Engine (clockmaker's or wheel-cutting)
In the eighteenth century, the word engine generically referred to any kind of mechanical device; in this case, it means a portable, hand-cranked contraption designed to cut teeth on brass clock-wheel blanks. A great time-saver, the gear-cutting “engine” insured accurate indexing—the exact division and regular spacing of teeth on each gear. By eliminating the need to make individual cuts manually with a file, it facilitated the efficient production of gears in quantity.
Wheel-cutting engine, Nathaniel Dominy IV (maker or purchaser), 1774 - owned by that date crediting Samuel Sherril for the triangle base support, seen below. Iron; Steel; Brass; Soft maple. 27.6" (L0, 16.5" (W). Museum purchase with funds provided by Henry Belin du Pont, 1957.0026.409
![Wheel-cutting engine, Nathaniel Dominy IV (maker), 1779. Iron; Steel; Brass; Wood. 27.6" (L0, 16.5" (W). Museum purchase with funds provided by Henry Belin du Pont, 1957.0026.409](http://dominycollections.winterthur.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/1957.0026.409-Wheel-Cutting-Engine-e1551637925739.jpg)
![1957.0026.409 Wheel-Cutting Engine, View 2](http://dominycollections.winterthur.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/1957.0026.409-Wheel-Cutting-Engine-View-2.jpg)