american precision museum

We have a very interesting visit here. The guide there gave us detailed information about the history of the various machines.

This museum had been on our bucket list, as we had seen it on a television program. In the program, there were docents actively running the machinery, and explaining what was going on. When we arrived at the museum, the attendant explained that they don't run the machines anymore because they're afraid they'll wear out. Although we didn't buy that argument, we decided to visit the museum anyway. It was very interesting, but we were still disappointed.

Fantastic exhibits of machine tools. Saw an excellent temporary exhibit of Civil War artifacts and history.

As laypeople, at first we found the explanations of the vintage machinery a bit technical, but the patient museum guide explained this machinery's importance in fostering the industrial revolution. The idea that you can make identical, interchangeable parts rapidly and in large numbers led to the world we know today. The guide demonstrated some machines, making small brass goblets and a souvenir gear. There was also a Civil War exhibit and some interesting rifles. Well worth the visit.

For more than a century, machine tools were the centerpiece of the local economy in the Upper Valley. While the process of manufacturing is far removed from most people's lives, this museum offers visitors the chance to see important pieces of industrial history. Just seeing all the machinery arrayed in this historic building, driven by the overhead, water-driven belt system, is a unique sight. Definitely check out their collection of miniature machine models, which actually work. Only wish this place was open year-round.

I attended this museum today with high hopes and was frankly disappointed. The Civil War exhibit brought me here,but other than some interesting riffles there wasn't anything I hadn't seen before. The machines lack a good description of what it is you are looking at. And finally the 8.00 admission price seems particularly steep when one sees how small the collection is. I would advise you go on Sunday when admission is free.I definitely wish that I had.

When you're in an area without much to do, you do it all. So, this museum was interesting and a real surprise. A real boon for my significant other who is a real history buff. Boring for young children unless interested in guns and machinery and how things work.

This small museum was spectacular! It offers great details and artifacts regarding Vermonters in the civil war. The museum also has many wonderful pieces of machinery used to make rifles. The docent made us a tiny goblet on the lathe and stamped a piece of brass with the museum name before turning it into a gear with another piece of machinery. It was fun to see these machines in action! A great stop on our Vermont vacation.

The American Precision Museum building is modestly appointed and seemingly inconsequential. I joked with my wife that it might contain three musket balls and a broken musket. I do so like being wrong in instances like this. The museum contains a fascinating collections of early rifles and pistols and possesses a wealth of history and significance. They were the first to develop interchangeable parts for rifles and were later visited by Samuel Colt and emissaries from the Springfield Armory who wished to study these techniques. They made innumerable rifles for the North in the Civil War. The company was founded and developed by two VT brothers who never got beyond high school. The contributions of these two to American technology and the industrial revolution are truly significant and yet almost unknown. They also designed tools to make tools that would make tools. Many of the originals are still on the museum floor and there are some working models one can study. One would think that the appeal of this museum would by largely to males, but my wife was equally fascinated. Unfortunately, we had an appointment that force us to cut our visit short after only two hours. Plan on spending more time.

Fantastic exhibit on the role played in the Civil War. The exhibit included a lot of first hand accounts and artifacts which helped make the war more "real" even though it was over 150 years ago. The permanent exhibit of precision tools was interesting. There was a docent on hand who demonstrated the use of one of the machines to show how they could make parts. The museum had a park that overlook the river next to it that runs through Windsor, but it was destroyed in the floodings from Hurricane Irene.

This was certainly a unique museum. We often don't think about how the guns for the Civil War were made or who make them. This wonderful collection of tool and dye equipment and other types of machinery played a unique role in the making of guns an equipment. It also created the idea of standardized parts and interchangeable components for not just guns. There is also a super Civil War collection interspersed among the machinery that puts a lot into a historical perspective. Don't miss the display of miniature but working machines in the back corner. They also have a machinery demonstration in the center where you can see some of the machinery In operation Take a look at the neat chess set made into different shapes with the machinery!

The American Precision Museum has a special exhibit about machine tools that were needed by arms makers and the history of the machine needs during the Civil War. Along with this are exhibits and artifacts of people who fought in the Civil War from Vermont. We went on a Sunday for the Behind The Scenes Tour. It was interesting and worth the extra time especially if you have an interested in the start of the machine age. The regular exhibit area on the first floor was beautifully presented with a man showing how some of the machines work and to answer questions. The area looks like a real machine working floor. This is where the Civil War exhibit is. There will be some very interesting presentations coming up in the next few months by noted historians and writers/film makers. Take a look at the American Precision Museum web site. I am going to go to one event presented by James McPherson and Howard Coffin about the Civil War.

We saw this advertised at the rest stop in VT. My husband likes guns and we are both history lovers. We went on a Sunday and admission was free. The place was very interesting. There was a lot more then just how they make guns. There was a lot of interesting civil war artifacts along with stories and history of the men and women who worked in not only this factory but other gun manufacturing factories throughout new england. My husband loved the machines and was very intersted in how each one worked and contributed to the gun making process. I however was more interested in reading about the lives and looking at the artifacts. It was a very interesting place and it was a amzing to see how much went into making the guns. You walk around and read about the things yourself at your own pace. There are a few interactive areas where you can watch a short film or touch a screan to read about differnt people. The lady at the front desk was very nice and seemed to love her job and the museum. She offered a bit more historical facts and also some interesting facts on how the museum was run. I am very happy we visted this museum and I hope people will continue to visit and keep it going.

There's an elderly gentleman that works there that we met through the local gun shop. He worked there and had many stories to tell. He was very knowledgeable on the local history...even including some stories of his own.

quite amazing display and demonstrations--could spend a lot of time there taking in all the information. Historic building on the river. Fascinating local history with far-reaching US history impact.