Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Timken Roller Bearing Company Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0380
Creators:
Timken Roller Bearing Company
Pauly, Frank G.
United States. Bureau of Mines
Dates:
1925-1957
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.15 Cubic feet
1 box
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Primarily technical papers by Timken engineers, presented in journals and meetings of professional societies. The papers concern the use of Timken roller bearings and other products in locomotives and other rolling stock on U.S. railroads and rapid transit systems. Also articles from trade magazines and brochures advertising Timken products, and a 1925 U.S. Bureau of Mines study of friction in mine-car wheels.
Scope and Contents
The material in this collection primarily consists of technical papers written by Timken engineers which were presented in journals and meetings of professional societies. The papers all deal with the use of Timken roller bearings and other products in locomotives and other rolling stock on U.S. railroads and rapid transit systems. In addition to professional papers, there are also articles from trade magazines and brochures advertising Timken products. A 1925 U.S. Bureau of Mines study of friction in mine car wheels is also included.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
The Timken Roller Bearing Co., of Canton, Ohio, produced its first tapered roller bearings in the 1890s. The bearings were first used in horse drawn vehicles and later in automobiles. As automobiles improved in design, power, and endurance, Timken made improvements in its bearings to compensate. The company soon realized that the only way to ensure quality in its product was through the production of its own special alloy steel. It organized the Timken Steel & Tube Company to supply both itself and other manufacturers with high grade steel. In the late 1920s, the company entered the railroad equipment supply market with special tapered bearings for use in locomotives. Timken continued to supply components for use in the railroad rolling stock, automotive, and other manufacturing industries. It set high standards for such products, both in engineering and materials quality.
Biographical / Historical
The Timken Roller Bearing Co., Canton, Ohio, produced its first tapered roller bearings in the 1890s. The bearings were first used in horse-drawn vehicles and later in automobiles. As automobiles improved in design, power, and endurance, Timken made improvements in its bearings to compensate. The company soon realized that the only way to ensure quality in its product was through the production of its own special alloy steel. It organized the Timken Steel & Tube Company to supply itself and other manufacturers with high-grade steel. In the late 1920s, the company entered the railroad equipment supply market with special tapered bearings for locomotives.

Administration

Author
Don Darroch
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was donated to the Archives Center, National Museum of American History, on September 25, 1990, by Frank G. Pauly. Mr. Pauly had been employed as a Sales Engineer in Timken's Railroad Division, working out of the Chicago Sales Office, which was closed in 1966.
Processing Information
Processed by Don Darroch, volunteer, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, 1990.

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
Timken Roller Bearing Company Collection, 1925-1927, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Technical reports Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Articles -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Pamphlets Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Professional papers Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Canton (Ohio) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ohio Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Transportation Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Railroads -- Rolling-stock Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Locomotives Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Roller bearings Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Steel alloys Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Railroads -- Cars -- Bearings Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bearings (Machinery) Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Railroad equipment industry Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Railroads -- Equipment and supplies Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mining equipment Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mine railroads Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Locomotive industry Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Friction Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-3270
Fax Number: Fax: 202-786-2453
archivescenter@si.edu