| Description | Water Works Engines (29 items).
1070. Jacques Constantin Perier, Chaillot, France - "Paris Water Works". Jan., Jul. 1779. 29 items.
Single-acting engine, with 63 inch cylinder, 8 foot stroke, chain connection.
3 shaded drawings, Jan. 1779: Side view of the engine; front elevation of the engine house and round boiler; plan of the engine, boiler and pump. (These drawings are similar in style; 2 are marked "Mr. Perier Jan. 1779" but they bear no captions, dimensions etc.)
3 unshaded drawings, Jan. 1779: cross-section of the engine and part of the boiler; front view of the engine; elevation of the boiler and chimney. (These drawings are similar in style and bear some pencil notes.)
Further drawings of the engine: 2 shaded side views of the engine; partially shaded plan of the engine and boiler and pumps (this drawing has an oblong boiler drawn over the round one).
Drawings of the working gear etc.: plan and side view of the top working gear (with captions in James Watt's hand); 3 plans and side views of the working gear (none bear captions); pipes, part of boiler [?] etc.; part of drawing of ?
Printed list of parts of the engine, with translations in French added in..
Drawings of the pumps: 5 partially shaded drawings of various parts of the pump including the pipes, air vessel, working barrel, clack etc., with captions in French; coloured sections of the clack (captions in French); plans and sections of various types of piston for the pumps (in Watt's hand [?], captions in French, circa Jul. 1779); partially shaded plan and sections of the pumps, air vessel, pipe etc.; unmarked section of the air vessel; 4 small coloured sections showing the engine and pumps in situ (these drawings refer to a plan that is now wanting; one of the drawings shows 2 engines).
Original Portfolio or 'Book' No. 4. Catalogue of Old Engines p. 176.
For Jacques Constantin Perier / Perier Frères et Cie. Pumping engines, Chaillot, on the Seine, France. These engines were for supplying Paris with water, and were frequently referred to as the "Paris Water Works engines." Perier agreed with Boulton & Watt that they would licence to Perier Frères et Cie. as many 63 inch engines "as shall be necessary for the purpose of raising water for the supply of the said City of Paris but for no other use or purpose whatsoever" in return for a payment of 24,000 livres or 20 shares in the company.
One engine was built, and the correspondence makes it clear that a second engine was intended. On 27 Feb. 1780 Watt wrote to John Wilkinson "We never had any orders for Mr. Perier's second engine but I have got the nozzles in hand and shall get it ready with all speed." [Boulton & Watt Letter Book 1778-80] However only one engine is referred to in the List of Engines made at Soho.
See also: Engine Agreements, Incoming Correspondence.
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