Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Model |
Date |
1948 |
Place of Origin |
Cooksville/Mississauga |
Description |
A pressed-paper model of Stephenson's "Rocket" locomotive. It is entirely made of paper, application sticks, and straight pins and is painted black. It has moving wheels and a large smoke stack. |
History |
This model is was made by William "Bill" Carr of Cooksville in April of 1948. It was made entirely from paper and used application sticks provided to Bill Carr by a family friend, Dr. J.T. Speck of Greaves Avenue (renamed Grenville Avenue in 1956), Cooksville. It is a model of Stephenson's "Rocket", the first steam engine in Britain. The model won first place prize at the Hobby Show sponsored by the Brampton Rotary Club in 1948. Stephenson’s "Rocket" was the first modern steam locomotive, born during a short frantic period of development from 1828 until 1830. 1830 was to be the year that opened of the world’s first inter-city passenger railway, the Liverpool & Manchester Railway, and prospective train designers and manufacturers anxiously completed to see which locomotive would be the first to grace its tracks. A trial was held at Rainhill, Merseyside, in October 1829 to choose a contractor to build the locomotives for the railway. Of the 10 entered, only five locomotives actually appeared and of these only the ‘Rocket’ completed the trial to win the £500 prize and the contract. Built by Robert Stephenson & Co in Newcastle upon Tyne, the ‘Rocket’, inspired by the speed of military rockets, incorporated a number of new features, the most notable of which was the first use of a multi-tube boiler and separate fire-box. Its advanced design became the blueprint for all steam locomotives built in Britain until the 1960s. Trains not only revolutionized Canada in the 19th century by connecting the country from West to East, but they were a thrilling symbol of innvation seared into the public consciousness. The image of the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway hammered in 1885 became a symbol of national unity. Therefore, children's toys depicting these marvels were immediately popular and continued to be so for generations of children. Speaking of toys when he was growing up, Bill said, "There was no money, because I was a Depression child, and I guess I was like other kids--I wanted toys and trains and planes and trucks and this kind of stuff and no matter what I wanted, I was told there was no money. And there wasn't. You know, we could buy bread for four cents a loaf--and we didn't have the four cents." |
References |
"Model of Stephenson's Rocket", National Museums Scotland, Retrieved from: https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/stories/science-and-technology/model-of-stephensons-rocket/ |
People |
Carr, William |
Search Terms |
City Centre Cooksville |
Relation |
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