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jgbeam
19th of January 2005 (Wed), 07:48
The Paige Compositor nearly bankrupted Mark Twain. He lived in Hartford, Connecticut during his most prolific writing years and his house and new museum are probably Hartford's most popular tourist attractions.

Here is his house:
http://www.imagevenue.com/loc179/ed8_1TwainHouse.JPG

and the Paige Compositor, lashed to its steel transport frame:
http://img1.imagevenue.com/loc237/179_2PaigeCompositor.JPG

You can learn about the compositor here:
http://www.marktwainhouse.org/themuseum/archivist.shtml

In 2003, a new Twain museum was built and the compositor had to be moved from the visitors center in the basement of the house to the museum. Here is the entrance to the old visitors center:
http://img3.imagevenue.com/loc270/665_3TwainVisitorCenter.JPG

It was a very tight fit getting it out. The door frame had to be removed:
http://img3.imagevenue.com/loc139/93e_4PaigeLeaving.JPG

The compositor was hoisted by crane onto a flat bed truck and driven around to the new museum. Here it is landing at the museum entrance:
http://img3.imagevenue.com/loc236/001_5LandongMuseum.JPG

Will it fit? :shock: Here everybody is holding their breath while the opening is measured. Especially me, since I was the one hired to move the machine. :o Yep, it made it. :cool: :
http://img3.imagevenue.com/loc180/4e5_6EnteringExhibit.JPG

This is the space in the exhibit room where the compositor is now located. You can see the rectangular black plate that it sits on:
[img]http://img2.imagevenue.com/loc113/1e8_7ExhibitSpace.JPG

Here the riggers are finessing it into its final position:
http://img2.imagevenue.com/loc183/8a8_8FinalSet.JPG

If you are ever in Hartford with a couple hours to spare, visit the Mark Twain House and Museum. it's quite an interesting place.

Jim
NJDrew
19th of January 2005 (Wed), 08:05
It was installed as a single unit in the basement of the Mark Twain House on December 17, 1958. (It has never been taken apart for fear that its 18,000 moving parts could not be put back together again.)
18,000 moving parts :shock:

nice pictures
thomascanty
19th of January 2005 (Wed), 08:10
I want to go here! One day... I'd love to see his old house. I've been to the house where he was born in Hannibal, Missouri.
gtg
19th of January 2005 (Wed), 10:29
3rd one is astonishing... the 7th looks a bit over exposed... otherwise,this would have been the best...
stoneylonesome
19th of January 2005 (Wed), 11:10
Nice series. Glad to hear it fit :lol: :lol: :lol: I heard that it was one heavy beast.
CyberDyneSystems
19th of January 2005 (Wed), 11:50
Excellent,. thanks for the history and great pics! :)
jgbeam
19th of January 2005 (Wed), 20:31
18,000 moving parts :shock:

nice pictures

One look at that monster and you know there's no way it could run for more than 10 minutes withour breaking down. :rolleyes:

Jim
jgbeam
19th of January 2005 (Wed), 20:32
I want to go here! One day... I'd love to see his old house. I've been to the house where he was born in Hannibal, Missouri.

And I'd like to visit the Hannibal house one day myself. :)

Jim
jgbeam
19th of January 2005 (Wed), 20:33
3rd one is astonishing... the 7th looks a bit over exposed... otherwise,this would have been the best...

Thanks for looking. :)

Jim
jgbeam
19th of January 2005 (Wed), 20:36
Nice series. Glad to hear it fit :lol: :lol: :lol: I heard that it was one heavy beast.

Four tons! It was fascinating watching the riggers move that machine around. They had a never-ending bag of tricks and gadgets to get the job done. With the right tool and a bit of experience and ingenuity....

Jim
jgbeam
19th of January 2005 (Wed), 20:37
Excellent,. thanks for the history and great pics! :)


Thanks. It was a unique experience. :cool:

Jim