American Precision Museum — Attraction in Windsor

If you are interested in history of technology, the American Precision Museum is a little jewel. Windsor Vermont is the place were some of the world's first high volume, truly interchangeable, machined parts were manufactured. Machinery to do this was invented, developed and manufactured here, and sold both nationally and internationally, notably to Britain. In the middle of the 19th Century Vermont and New England led the world in mechanical innovation. Initially the tools were powered by a water wheel, and the light was that which came in through the windows. The phrase "Yankee ingenuity" refers to the kind of innovation in mechanical design, metal working and industrial arts which emerged here.

The American Precision Museum was founded by a curator for the Smithsonian, in one of the factories where the repeatability and accuracy in the production of machined parts, in order to permit full inter-changeability of high-volume mechanical assemblies, was first achieved. Full interchangeability of components was unknown before this. The advantage was so profound that manufacturing was changed from a craft to a science. And volume production would be forever different.

The examples which have found a home here are rather amazing. Among them are the fifty miniature machine tools models which were the life work of the tool maker John Aschauer. I first viewed these as a child of perhaps eight years old, when they were at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago. Somehow they have found a home here, along with serial number one of the Bridgeport milling machine, and other significant examples of the formidable machine tool industry, when American machine tools were broadly preferred for their accuracy and...

I’ve been wanting to visit the Precision Museum for quite some time. I was just waiting to find someone nerdy enough to join me. An old friend, and railroad buff, proved just the right cohort.

This place is awesome. They are doing some remodeling right now, so I dropped one star. I suspect, on my next visit, I can add the fifth star. And yes, there will be another visit!

Do not pass up on the 10? 12? minute movie to start. Professionally done, and really sets up the rest of the tour. The docent yesterday, named Joe, was fabulous. He put up w our questions no problem. He knows the place very well.

The garden along the river is beautiful. There was a lady reading a book there. Said she never has been inside. Just a great reading spot.

It’s small, of course, but big enough. Spend an hour and you can see everything. Spend another hour, and you can read most of the exhibits. Well...

This is my very favorite museum. Everyone there is so knowledgeable and kind. This is a very treasured site in American history, and it is where I like to go to clear my mind. It is beautiful outside by the water (which powered the factory). The exhibits inside are so well put together, attractive, and simply fascinating. Everyone, not just the engineers in the family, was very impressed.

I love this museum so much that I held my wedding rehearsal dinner there. Most rehearsal dinners are not that memorable. This was- so many guests told us it was the best they'd ever attended (and most of our guests have been to dozens and dozens of weddings). Lisa was so kind, and even gave my husband and me little souvenirs. It was more special than I could have dreamed.

Check out the gift shop too. It's...