Saw a museum boiler in Dearborn still on its original rivets after 90 years

Anthony Foster · 2026-10-19T17:05:04.288339+00:00

I took the family to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn last month and spent most of the time in front of a 1930s stationary boiler instead of the cars. What got me was the rivet pattern on the shell, three rows staggered, tight as anything, and not one seeping lap after all those years. Made me think about the last time I laid out a rivet line by hand instead of just torquing bolts. The placard said it ran 24/7 for a plant for almost 40 years before it got retired. Curious what you all think, is a riveted shell really stronger than a welded one, or does it just last better because the seams can move a little?

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Saw a museum boiler in Dearborn still on its original rivets after 90 years | Boilermakers - Babble Community