Wilesco Toy Circular Saw: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This circular saw was manufactured by Wilhelm Schröder GmbH & Company (Wilesco) of Lüdenscheid, Germany during the 20th century. The circular saw is a Wilesco model M53. The saw could be connected to the drive wheel of a toy steam engine for power and operate just like its full size counterpart.

Wilesco is the trade name of German toy company Wilhelm Schröder GmbH & Co. KG, known for manufacturing live steam toys such as steamrollers, traction engines, and stationary steam engines.

Initially a producer of aluminum forks and spoons, the company expanded into miniature aluminum accessories for doll’s tea parties in the 1920s. This decision also helped the company weather the economic crisis of the late 1920s and early 1930s because these toys were also exported to the US.

In 1950, Wilesco started manufacturing miniature steam engines.

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: mid 20th century
• Object Name: toy, circular saw
• Measurements: table - from catalog card: 3 1/4 in x 2 3/4 in; x 8.255 cm x 6.985 cm
• Measurements: base - from catalog card: 3 1/2 in; x 8.89 cm
• Measurements: overall: 3 3/8 in x 3 1/2 in x 3 1/2 in; 8.5725 cm x 8.89 cm x 8.89 cm
• ID Number: MC.329065
• catalog number: 329065
• accession number: 278175
• Credit Line: Bequest of the Estate of Greville I. Bathe
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.