Demonstration of the Steam Hammer and history of the WMSTR souvenir plates. Waiting for the hammer to come down. It surprised a lot of people when it did.
Map Location 42: Steam Hammer
2022 WMSTR, Friday Sepember 2nd.

Steamforging Hammer 130 Years Old

Morgan Enginering Company of Alliance, OH manufactured our hammer #837, in January of 1892 for a manufacturing cost of $1549.53 and shipped it to the Jackson Street Shops of the Great Northern Railroad in St. Paul, MN Feb, 6 1892. Estimated price Great Northern Paid was $2,000. There are 30,560 lbs of iron there that's just over a nickel a pound for time and material.
It was aquired by WMSTR in 1971 from Burlington Northern. Installation of the hammer in its present site was began in 1975 and it was put into operation at the 1976 show. The hammer itself (the part that moves up and down and does the work) weighs 1500 lbs., and is operated by steam from the Montana Boiler.
The foundation for the hammer is 10'4" deep.
Each year starting in 1976 a commemorative plate has been stamped and sold at the show. A new center die is made each year with date and a scene commemorating some phase of WMSTR.
All proceeds from plate sales support WMSTR projects.
As you watch the hammer operating youare seeing only one stage of the operation. The first stage stamps the lettering and design on a 1/8' square aluminum plate. The second stage trims the plates round. The dies have to be changed for each operation. Therefore we run a number of plates stamping before we change to trimming.
Thank you for your interest we hope you enjoy the show. -Steamhammer Crew