Branca Collection

Rolling mill and forge powered by hot gases from a furnace, 1629. An idea proposed by Giovanni Branca in Le Machine. (Rome, 1629)

BRANCA: ITALIAN VILLAGE. View of an Italian village. Woodcut by Remo Branca, early 20th century

Brancas Aeolipile

Rolling mill and forge powered by hot gases from furnace M. Idea proposed by Giovanni Branca in Le Machine Rome 1629. Woodcut

RALPH BRANCA (1926- ). American baseball pitcher. Photographed as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers, September 1956

American baseball pitcher. Photographed c1950 while a pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers
RALPH BRANCA (1926- ). American baseball pitcher. Photographed c1950 while a pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers

BRANCA: STEAM ENGINE, 1629. Design for an early steam engine, designed by Giovanni Branca, 1629. Line engraving, 19th century

Brancas steam turbine, 1629
Brancas steam turbine. Artwork of the steam turbine proposed in 1629 by the Italian engineer Giovanni Branca (1571-1645). Branca published this design in his book Le Machine

THOMSON HOME RUN, 1951. Bobby Thomson of the New York Giants hitting his pennant-winning home run, the so-called Shot Heard round the World

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Branca: A Name Echoing Through the Ages - From Italian Villages and Ancient Forges to Baseball Diamonds Giovanni Branca, an Italian innovator, envisioned a revolutionary rolling mill and forge powered by hot gases from a furnace in 1629. His ideas paved the way for industrial advancements. Fast forward to the 20th century, another Branca, Ralph, graced the baseball fields, first with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1950. Meanwhile, in the annals of history, Branca's steam engine design from 1629 was a precursor to the steam turbines that would later revolutionize transportation. Yet, it was not just in engineering that the Branca name left its mark. In the realm of sports, Ralph Branca became a legend on October 3, 1951, at the Polo Grounds in New York City. Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World" home run, which clinched the National League pennant for the New York Giants, was off none other than Ralph Branca of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Thus, the Branca name spans centuries, connecting the past with the present, the world of industry with the thrill of baseball. From the rolling mills of Italy to the baseball diamonds of America, the Branca name continues to inspire and innovate.