columbia Street in Bangor for more than 30 years.

The Curran Homestead assisted in getting these patterns from point A to B. Much thanks to director Bruce Bowden.

This piece was originally cast by the Union Iron Works in Bangor. This was among the patterns now in The Curran Homestead's collection.

"Union Iron Works---Bangor, ME"