Founded in 1830 when Thaddeus Fairbanks invented the first platform balance scale and opened a business with his brother, Erastus, the Fairbanks Morse Company influenced the Railway Industry with its designs for generations. In 1850, Charles Morse joined the company and by 1865, the first branch to be known as Fairbanks, Morse and Company was established. Over the years, Fairbanks Morse influenced the design of products in many industries including radios, washing machines, lawn mowers, water heaters, water softeners, air conditioners, storage batteries, not to mention engines in Naval Ships and Locomotives. Their 1930s opposed piston engine used to power submarines and locomotives. Because of the outstanding reliability derived from the design, these engines are still in service on U.S. Navy ships, in electric power plants, and in numerous mechanical drive applications. Here is a small sampling of technical drawings of their many designs.
