Explore artifacts related to local industry below.

Bottle

Glass/Metal/Beer

A brown glass beer bottle of Simon Pure beer, brewed and bottled by the Williams Simon Brewery Co. The Williams Simon Brewery Co. operated in Buffalo from 1900-1973.

Casting Pattern

This was a wood wheel sand casting pattern for a railroad car. Bethlehem Steel Corporation was a conglomeration of several smaller steel enterprises, founded in 1904. At its height, Bethlehem Steel was the second largest steel produced and the world's biggest shipbuilder.

Crate

Wood

This is a wooden crate used by the Larkin Company to ship Larkin soap. The Larkin Company was founded in 1875 in Buffalo as a soap factory.

Pacemaker

Rubber/Plastic/Metal

In 1958, Dr. Wilson Greatbatch of Clarence, NY invented and patented the lifesaving cardiac pacemaker. Dr. Greatbatch worked alongside Dr. William M. Chardack and Dr. Andrew A. Gage to create the device and it was first used in humans at Millard Fillmore Hospital in 1960.

Platter

Ceramic

An excellent example of Emerald Deldare, designed by J. Gerhardt, which was one of the most popular pottery lines produced by the Buffalo Pottery Company. The company was started by the Larkin Soap Company in 1901.

Pierce Arrow Identification Badge

Metal/Glass/Paper

This is William Horsch’s identification badge from the Pierce Arrow plant. He was an assembly line worker until the plant closed in 1938.

Propeller

Wood

A large wooden propeller, made in the early 1920s by G. Elias Brother Inc. of Buffalo, NY. The Elias brothers came to Buffalo from Pennsylvania around 1882 to establish a lumber yard, which evolved into the G. Elias And Brother, Inc., Aircraft Department.

Railing

Iron

One section of an ornamental brass railing, including a highly decorated finial and newel post, which features hand forged bird, flowers, stems, and leaves, created by Jones Iron Works. The section of railing is from Mrs. E.L. Miller's residence and the bronze finial and newel post is said to come from the George Rand home.

Ribbon Badge (Front)

Silk/Metal

A silk ribbon badge for the Buffalo chapter of the International Association of Mechanics, Lodge No. 245. This reversible union ribbon is black and silver on one side, to be worn to members’ funerals, and red, white, and blue on the reverse, to be worn to meetings.

Ribbon Badge (Back)

Silk/Metal

A silk ribbon badge for the Buffalo chapter of the International Association of Mechanics, Lodge No. 245. This reversible union ribbon is black and silver on one side, to be worn to members’ funerals, and red, white, and blue on the reverse, to be worn to meetings.

Rocket Engine

Metal

This is the Bell Agena Rocket Engine, Model n. 8096. The Agena was built by Bell Aerospace Division of Textron in Wheatfield, NY near Niagara Falls. The first Agena flew in 1959. The engine was important in developing rockets that eventually sent men to the moon with NASA's Apollo missions.