The steam engine

Unique industrial history

In 2018 Nässjö Railway Museum took over responsibility for the preservation of the spindle-back chair factory’s illustrious old steam engine after the association Pinnstolen decided to close down.

The engine is preserved in a working state in the factory’s old premises in Åker and is now run using compressed air and demonstrated on special occasions during the year, one of which is on Steam Day.

This is possible thanks to the association Pinnstolen’s major commitment over the years when they, among other things, restored the engine from its previous “non-operative state”, renovated the engine hall and installed air compressors.

The switchboard from 1934 with gauges and synchronisation equipment
The switchboard from 1934 with gauges and synchronisation equipment

Principal data about the steam engine

◍ Power output: 500 hp.

◍ Revolutions per minute: 156 rpm.

◍ Steam pressure: 12 kg overheated steam.

◍ Diameter of the high-pressure cylinder: 440 mm, (after reboring in 1943 it became 456 mm).

◍ Diameter of the low-pressure cylinder: 750 mm.

◍ Stroke length: 450 mm.

◍ Diameter of the piston rod: 60 mm.

◍ Normal overheating: 225°C

◍ Weight 25 tonnes

The steam engine was built in 1900 at Munktell’s workshops in Eskilstuna with manufacturing number 433. The engine is of the vertical compound type without a condenser, with round sleeves and double flywheels. It was initially installed in a textile mill in Norrköping and was moved to Nässjö in 1934, were it replaced an older steam engine of 100 hp.

The primary job for the steam engine was to, together with a generator, supply the factory with electricity to power both lathes and other machinery. The heat that remained in the steam once it had passed the engine was used to dry the wood, which was then used to make spindle-back chairs.

It is no exaggeration to claim that the steam engine was essential to the production process at Nässjö Chair Factory for more than 100 years. The municipality’s power station took over supplying electricity to the factory in 1976. The steam engine was then conserved so that it could be kept without rusting.

In 2005, the engine was restored and greased up so that it could be run by means of compressed air. An air dehumidifier was installed in the steam engine room in order to prevent rust damage.

The generator for producing electricity
The generator for producing electricity

The generator

The generator is a three-phase machine of the synchronous type and is manufactured by Elektromekano in Helsingborg.

Data: 230 V, 1000 rpm, 715 A, 50 Hz, 285 kVA.

The switchboard is built from components and instruments from ASEA (time relays), Elektromekano (regulator), Landis & Gyr, (wattmeter) and LM-Ericsson (kilowatt and voltmeter).

Enquiries about special viewings for smaller groups are directed to Anton Samuelsson.