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All the United States California Carlsbad Craftsmanship Museum

Craftsmanship Museum

This large collection of tiny things revels in the art of fine machinery well made.

Carlsbad, California

Added By
Joshua Foer
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The Do Nothing Machine   Craftsmanship Museum
The Do Nothing Machine   Craftsmanship Museum
Craftsmanship Museum   Craftsmanship Museum
Craftsmanship Museum   Craftsmanship Museum
Craftsmanship Museum   Craftsmanship Museum
Craftsmanship Museum   Craftsmanship Museum
Ornate model of a 1932 SJ Duesenberg   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Handcrafted items with an extraordinary level of detail   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Established in 2006, the Craftsmanship Museum is both a workshop and display gallery for miniature working engines, machines, and the singular custom tools required to make them.

There is a whole subculture of machining enthusiasts who craft replicas of machines and motors, all in fully working order, that could fit in the palm of your hand. Tiny little combustion engines, boat motors, guns, and even ship riggings are created in perfect exacting detail and will click to life with satisfyingly precise efficiency. Most of the creations are made by single craftsmen laboring at their little works for months or more. The bite-size machines often have pieces so small that no tool exists with which to work them, so the craftsmen need to even create their own down-sized tools, unique to each project such as a near microscopic wrench used to build a little steam engine.

The museum itself began as a website that displayed the disparate miniature projects, however now a brick and mortar location has been opened in Carlsbad, California which has brought together over 1000 of the little wonders. Cars, guns, boats, exposed engines, and even an elaborate contraption called the Do Nothing Machine that will click whir to life, accomplishing nothing more than looking really cool, are all on display, each with its own little plaque detailing the story of its creation.

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Museums And Collections Museums Collections Wunderkammers Miniatures

Community Contributors

Added By

Josh

Edited By

intamin, terry6, EricGrundhauser, blimpcaptain

  • intamin
  • terry6
  • EricGrundhauser
  • blimpcaptain

Published

June 26, 2014

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Sources
  • http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/40893
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craftsmanship_Museum
Craftsmanship Museum
3190 Lionshead Avenue
Carlsbad, California, 92010
United States
33.132906, -117.238308
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Nearby Places

Copper Creek Falls and Mine

Carlsbad, California

miles away

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Carlsbad, California

miles away

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miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Carlsbad

Carlsbad

California

Places 3
Stories 1

Nearby Places

Copper Creek Falls and Mine

Carlsbad, California

miles away

The Flower Fields

Carlsbad, California

miles away

Elfin Forest

Escondido, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Carlsbad

Carlsbad

California

Places 3
Stories 1

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